Animation is about creating the illusion of life. And you can't create it if you don't have one.
Interpretation
Animation captures life-like qualities, which can only be achieved through genuine experiences.
In this quote, Brad Bird emphasizes that the essence of animation lies in its ability to evoke real emotions and life-like qualities. He suggests that animators must draw from their own experiences and understanding of life to create engaging and believable characters and stories, as authenticity is key to the art of animation.
In practice
During a talk on animation techniques at a film school.
For me, I try as much as possible to just think about being in the movie theatre, having the lights dim, and what would I want to see on the screen. That puts me in the frame of mind that made me want to be in the movie business to begin with.
I never heard one word in Pixar about, 'Will kids get this?' I don't think it's important that they get everything. I think that it's important that they get engaged, interested.
Hip-hop is still cool at a party. But to me, hip-hop has never been strictly a party; it is also there to elevate consciousness.
There are only 3 colors, 10 digits, and 7 notes; its what we do with them that's important.
Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.
There's this existential argument that comes in, at some point, when you're over-thinking the songwriting process. There's no guarantee that the more time you spend or the more you concentrate on certain aspects that that's going to produce a better result, especially in the arts.
I could spend my whole life photographing circuses. They combine everything I'm interested in - they're ironic, poetic, and corny at the same time. There's also something about a circus that's magical, sentimental, and almost tragic, like a Fellini film.
In my case, the body of work stands for itself... I think my work has been representative of me as a man.
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