Learning Artifact # 3: Animation

The cover photo is from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/299841287673459362/

        After reading the novel, Children of the River, I made an animation which is based on some important scenes in this novel. This is my most favourite and enjoyable project, and I think this is the best accomplishment of all assignments I’ve done this semester. Although this was my first time making animation, it didn’t take me too much time to be familiar with the website that I used. I am very satisfied with my animation because I put a lot of effort into it and the final animation is much better than I expected. To begin with, I decided to recreate the novel by recalling the most memorable and significant scenes in the novel. Secondly, I thought deeply about the important quotes, characters, setting, events, themes, and conflicts in these scenes, and also thought about why these scenes are significant. This helped me not to digress from the main subject. Thirdly, I split the scenes up and turned them into 8 scenes on the script. The script was really helpful for me because I could make sure exactly what to do while making the animation. Finally, it was time to start making my own animation! I decided to use the website, Animaker, to make the animation. Learning how to make animation on this website by myself wasn’t very difficult, the website was easy for me to get started. I designed the characters by looking for the characters’ characteristics that are described in the novel. And then, I started to find the image which is the most suitable to be the background of my first scene. Fortunately, the image I searched on Pinterest also matched the title of this novel. Using Animaker is convenient because there are lots of properties, music, sound effects, and background images. I just had to place what I need into the workplace and adjust the timeline to let the characters come in at the right time. I also recorded a short speech in my animation to conclude the important themes which are revealed in these scenes, so that the audience can understand my animation and have a reflection. It only took me about 10 days to finish the whole animation, but it’s a project that I’m proud of. I think the volume of my speech is too low. I’ve tried many apps to adjust the volume, but it didn’t work. If I could use another way to record it, the audio might be clearer and louder and it would be a nearly perfect project. I hadn’t had any time to learn how to make animation, so I was very happy that I could have the chance to learn it. I enjoyed making my own animation and I think this was a great experience in my study life. 

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The scenes I would like to recreate is the conversations between Sundara and Jonathan.

Scene 1 (Starting)

Scene 2: While Sundara and Jonathan are having a confrontation during the lunchtime, they see a person Sundara knows.

Scene 3 (Bus) 

Scene 4: Jonathan wants to talk with Sundara, but she dodges him because she knows that if her aunt finds out they are eating lunch together, her aunt will be very angry.

Scene 5: Jonathan’s coach is watching Jonathan and Sundara eating lunch together. Jonathan says that he doesn’t like playing football although he is good at it.

Scene 6 (They lived happily ever after.)

Scene 7 (Speech): I want to make a short conclusion to tell the audience some important themes which are revealed in this novel, so they could understand and have a reflection.

Scene 8 (Ending)

One day, Sundara and Jonathan are chatting during the lunchtime

J: “Hey, Sundara, you’re arguing!”

S: “Oh you! You always make fun of...”

(They see Pok Simo, Sundara turns away.)

S: “He is Khmer also.”

Next day morning

(Sundara gets down the school bus, Jonathan sees her)

J: “Sundara! I’ve got to talk to you! Why’d you run off?”

S: “I am a girl and you are a boy! ”

J: “Meet me for lunch?”

S: “Jonatan!” (angry)

(Jonathan looks at her)

S: “Okay, I meet you.” 

Lunchtime

(Jonathan’s coach is watching them)

S: “Is that your coach?”

J: “Yeah, he thinks that  girls can only sap our energy and get us all distracted.”

(The coach disappears)

J: “Being on the team gets so tied in to who you are.”

S: “You are the same person to me if you play football or not.”

(He looked at her, then his hand came toward her cheek. She flinched)

Speech

Teenagers might have difficulty dealing with the conflict among multiple identities. It takes time for them to find out what kind of person they want to be as they are not sure who they are and what role they should play in society. In Sundara’s case, she experiences struggles with gender identity and cultural identity, since others’ desires for her are not the same as her own, and she doesn't know how to overcome the conflicts between identities. A person always has many identities at the same time, so you should make an effort to find out how to balance multiple identities. It will be a good idea to know more about yourself and it also will make you happier because this process is necessary for growth.

Characters in this scene: Sundara, Jonathan, Pok Simo, Hackenbruck (Jonathan’s coach)

Setting: School

Theme: culture, gender, identity, love

The second scene and fourth scene are significant because they show us the cultural differences that exist in reality. Cambodian values and American values are very different. For example,  a girl is not supposed to meet a boy alone in Cambodia, but it’s not a problem in America; the Cambodians don’t usually have a confrontation, but it is normal to show thoughts to others for Americans. 

The fifth scene is significant because we can know that gender bias and gender discrimination still exist, almost everyone cares about what others think of us, and people who love each other might not be together for some reason. For example, a person who is not satisfied with his life now might decide not to improve his worth because of others’ thoughts. 

Two people love each other, but they might not have a chance to stay together is the second example. Cambodians should follow their parents ' arrangement to marry, but Americans are free to decide whom they want to marry and live with. Therefore, if a Cambodian girl loves an American boy, the girl’s parents probably will object to her decision. We should show our understanding and respect to others, and also be friendly tolerant of cultural differences between different countries. At the end of the story, Sundara overcomes the cultural differences, and she realizes that no one can tell about the future, so she decides to grasp the present moment and bravely follow her heart to date Jonathan. 

Some interesting details:

River (1): Children of the River.

Rose (2, 4, 5, 6): it symbolizes the important theme-love. Jonathan gives Sundara the rose: to show Sundara his love.

Sundara kindly waves her hands to the audience on the bus :)  (3)

Bird (3): it symbolizes freedom. It hints that Sundara is going to be herself and meet with Jonathan.

Heart (4, 6): it symbolizes love.

Jonathan’s coach is disappearing: it shows that Sundara and Jonathan decide to ignore others’ thoughts. After that, Sundara tells Jonathan that no matter what decision he will make, she is always on his side. → To be yourself (theme: identity)

Camera movement (5, 6): go into Sundara’s mind and understand her inner thoughts.

Heartbreaking (6): the audience can imagine the end of the story.

(If you watch carefully, you’ll find that the two drivers are holding forks while driving)

You can also watch the animation on my YouTube channel now!

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