Blog #6: Animation Deconstruction

For this assignment I'll be analyzing two scenes from an animated show that will always be a personal favorite of mine... Spongebob Squarepants.


Scene 1 - Band Geeks


Scene 2 - Sweet Victory

In the first scene (Squidward’s phone call with Squilliam), bright, saturated color is used. Although there is a significant amount of neutrals in the scene, they remain richly hued, with a high value. The characters themselves particularly pop out, as they are either mint green or bright purple.

Lighting, in this scene, is used mostly to create visual depth; the shadow behind Squidward’s bookcase makes their world feel three dimensional. In Squilliam’s room, the part of the room that is supposed to be farther behind him is washed in darker colors, creating more “shadows” and therefore more depth. There is little symbolism created by light in this scene as far as I can tell—it is well-light and light seems to be used only for practical purposes, or perhaps to create a mood of every-day life.

In the second scene, where Squidward’s quickly assembled band performs at the Bubble Bowl, there is still a usage of bright, saturated color and interesting hues. This is characteristic of many cartoons—particularly Spongebob—so it comes as no surprise to me. However, in this scene, the value of the color is a bit darker in order to create dramatism and the sense that they are outdoors at nighttime.

Lighting is used more creatively (as well as practically) in this scene. First and foremost, the lighting creats shadows to represent the depth of the stage and the supposed three dimensional quality of their cartoon universe. However, lighting is also used symbolically, particularly when Spongebob is first revealed—he is in the shadows, then suddenly lit by a bright spotlight when he begins to sing. This creates a dramatic, empowering effect. The mood of this scene is highly influenced by the dramatic lighting: it gives the sense that what they’re doing is epic and powerful. I’ve also noticed that they illustrated the characters from a point of view below eye level, furthering their empowerment.