Future Focus
In this lesson, we reviewed the structure of a thesis and the thesis proposal. I have been brainstorming potential topics for both my thesis and Final Major Project (FMP).
Post-Graduation Focus
Primary Interest: 3D Computer Animation
Where My Passion Lies: Education – I am more interested in sharing knowledge than just applying technical skills.
Skills Required for Career:
- Software: Maya, Blender, Unreal Engine, Unity, ZBrush, TV Paint, Houdini
- Soft Skills: Collaboration, Time Management, Patience, Teaching
FMP Showcase Concept
- Display on a monitor
- Interactive props
- Small souvenirs alongside the display
- Relevance to Thesis? Not necessarily required
My Potential Research Topics
Thesis Topic Considerations
- Medium: Screen-based, Installation, Expanded Cinema, Interactive, Games/Animation
- Aesthetics: Experimental animation, Acoustic (Sound)
- Acting & Depiction: Emotion & Affect, Formalism, Interpretation, Skepticism
- Color & Light
Miyazaki’s Work:
- Themes: Human-nature relationship, Ecophilosophy, Feminism, Pacifism (comparison to Western media)
- Films for Reference:
- Evil Does Not Exist
- FernGully
- Grave of the Fireflies (Netflix)
Narrative Tropes
- Common Behaviors in Stories: E.g., the princess being kissed
- Subverting Tropes: Examining how Miyazaki avoids common narrative tropes
- Tropes in Environmental Films: What patterns emerge in storytelling related to nature?
Further Readings & Resources
Academic Sources:
- American Cinema’s Transition to Sound
- Sound Synthesis, Representation, and Narrative Cinema
- Pixar Narratives – Heavy reliance on tropes vs. innovation
- Pixar Tropes: Subversion of Disney conventions
Online Research: