Process and Production: Research 3: Hybrid Animation

Hybrid animation is a term given to animation mixed with live action footage. This technique is one of my personal favourites. This is due to the contrast in the visuals that I just find incredibly interesting. It is a 4th wall breaking experience since we obviously know that the animated segments are drawn but then the live action side of it interacts as if it were real inside their world. 

The first version of this technique being used was in the 1900 film, 'The Enchanted Drawing' in which James Stuart Blackton draws a cartoon character who then comes to life on the paper. This technique evolved and was used in many different ways like putting a live action person into an animated world in 'Alice Comedies' and then putting animated characters into a live action world in 'Out of the Inkwell' and many others.

Properly compositing animated character in with live action footage is probably most well known from 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'. This film was incredibly innovative and ambitious, but what I think is even more interesting and what adds to this experience even more, is how the story actually acknowledges the presence of these cartoons and makes that contrast part of the story and humour. 

This same principle is now used in the majority of live action blockbusters with the use of CGI, but the difference here is that most of the time this is made to look part of the world. We aren't supposed to notice the difference. I think this is a great technique and one that I personally find really interesting and opens many possibilities.