Animation: Genre and Authorship

Paul Wells

Animation: Genre and Authorship by Paul Wells is the 3rd book I am looking at. This book breaks down genre and what makes a certain genre be put in that category. The main section I am looking at in this book is the chapter Genre in Animation. The chapter begins by talking about genres in the film form and how established genres have created sub-genres and also if there can be any 'pure definition of genre'. The book list down how genre could be understood from it being a category defined by its visuals and technical consistencies to it being the framework of the movie. He also questions his own list on what genres are and asks if these definitions applies to animations. Paul Wells talks about how all movies in a certain genres usually have the same story and gives the example of Scream and its predecessors like Halloween and Friday the 13th but he states that animation can not be placed in these genres because of its ability to make anything become something else, and because of this no certain lines can define what category an animated film can go in.

Paul Wells breaks down the walls of genres in animation and get you thinking about what makes a certain genre and how close each of them are to the other. This book really goes in depth into genres and it principles and make you think if it is possible to categorise animated movies in the same way as a live action.