When people ask me what I do, I use to tell them that I am an animator.  However, 9 out of 10 times the persons response to that is, “Oh, you make cartoons.”  Hardly.  In fact, if it were any further from the truth it would probably be an insult.  Animation is far too commonly associated with cartoons like the shorts we all use to watch as a kid on Saturday mornings. What most people do not realize is that animation is a powerful medium that shows up in almost everything that makes it on television and the big screen.  Many motion pictures these days have so many shots that are almost entirely computer generated FX that they could be considered animated films.  It is virtually impossible to find an advertisement on television that does not have animation in it somewhere and every television program's opening titles have animation in them. 

Over the years, animation has also become a vital component of documentary filmmaking. Think about all the science specials you have seen on the Discovery channel.  For the most part, they are about 10% live action (mostly just the interviews) and the rest is entirely comprised of animated sequences that help illustrate points of interest as explained by the interviewee.  Where would these programs be without animation?  I don't know but for some reason I'm reminded of chalk drawings on blackboards and wooden pointers.

Currently I am working on my own animated documentary called, Pepperland, which is about the skating scene in Washington, D.C.  In my film, I use a combination of live action and animation in almost every shot.  Not only does the animation give my film a unique look but it also helps tell the story.  The following video clip is a segment from Pepperland in which one of my interviewees is explaining the geography of downtown Washington, D.C. and the distance between monuments and Freedom Plaza, which is where most skaters in D.C. converge to skate on a regular basis.  If you only listen to what the interviewee is saying you will notice that he never actually mentions Freedom Plaza.  Without the accompanying animation this line, although vital to the film because it gives the location where the majority of the film takes place, would be completely irrelevant to the film.

Ryan Lovelace
BFA VCU
MFA USC


View a segment from "Pepperland" Ryan Lovelace's Animated Documentary.