Ecocide : a narrative on Malta’s environmental issues from an animal’s perspective through hand drawn animation

Abstract

This research project aims to explore the use of animation to portray a narrative on the subject of environmental degradation in Malta. The project narrative is told from the perspective of a stray cat traversing the country’s landscape, with a focus on the effect environmental degradation has on such an animal common to the Maltese island. The project shows the contrast between Malta’s urban areas among traditional architecture and natural landscapes, highlighting elements of over-construction, pollution, and the ability for nature to regrow among disruptive, manmade spaces. The research primarily focuses on a practice-led approach through photo and video documentation for visual reference, whilst also looking into 2D animated short films for animation reference and visual inspiration. The project explores concepts of colour to represent natural, urban and traditional environments, as well as non-verbal communication as expressed through a cat’s movements, body language and facial expressions. The project also incorporates elements such as 3D background movement and sound design by approaching a multi-software workflow. Additional findings from the research present how visually common it is to see elements such as trash, tower cranes and construction among different locations, as well as the difference in ambient sounds between natural and urban areas. In a contemporary art context, the resulting project from this research seeks to portray a different approach to representing local environmental issues, focusing on non-verbal, character driven environmental storytelling through the use of 2D animation.