Taxonomy of Animated Documentary:
1.has been recorded or created frame by frame
2.is about the world rather than a world wholly imagined by its creator
3.has been presented as a documentary by its producers and/or received as a documentary by audiences, festivals or critics
‘Animation, in part through its material differences from live-action film, shifts and broadens the limits of what and how we can show about reality by offering new or alternative ways of seeing the world. It can present the conventional subject matter of documentary (the ‘world out there’ of observable events) in non-conventional subjective, conscious experience – subject matters traditionally outside of the documentary purview’ (Annabelle Honess Roe, 2013: 1)
The animation and documentary should cohere into a single form ‘in which the animation works to enhance our knowledge of an aspect of the world and to the extent that the separation of the animation from the documentary is either impossible, or would render the inherent meaning of the film incomprehensible
“animated documentaries do not easily into the received wisdom of what a documentary is” (Honess Roe, 2013: 3).
Christina Formenti locates it in the realm of docu-fiction due to what she perceives as the lack of objectivity of what we observe on screen (2014: 108-110)
Animated documentaries have the potential to both enhance and detract from the seriousness of a situation. On one hand, the use of animation can introduce a degree of abstraction that might make it harder for viewers to directly engage with the factual content. This abstraction could potentially dilute the perceived gravity of the subject matter, especially when dealing with sensitive or serious issues.
However, this abstraction can also be a strength. By distancing the audience slightly from the raw reality, animation can offer a different lens through which to process difficult topics, making them more accessible without losing their impact. In some cases, it can even emphasize the emotional or psychological truth of the subject in ways that live-action footage might not.
Historically, animation has been seen as a medium primarily for children, which has contributed to the perception that it is unsuitable for serious or “grown-up” content. While this stereotype persists, it is increasingly being challenged by works that use animation to tackle complex and mature themes. I disagree with the notion that animation is inherently ill-suited for serious material. On the contrary, its versatility allows it to explore issues in unique and powerful ways.
Animation’s ability to abstract and stylize can foster a more universal level of identification. By avoiding the specificities of live-action imagery, it can create characters and scenarios that resonate across cultures and personal experiences. This universality can help audiences connect with the underlying themes on a broader, more empathetic level, making it a valuable tool for storytelling in documentary contexts.