For this Animation Discourse Module Assignment, we have to do a presentation based on what we learnt from our chosen article. For the first week, students were split into groups of five, and we had to read through various articles on Sage Journals to understand our objectives completely. To decide which article to write about, we first made a list of the articles we liked the most. Then, we looked at the information provided and decided which article would work best for our presentation.

 

Here is the list of articles that we liked the most:

 

• Is It a Modular Genre? Problems in the Reception of the Post-Miyazaki ‘Ghibli Film’

 

• Situating Netflix’s Original Adult Animation: Observing Taste Cultures and the Legacies of ‘Quality’ Television through BoJack Horseman and Big Mouth

 

• Is the YouTube Animation Algorithm Friendly? How YouTube’s Algorithm Influences the Evolution of Animation Production on the Internet

 

• Shaping Girls: Analyzing Animated Female Body Shapes

 

• Gender and Cartoons from Theaters to Television: Feminist Critique on the Early Years of Cartoons

 

Throughout week 1, we mainly focused on reading these five different articles and analysing their basic information. The article that we most liked from the list was the YouTube Animation Algorithm article (Is the YouTube Animation Algorithm-Friendly? How YouTube’s Algorithm Influences the Evolution of Animation Production on the Internet), which talks about different animation industries and their degree of success between 2006 and 2018. It also covers the modifications made to YouTube’s policies and how they have affected and moulded the platform’s algorithm.

 

In week 2, we chose the YouTube algorithm article as it gives a lot of information on how YouTube’s algorithm changed animation industries and animation in general. We then decided to read the article, analyse its main points, and make notes on each one.

For me, I had jotted down information that involved YouTube’s regulation policies and its freedom of ‘apparent creativity.’ Whilst writing these points down, I wanted to make a point that YouTube’s algorithm wasn’t friendly, as it didn’t give those with creative freedom to express themselves nor give animation a good outlook. YouTube is primarily to blame for this since its engagement policies are more stringent.

 

I chose to compile a list of quotations from the article that I wanted to discuss in my group’s presentation for the second week’s homework.

 

 

Here is the list of quotes that I gained my reference from:

 

• ‘YouTube has become a great showcase for audiovisual products and a resource of income for a number of creators.’ (Xavier, p. 1)

 

• ‘A group of YouTubers, so-called ‘Reply Girls,’ achieved rapid economic benefits by publishing content without any value, neither artistic nor communicative, but that deceived YouTube’s remuneration system and prioritisation algorithm.’ (Xavier, p. 1)

 

• ‘Animations on the internet traditionally do not have to face the restrictions of commercial circuits and are conceived from a place of absolute creative freedom; they often differ from commercial productions in subject matter treatment, duration and technique.’ (Xavier, p. 1)

 

• ‘Many new animators have found the internet and especially the YouTube video platform a vital channel to showcase their work to a large potential audience and, in addition, to obtain a certain economic benefit provided by the platform.’ (Xavier, p. 1)

 

I decided to begin making my presentation slides in weeks three and four. I wanted to be certain that the material I was writing about was pertinent to the subject. However, I would advise that I interact with my peers more in the future rather than depending only on myself for presentations. I would have a better understanding of what I should write about and how words can better express our thoughts.

 

Here are the parts of what I did in the presentation:

 

On week 5 of Animation Discourse, we had to present our presentations to the whole class.

I carefully timed myself to make sure I did not exceed the two minutes given when I was presenting my presentation slides.

 

 

Feedback

 

The lecturers who gave us feedback after our presentation said that while it was well-timed, it could be improved by ensuring that everyone was practising and timing their presentation slides. Our lecturers also advised us to avoid being overly critical of the subject matter and to make sure that the information we had was consistent with one another. Overall, the lecturers thought the presentation was good, but it could have had more pictures.

 

Link to Article – https://journals-sagepub-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/doi/full/10.1177/1746847720969990

 

 

Reference

 

Xavier Ribes. (2020). Is the YouTube Animation Algorithm Friendly? Animation: How

YouTube’s Algorithm Influences the Evolution of Animation Production on the Internet, 15

(3), 229 – 245