Project description

State of study

In the contemporary context of digital art and new media, the clear boundaries between traditional film, animation and video games are gradually disappearing and allow the emergence of hybrid formats with new ways of narration, interaction and artistic expression.

Despite the fact that the production of classic animated film in the Republic of Croatia, but also in the wider region and at the global level, reaches a high level of artistic and technical quality, the integration of interactive elements into animated film, i.e. the production of interactive animated films, is still the exception, not the rule.

In particular, the integration of animation and artistic practices with augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies, as well as a stronger integration of virtual production, which offer numerous opportunities for the development of immersive, participatory and multidimensional artistic experiences, is underrepresented. Institutional research in this area is limited, often fragmented and without a long-term plan, and there is a lack of structured education that would connect different knowledge – from creative conceptualization and visual performance to technical realization and programming.

The field of video game research as an art form is also not sufficiently explored despite the presence of media in pop culture and its mass use not only in the entertainment industry, but also in the educational and communication field. The strengthening of the indie game industry emphasizes the need for constant systematic research in this field, and the constant development of technology that enables new possibilities of expression emphasizes the need to explore this area in order to expand one's own artistic expression and different ways of presenting work and ideas.

The lack of a systematic approach that would connect education, interdisciplinary cooperation and multimedia art production clearly indicates the need for projects that will provide space for research, development and production of innovative interactive art forms.

Methodology

The project is based on participatory, experimental and interdisciplinary artistic methodology. Through practical exercises, group work and individual research, participants go through all phases of creating a work: from conceptualization and elaboration of the idea, pre-production procedures of project development, production of the work to reproduction, i.e. implementation and evaluation of artistic research. The work is organized in multidisciplinary teams consisting of mentors, students and experts in the field of art, animation, video game design, technology, etc.

Teachers attend conferences, companies and institutions and events that expand their knowledge of this field.

Through the planned academic exchange program, which is based on mutual short-term visits of teaching staff between the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Zagreb and the University of Bristol, the project will encourage the exchange of professional knowledge, research methodologies and teaching practices. During the visit, guest lectures, observation of teaching practices and working meetings with academic staff and students will be organized. These activities will serve as a platform for the exchange of research interests and methodologies.

Purpose and justification of the research

The goal of the AniVeRse project is to fill the gap in the field of research and education that integrates animation, animated film, video games and virtual production in the context of artistic creation. The project offers an educational platform for teachers, students and young artists, but also responds to the need for the development of new, interactive forms of animated film art and video game art, as well as the fusion of key components of the same. The justification of artistic research is based on the growing and ubiquitous interest in the interactivity of the medium, the lack of formal structures that support artistic development in this field, but also the lack of works of art that use a multimedia approach to animated film. Virtual production implies many techniques, procedures, media and tools that are rapidly evolving, and it is necessary to explore which of them need to be known as a standard part of the production of an artistic work. It also opens up space for a systematic exchange of knowledge and experience with partners who explore the field from different aspects.

Innovativeness

The innovation of the AniVeRse project is the fusion of art and technology. It combines three fields of activity - animated film, video games and virtual production technology, i.e. virtual reality - into a single research framework. The linear narrative structure is upgraded with the interactivity of video games, the possibilities of virtual reality and the multidimensional perception of space. By using immersive procedures, the project explores new forms of expression that push the boundaries of classical production and reproduction of audiovisual media. In addition, the integration of education, artistic production and research in the same model contributes to its importance for educators and thus for students.