Short film analysis - Umbilical

Umbilical was the second short film that we watched as a class, it was a rather different short film as it was created by a university student who used animation to allow the short film to become very professional. When I researched this short film I found out that it had won a few awards including 'Best animated shot film'. The message of this film is that there is a link between children and technology now a days, this makes children not understand creativity or imagination. This is why the child is attached to a cord as there is no possible way of being able to communicate with other children if they are all attaches to technology. The different technologies used to create this piece is very professional and there would be no way of creating an animated short film for my work, however it does look very effective.
Camera work

• At the start of the short film there is a panning shot where it shows the cord which the child is attached to, it shows how the title is significant
• There is a close up of the crayons and the character drawing on the floor, this shows how she is isolated and has to entertain herself
• When the character goes to the window there is a low angle shot to show how she want to be outside with her fellow children. In addition it shows the face of the character in which she is sad.
• There is also a high angled shot were the character is shown of being incapable of getting outside suggesting that they are trapped in a vulnerable position
• When the character gets shocked from the cord there is a wide shot to show the dark room that she is in and the outside light where she wants to be

Editing

• It has all been edited as it is animated therefore it allows the storyline to be adapted as it is about children
• The cuts are rather long as it is difficult to edit with animation, therefore they only use it to emphasise the different scenes
• Right at the end there is a fade out which suggests that children are stuck with the reality that technology is taking over and it is never going to end, that a 'normal' life for a child has died

Sound

• When the child is quickly playing with the ball for a small second there is a piano playing which represents their happiness when playing rather than sitting in front of a television screen
• The music gets louder and louder when the Tv is fuzzy to show how technology is evil and is destroying a child's life and imagination. The fuzziness also suggests how even if there is nothing to do with technology it is still taking over
• The child laughs when playing with the ball , Gray makes this important as he shows how even if the chid only has a second with the ball they find it much more entertaining that technology

Mise en scene

• As it is animated the producer didn't have to go and buy any props or costumes however they still had to think about it when animating the short film
• There are drawings covering the floor to suggest that she is alone and has to create imaginary friends
• The packet of crayons that she stands on shows how technology is brainwashing children and they are becoming less polite. The crayons act as a symbol of the characters dreams and they have just been crushed
• Finally the umbilical cord which is connected to the characters head only allows the child to stay in a certain amount of space. It makes the child become less confident about going outside as it restrains her from going outside

Conclusion

Overall I believe hat the director and producer of this short film has kept the message in the whole of the story and it is never lost though out. As there is no dialogue it is very effective as you still understand the message. The idea is very cleaver and I have now thought about akin my short story about a message and idea to make it more sophisticated. Although it is a animated story they have used camerawork, sound, mise en scene and editing very well as they have had to think more about the time consuming work that they have to put it in. In addition it has won awards so the work has obviously made an impact, the idea of children getting attached to technology is very thought provoking as in this day and age nearly every child has an iPad stuck to their fingers. Although how much I would love to create a short film with animation I can't draw so I don't think that it would be a possibility, as well as the software to produce in school and the amount of time that I would have to put into it would make it near impossible. I have taken a lot from this short film and that I would like to depict a strong and powerful message in my short film to make it more engaging.