Faculty of Art

Experimental Animation

Elise Antoinette Nopuente

Let’s Get Jazzy!

An animated abstract animation to sound focusing on abstraction in motion using colour, geometry and linework.

“My animation is inspired by “Herman’ s Habit” by Justin Hurwitz from the hit film La La Land (2016). The song’s energetic jazz rhythm and upbeat tempo inspired me to create a visual piece that mirrors its musicality through movement, colour and form. Drawing from the experimental works of Norman McLaren and Oskar Fischinger, I explored how sound can be translated into motion and geometry to evoke emotion and rhythm. McLaren’s use of line and timing, along with Fischinger’s harmonious synchronization of music and form, informed my approach to pacing and composition, and the relationship between sound and image.I wanted the animation to feel as if it was “performing” the song visually by responding to every note and beat with energy and precision. The shapes bounce and expand in rhythm with the trumpet, drums, piano and hi-hats, creating a sense of lively improvisation that reflects the essence of jazz while emphasizing the layered sounds in the song. Throughout the piece, I incorporated repeated forms and visual motifs to mirror beat and rhythm, creating a sense of cohesion and musical structure. Bold, bright colours and simple geometric forms are utilized in the early moments of the animation to establish clarity and vibrancy. As the music progresses, the forms grow more dynamic and fluid, and the colour palette transitions from complementary tones to softer pastels suggesting a lift in mood and tempo. The combination of bouncy movement, rhythmic synchronization, repetition and shifting hues reflects the evolving mood and tempo of the song. Overall, this animation is an exploration of rhythm and abstraction through the attempt to capture the joyful spontaneity of jazz through repeated forms, colour and motion.”