Illustration is storytelling Responses

In Asterios Polyp, David Mazzucchelli’s fantastic artwork not only reflected his extraordinary illustration skills but also his storytelling skills. The story is very interesting to read, with layers of set ups, going back and forth into Asterios memories and real life, showing his conflicts in life in a very unique way. However, what makes this book more than just a story was the breathtaking illustration that helps to tell the story. For example the part when Asterios found a Blister on his foot, the whole page is empty except him looking at his feet, but when he look up, it brings the reader into different worlds. From when things goes wrong with his wife, to his current situation, then to his memory when everything was ok. A simple action and brings us into different part of the story timeline. And the way he use the font for each characters sentences, even the shapes of the speech bubble are character based. Along with the progression of the story, the color of each character gradual changes. The main character Asterios changes from blue to purple, because it mixed with the pink of his wife. The color is also telling the story, which his life is influenced by his wife. Illustration are a very unique way of telling a story, nothing else can compare to it, unlike film or books, artist tell story through composition, color, shape, and style etc.

Storytelling always have been a huge part of my art career. As a computer animation student, we are trained to be storytellers. We tell story through characters’ behavior, action and emotions. Skills wises we learn to make storyboards for animated film, learn about how to transfer a written story on paper into animated images and films. For storyboarding, we have to learn about directing, camera langrage, editing, composition, drawings and most importantly we have to coming up with creative original ideas. It is the most interesting part of the animation production progress, however it is also the hardest. I am still learning to be a better storyteller, and I wish one day I can come up with my own memorable story.