When did cartoons get so serious? Animated documentaries, once a niche experiment, have evolved into a bold and expressive medium. Fact meets artistic interpretation while audiences view the world through a handcrafted lens. While traditional documentaries ask “what happened?”, this question now steps aside in favour of “how do we remember it, how did it feel, from which point of view did we see it?” 

 

By stepping further away from literal representation, animation paradoxically brings us closer to emotional truths. Its abstract nature both enhances emotional engagement and raises concerns about its credibility. Animation asks us to question what we see and to interpret what we cannot see. It lets us traverse psychological landscapes, navigates digital worlds like no other medium and cloaks painful truths in metaphor. As animated documentaries continue to gain recognition and legitimacy, we must wonder: What makes it such a compelling choice for filmmakers? 

 

This thesis seeks to explore these questions, taking a deep dive into the characteristics of animated documentaries in order to better understand them. It will examine whether these characteristics influence storytelling or if the films remain fundamentally the same, merely presented with animated imagery. Recent years have seen a wealth of academic research in the field of animated documentary, providing a strong basis for this work. 

 

Our journey begins with a historical overview of the evolution of animated documentaries, tracing their significance in nonfiction filmmaking. This history lesson is followed by exploring both established and fresh definitions of documentaries, animation, and animated documentaries, opening doors to new perspectives. 

 

Next, we will consult media theory, enhancing our understanding of the genre while also delving into the captivating realm of digital worlds. Here, we will confront the credibility problem, investigating the concept of indexicality which leads to further findings like warranting devices and audience desensitisation. The examination will shift to the emotional core of animated documentaries, exploring their power to evoke empathy and impact audiences: What techniques are able to enhance viewer engagement? 

 

Building on this foundation, later chapters will offer insights from actual filmmakers to root our research in the arts. The following will uncover how animated documentary challenges and reshapes traditional approaches to documentary filmmaking. Prepare to enter a space where fact dances with fantasy, and where reality is bent, but never truly broken.

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