Animation Breakdown

Chapter 2:

Wells breaks animation down into three major styles: experimental, developmental, and orthodox.

Experimental is animation with no walls. It is not restricted to common narrative (or narrative at all) and its primary uses are experimentation and projecting the auteur's feelings in an unencumbered way. It is the style in which the creator is most 'present.' An example would be "Transfigured," by Stephen Arthur.

Developmental animation occurs when there are elements from both extremes present. For instance, often the creator is still very present in style (like experimental) but the animation will follow a common narrative (like orthodox). It can be aesthetically stylistic while having a storyline we can follow. An example of this would be a tv show called "Uncle Grandpa" which is mixed media and trippy, despite being a show for kids.

Orthodox animation is very traditional. The artist is gone, dialogue is important, there is continuity, and there is form in the narrative. This is what we most commonly see in popular art and culture. Disney and Universal lean heavily toward orthodox with productions like Wreck it Ralph and Feivel Goes West.

The Meaning of Life, by Don Hertzfeldt, would most likely be classified as developmental erring on the side of experimental. Its lack of clear narrative and emphasis on aesthetic would land it in the category of experimental with only tastes of orthodox (presence of dialogue and some continuity) would pull it only slightly in the direction of developmental.