Moses At The Movies

the Sbeih

will be open

thursoay, Dec. 24th,

Sketches and
drawing from
"The Prince
of Egypt:
A New Vision
in Animation"

aieciy, Dec. 25th

Early sketches of Miriam:
The design for an animated
character must look good
from every angle.

thursbay, Dec. 31st

and

griOay, January 1st

Open for C.und - ) anO Dinner
7 - Days

4189 Orchard Cohe Rocio • Orcbaro Cake

248-865-0000

12R8
1998

78 Detroit Jewish News

is who has written for major
publications and appeared
on many TV magazine
shows, had no limits on
behind-the-scenes access
for his research. Besides
becoming familiar with
the technology, he fol-
lowed the directors as they
worked, attended otherwise
confidential meetings and
conducted extensive
interviews with key
members of the pro-
duction team.
"Computer cine-
matography has revital-
ized the medium and
enabled animators to make
use of the tools of live action,"
Solomon says. "In an opening
sequence, the camera follows
the action as if it were posi-
tioned on a chariot.
There's almost no physi-
cal inking or painting
now as filmmakers use
the computer to do
things that had gotten too
expensive to do by hand."
The pivotal role of God's
miracles — the Burning Bush,
the Plagues and parting of
the Red Sea — called for
the invention of digital
special effects to drama-
tize Moses' declaration
to the Hebrews: "Believe
— for we will see God's
wonders."
Solomon considers the

) 41 1 eg,

A

lack of limits on imagination an
important strength of anima-
tion, and the illustrations
included in his book
progress from early plan-
ning sketches to stills from
the completed film.
"Animation can be as
colossal as the artist can con-
ceive," says the Hollywood histori-
an, whose fascination with the
process dates back to early
"Superman" cartoons. "Many
of the artists are as well
trained and talented as easel
artists whose works hang in
museums. Settings with
Egyptian architecture, for
example, make the monuments
more enormous and imposing."
Another animation strength,
according to the author, is the
ability to transcend bound-
aries — both cultural and
generational.
"Animation reduces the
specificity of the cast," the
author explains. "It allows a
broader range of people to
identify with each character.
Moses is in a purer form, not lim-
ited by the reality of live-action film.
"If animation and film-
making are good, it's a time-
less art form. Things that
viewers didn't get when
they were 7 will become
clear at older ages. I still
laugh at the Warner Bros.
cartoons made 50 years
ago."

❑

In these line drawings, Miriam argues with Aaron and shrugs of his grasp. Says ani-
mator Bob Scott: "The scenes that involve Miriam and Aaron offer- nice possibilities
for acting, because their personalities are complete opposites. Aaron just wants the sta-
tus quo to remain and won't rock the boat; she the true believer, the one who has the
most Pith in Moses from the beginning.''