Sean O Boyle 

This thesis is an exploration on how animated film depicts historical narratives. Oral storytelling is brought in as a comparison medium as the author believes both mediums share a quality that enhances their ability to engage an audience in a story set in the past. The thesis discusses four films who’s historical elements range from a fully fictional tale in an historic setting, to biographical films set within the last 50 years. The authors study of these films leads to his assessment on animation and oral storytelling being confirmed. In some ways it is done so through direct demonstration of the films visible design elements, in others a less obvious approach is taken. In one film, the author has to examine the content within the films and extrapolate a connection to oral-storytelling from it’s narrative elements (A subject within the film demonstrating the authors point rather than the film itself), whilst another one draws medium comparison in it’s production rather than final product. Through this method the author finds a greater understanding in why he discovered the connection between animation and oral storytelling but also in how that connection can be utilized in future in ways both beneficial and malicious towards how storytellers and audiences engage with history in film.

(Thesis can be read on request at seanoboylepro@gmail.com)