A arquitetura e as cidades invisíveis: um curta-metragem de animação inspirado em Sofrônia

Abstract

This paper is a theoretical and visual interpretation of the book "The invisible cities" by Ítalo Calvino. The chosen city is formed by two half-cities: one related to work and the other to leisure, and every year, part of this city is dismounted and it moves. Having as an objective the creation of an animated short film, many theoretical, conceptual and technical references are analyzed and discussed, in order to elaborate a 3D scenario, and also characters who tell the story and live in the city. After a concise analysis of the matter of movement in architecture, and a historical view of Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, the research reveals how Calvino’s book teaches us how to think about the city still today, raising utopic and social issues, funny and political perspectives, formal experimentations and urban contradictions. Then, we explore different languages and forms of representation, including visual arts, literature and cinema (live-action and animation), to understand possibilities between realism and stylization, as well as metaphorical and literal. Thereafter, we present the creative part: sketches of the city and the characters, the production of the digital model, the composition of the scenario and my graphic deliriums, some of them was used in the final product, and others were put aside. Finally, the chosen process is detailed in a technical stage: the writing of the script, production of tables and storyboards, software used, steps of 2D and 3D animation, composition of the soundtrack, narration and edition until the completed short film.