Animals and Animation

As native habitats were wiped out by increasing industrialization in the 19th century, animals were set in motion. Author Akira Mizuta Lippit suggests in his book Electric Animal that animals sought 'virtual shelter' in cinema--as animations. Adding a sense of urgency to Muybridge's motion studies, Lippit seems to imply that the famous photographer was creating an ark-ive (to be shot on twos no doubt). Today latter day animation outfits urgently, if only for economic concerns, "motion capture" actors' gestures, clone faces and synthesise voices --perhaps in an subconscious effort to save the human.

Following the animal-to-animation logic, we see today a dramatic return of the animal/animation. As cities and suburbs report rampant alligators, coyotes and other urban wildlife, there is also an explosive resurgence of animation. As animals return to cities, mobile devices bring animations (movies, websites, ads, GUIs, etc) in tow. the cybernetically fused animal/animation (re)stakes its claim.

"A man who is equipped like a territory is no longer an inhabitant; he becomes a habitat." - Virilio ( Crepuscular Dawn)