CALL FOR PAPERS
The Semiotics of Animation. From TraditionalForms to Contemporary Innovations
Special issue of Punctum. International Journal of Semiotics 10:1 (2024)
GUEST EDITORS: Maria Ilia Katsaridou & Loukia Kostopoulou
The study of animation as a semiotic system has gained significant scholarly attention
in recent years. From traditional hand-drawn animation to contemporary computergenerated
imagery (CGI) and experimental forms, animation has become a dynamic
field that offers valuable insights into how meaning is constructed and communicated.
Animation as a medium of communication relies on the manipulation of movement
and constructed visual and auditory signs to convey narratives, emotions, and ideas.
It draws upon a wide range of techniques and styles to construct its unique language.
With the advent of digital technologies, such as AR, VR, and AI, animation has
expanded its boundaries allowing for new media applications and synergies with
other art forms. Moreover, animation and live action have long been distinct forms of
cinema and audio-visual storytelling, each with its own distinct characteristics and
techniques. However, in recent years, there has been a growing convergence and
interplay between the two which calls for further exploration. The semiotics of
animation recognizes the interplay between animation and other media forms,
including film, television, video games, and digital platforms. Animation techniques
can be utilized within live-action films or integrated into interactive experiences,
expanding the potential for meaning-making and communication. Each medium
brings its own set of semiotic conventions and audience expectations, thus influencing
the animated content.
This special issue aims to expand our understanding of the semiotics of animation by
examining its evolution, theoretical elaboration, and manifold applications. We
encourage submissions by scholars, researchers, and practitioners that delve into
diverse themes, perspectives, and approaches related to the semiotics of animation.
Possible areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Semiotic analysis of animation techniques and its audio-visual language,
including character design, gestural signs in character creation and
performance, semiotics of motion and movement.
• Animation in various media and genres, such as films, digital games,
animated documentaries, animated journalism and animation in social media
platforms, including memes, GIFs, and short animated content.
• Theoretical perpsectives and methodologies for the diachronic and
synchronic study of the semiotics of animation.
• Intermedial approaches: The intersections of animation with media forms,
like film, literature, painting, and theatre, and their semiotic interplay.
• Experimental and expanded animation: Exploring the semiotic aspects of
unconventional forms of animation, including interactive installations,
projection mapping, and virtual reality experiences.
• Animation and social or cultural semiotics focusing on identity, ideology and
cultural and social implications, i.e. the investigation of the cultural, social,
and political significance of new animated forms in media representations.
• Αpproaches to animation production, distribution, and reception.
• Animation and new technologies: The semiotic potential of animation in
virtual reality, augmented reality and Artificial Intelligence.
• Hybrid forms: Analysis of films, TV shows, or other media that combine
animation and live action elements. Animation techniques in live action/live
action in animation.
Prospective authors should submit an abstract of 250-300 words by email to the guest
editors, Maria Ilia Katsaridou (mkatsaridou@gmail.com) and Loukia Kostopoulou
(lkostop@frl.auth.gr), including their institutional affiliation and contact information.
Acceptance of the abstract does not guarantee publication, given that all research
articles will be subjected to peer review. TIMELINE:
Deadline
for Abstracts: December 10, 2023
Notice of acceptance of the Abstract: December 31, 2023
Deadline for submission of full papers: April 30, 2024
Peer Review Due: June 15, 2024
Final Revised Papers Due: July 31, 2024
Publication Date: September 2024