{"id":26,"date":"2026-02-25T09:32:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/?page_id=26"},"modified":"2026-06-17T01:25:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:25:05","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Research Task 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"971\" src=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Green-and-Grey-Modern-Minimalist-Technology-Academic-Research-Poster-1024x971.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-84\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Green-and-Grey-Modern-Minimalist-Technology-Academic-Research-Poster-1024x971.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Green-and-Grey-Modern-Minimalist-Technology-Academic-Research-Poster-300x284.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Green-and-Grey-Modern-Minimalist-Technology-Academic-Research-Poster-768x728.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Green-and-Grey-Modern-Minimalist-Technology-Academic-Research-Poster-1536x1457.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Green-and-Grey-Modern-Minimalist-Technology-Academic-Research-Poster.jpg 1587w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Research Task 2<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-fa584acd wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-xx-large-font-size\"><strong>&nbsp;Analysis of \u201cI\u2019m Not a Robot<\/strong>&#8220;\/ &#8220;Ik Ben geen Robot&#8221;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong>Key Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-section-4 has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained is-style-section-4--1\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Title: I\u2019m not a Robot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Year of release: 23 September 2023<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Director(s):Victoria Warmerdam<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Production Company\/label:  OAK Motion Pictures, The Y-House, Bulletproof Cupid<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Genre: Science fiction drama<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Target audience: Young adults and fans of really conceptual films.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><strong>Narrative structure<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-medium-font-size\">The narrative structure follows Todorov\u2019s narrative theory, the equilibrium being that we are introduced to Lara at her job, where she seems to be just an ordinary office worker. She is disrupted by CAPTCHA tests for an update on her music app, telling her there is an 83 per cent chance that she might be a bot. Lara slowly became obsessed with the idea that she might be a robot, determined to prove the customer service person she called wrong. The film slowly reveals personal details about her life, making her question reality.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\"><br><br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image-724x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image-724x1024.png 724w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image-212x300.png 212w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image-768x1086.png 768w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>Themes and messages <\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The short film explores social themes, such as the inequality between men and women, especially evident in Lara\u2019s treatment and the dismissal of her feelings. Furthermore, Lara\u2019s existence in this film is controlled by others and by implementing a woman as the role of a \u201cRobot\u201d, it feeds into the stereotype that men control women in our society.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Character Types&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table alignfull has-medium-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Lara &#8211; The main protagonist&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td>The short film follows her perspective and emotional journey; the audience sympathises with Lara more because the film uses a retrospective narrative, meaning we only know what she knows, which creates tension and confusion alongside her actions. Her character is also contradicting what the media presents AI as, a lot of media shows AI as a robot with no thought process to itself, along with no emotional depth, but that is not the case with Lara because she shows empathy, fear and vulnerability to her situation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>The boyfriend &#8211; The controller&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td>Lara\u2019s boyfriend functions as a controlling role who knows \u2018knowledge\u2019 that Lara does not have; his calm reaction to Lara finding out that she is a robot contrasts greatly with Lara\u2019s emotional distress, which can raise questions about trust and gender imbalance within a relationship. This can also connect him to patriarchal authority because he partially controls Lara\u2019s identity and understanding of herself.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d58a0413 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-cbe57604 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent-6);border-top-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Visual style<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The short film follows a cold and muted colour palette, such as grey, white and pale blues, which creates an artificial atmosphere, reinforcing the sci-fi theme of the film. The spaces where the scenes were shot are modern and uncluttered, with the setting often looking highly organised and almost unnatural, which feeds into the plot of the film. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent-6);border-top-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Camera techniques<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Close-up shots are also frequently used to capture Lara&#8217;s emotions, while lots of wide and establishing shots are used to set the scene of the office. There are a lot of smooth camera shots where we follow Lara\u2019s movement in the film, making the story feel continuous as well as building suspense for the audience successfully.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-cbe57604 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent-6);border-top-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sound techniques and Editing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Sound and editing also play a significant role in shaping the audience\u2019s understanding. The dialogue of all the characters feels very clear and natural, as if we are watching it play out in real life; however, the dialogue is in Dutch, which can reinforce the vibes of Eastern European countries to the audience since our generation has the perspective that European countries have a cold, looking feeling to the infrastructure and overall atmosphere. The subtle background music can also enhance emotional moments and increase tension when necessary. Furthermore, the editing style is smooth, maintaining a steady pace as it builds toward the climax.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-section-3 has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f0f2a97b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained is-style-section-3--2\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>Locations, mise-en-scene, and personal reflection&nbsp;<\/strong><br><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The location and mise-en-sc\u00e8ne contribute to the film\u2019s realism by familiarising environments throughout the short film as well as modern-day and everyday props that you see normally in an office, such as computers, headphones and keyboards. These elements combined help establish a believable world while supporting the film\u2019s exploration of identity. Overall, I\u2019m not a robot is a very useful inspiration for my short film as it focuses on deep, emotional storytelling methods as well as the problems of someone controlling the people beneath them. Although my film will be under 5 minutes long and animated, I was inspired by the narrative style of ending on a cliffhanger, leaving the audience to decide on the ending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u201cI\u2019m Not a Robot\u201d (2025 Academy Award Winner) | The New Yorker Screening Room\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4VrLQXR7mKU?start=1226&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote alignwide is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Research Task 3<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Analysis of \u201cAu revoir mon monde&#8221;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code alignwide\"><code><strong><mark style=\"background-color:#786D0A\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\">Key Information\n<\/mark><\/strong>Title: Au revoir mon monde\nYear of release: 9th of November 2023\nDirector(s): Estelle Bonnardel, Quentin Devred, Baptiste Duchamps, Maxime Foltzer, Florian Maurice, and Astrid Novais\nProduction Company\/label: Ecole MoPA\nGenre: Science Fiction drama \nTarget audience: Teenagers and young adults, particularly fans of animation and anime-inspired visuals.<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\" style=\"min-height:970px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"677\" height=\"1024\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-118\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-10.15.56-AM-677x1024.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-10.15.56-AM-677x1024.png 677w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-10.15.56-AM-198x300.png 198w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-10.15.56-AM-768x1162.png 768w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-10.15.56-AM.png 920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 677px) 100vw, 677px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Narrative structure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>Au Revoir Mon Monde<\/strong> follows a linear narrative structure that can be explained using Todorov&#8217;s Narrative Theory. The story begins with an equilibrium where Karim is living an ordinary life, working at a sushi shop while wearing a fish costume to promote the restaurant. This normality is disrupted when a meteor lands in the city and destroys half of the city, slowly spreading fire to the sushi restaurant where he works. Our protagonist sees the danger around him as he decides to spend the rest of his time with the person he loves. The majority of the short film focuses on his journey through various obstacles in the city and his race against time. At the end, Karim reaches his loved one and confesses his feelings before the apocalypse, solving the conflict and creating a new equilibrium.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide is-style-wide--3\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\"><strong>Themes and messages&nbsp;<\/strong><br><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The themes and messages conveyed through this animated short film are love and the importance of living in the present. At the very last moment of Karim\u2019s existence on earth, he realises that emotions matter more than everyday routines or material possessions. The film shows the audience that life is unpredictable, you can never know what will happen tomorrow, and people should express their feelings before it is too late. The obstacles Karim faces in his journey might be a metaphor for the difficulties in life, reminding the audience to show resilience.&nbsp;<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide is-style-wide--4\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:51% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"642\" src=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image-1-1024x642.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-124 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image-1-1024x642.png 1024w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image-1-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image-1-768x481.png 768w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/image-1.png 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Karim &#8211; The protagonist&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The story follows him along his journey and personal goal of reaching the person he loves before the world ends. Karim could also fit into the hero stereotype, as he faces dangers while crossing nearly the entire city to find his love interest, providing emotional motivation for his actions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons alignwide is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-left wp-element-button\"><mark style=\"background-color:#D1D0EA\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Visual style and Camera techniques&nbsp;<br><\/strong><\/mark>Au revoir mon monde uses a very vibrant colour scheme inspired by early 90s graphic novels. The bold colours, dramatic lighting, and detailed cityscapes contrast with the chaos of the apocalypse. The camera techniques include fast-paced tracking shots that follow as he runs through the city, giving more dimension to the shots. Wide shots are used to show the scale of the destruction to make the audience aware of the danger surrounding him. At the end of the film, lots of close-up shots were used to highlight Karim\u2019s emotions as he confesses his feelings, which allows the audience to feel more immersed in how he is feeling.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table alignfull has-medium-font-size\"><table class=\"has-contrast-color has-accent-2-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Sound techniques and Editing<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Locations, mise-en-scene, and personal reflection&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Au Revoir Mon Monde uses non-diegetic sounds to create emotion and build tension throughout Karim&#8217;s journey. The soundtrack becomes more intense during action sequences and then slowly transitions to softer music in emotional moments. Sound effects of explosions and meteor impacts were added in post-production to enhance the apocalyptic atmosphere, immersing the audience completely. The editing, however, is very fast-paced to keep up with the 5-minute timeframe, but personally, I felt that the editing was even faster when the action scenes were used to create a sense of urgency, which could be a reflection of the limited time Karim has. The style completely changed when Karim reached his loved one at a much slower pace, resulting in the audience focusing on the characters&#8217; feelings and relationship.<\/td><td>Based in a vibrant urban city that is gradually being destroyed by meteors. The city streets, buildings, and restaurants are what the audience would usually see out in the street, which can create a realistic vibe, but the bright colours could feel unsettling, as well as the apocalyptic events. The most significant mise-en-scene that stood out to me is the neon lights and detailed background of each frame, which could establish an energetic atmosphere in contradiction to the disaster around him. Another interesting mise-en-scene is Character costumes, such as Karim&#8217;s fish mascot outfit, make him distinctive and adds personality to the story.<br><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Personal Reflection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Watching Au Revoir Mon Monde will help me with my own short film project because it shows clearly how important visual storytelling can be to convey different emotions to the audience, i found that the colour palette of the film have helped tone down the despair that is happening in the film which I will utilise since my short film will explore a lot of societal problems and having bright colours will tone down the gloominess. The animation of character expressions to communicate emotions with very little dialogue has also influenced me greatly; however, in my short film, I would prefer it to have more exaggerated expressions. Au Revoir Mon Monde also matches the time of how long my short film will be, so I could use it as a blueprint for scenes, making sure my project fits into the time frame.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Au Revoir Mon Monde - Court-m\u00e9trage d&#039;animation - in shortlist for the 97th Oscar\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uUScyWlkJg8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide is-style-wide--5\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\"><strong>&nbsp;Analysis of &#8220;Niccol\u00f2&#8221;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code alignwide has-accent-5-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-e11fb32d0f73d04bd007e4d3de85f4b0\" style=\"color:#9ad2d2\"><code>Title: Niccol\u00f2\nYear of release: 9th of October 2025\nDirector(s): Cl\u00e9mentine Di Prizio, David Florian, Axelle Granet, Sirui Liu, Hugo Michalet, and Pachiomius Njolai\nProduction Company\/label: Miyu Productions\nGenre: Animated Fantasy Drama\nTarget audience: Teenagers and adults who enjoy artistic and thought-provoking animated films.<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery alignleft has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"152\" src=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-16-at-9.54.23-AM-edited-769x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-16-at-9.54.23-AM-edited-769x1024.png 769w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-16-at-9.54.23-AM-edited-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-16-at-9.54.23-AM-edited-768x1023.png 768w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-16-at-9.54.23-AM-edited.png 838w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong>Narrative structure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-text-display has-medium-font-size is-style-text-display--7\"><em>NICCOLO<\/em> follows a clear linear narrative structure, with the start being a rise leading to a climax, then a resolution. The story begins with the introduction of Niccolo, a talented violinist whose success and fame grow as he receives increasing admiration from his audiences, and whose desire to be seen grows stronger. This leads to him being trapped by the expectations of those who praise him, losing his sense of self. The climax of the story occurs when his violin breaks, forcing him to confront the consequences of his obsession with fame. Lastly, in the story&#8217;s resolution, Niccolo chooses artistic freedom over applause, rejecting the pressures placed on him and reclaiming his identity as a musician.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\"><strong>Themes and messages&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote alignwide is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">The short film NICCOLO focuses on the challenges of identity as well as the pressure that comes along with fame. Throughout the film, Niccolo becomes consumed by the desire for recognition, leading lose sight of his passion for music. The message of the film is that seeking constant approval from others can be bad for your mental self and that fulfilment comes from staying true to yourself. Through its dark fantasy imagery inspired by 90s anime and symbolic characters, the film also explores the struggle between innocence and corruption, showing how expectations placed upon you can slowly make you lose your sense of self.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-cd9ab148 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border is-style-default\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"952\" height=\"1269\" src=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-17-at-1.22.21-AM-edited.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-166\" style=\"border-width:14px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-17-at-1.22.21-AM-edited.png 952w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-17-at-1.22.21-AM-edited-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-17-at-1.22.21-AM-edited-768x1024.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">At the centre of the story is Niccolo, who is a talented young violinist whose desire for fame and recognition drives the narrative. He is also a very good example of the hero stereotype, as he faces challenges and pressures that threaten his identity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-accent-2-color has-accent-4-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-a270ddba73dfd40610e36d117f1ce171 has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-72190d31 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:23px;border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Visual style and Camera techniques&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">NICCOLO features a visual style inspired by 1990s anime and Visual kei, a Japanese fashion and music movement known for its dramatic aesthetics and theatrical performances. The main character, Niccolo, is a direct reflection of these styles in his hairstyle, clothing choices, and makeup. To be specific, his style is inspired by Tanbi Kei. The film combines these elements with a dark fantasy atmosphere, detailed background, and strong contrasts between light and shadow. In emotional scenes, lots of close-ups were used to translate his emotions to the audience, while wide shots were used to show the beautiful architecture in the animation, setting the overall tone.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide is-style-wide--8\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignfull\"><strong>Sound techniques and Editing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote alignfull is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The soundtrack of the film is heavily focused on the violin, which reflects Niccolo&#8217;s passion for music and his connection to his art. There are also lots of ups and downs in the music style, helping to convey the shift in emotions, since there are no dialogues included in the film. In terms of editing, smooth transitions were used to help maintain the flow of the narrative, while faster cut scenes were used during dramatic moments to increase tension.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Locations, mise-en-scene, and personal reflection&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NICCOLO - Animation Short Film 2025 - GOBELINS\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O515YeHQhYE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default has-medium-font-size\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\">The short film is set in a dark, gothic-inspired world that acts as a metaphor for the protagonist&#8217;s emotional journey. The animation backgrounds are filled with grand architecture and theatrical performance spaces, creating a mysterious atmosphere. There is a lot of mise-en-scene used, which I will be focusing on the most significant ones, symbolic props such as the violin, which represents Niccolo&#8217;s connection with his identity, as well as the costume design, playing a big part in the film, reinforcing the tone, Niccolo&#8217;s Visual Kei-inspired appearance helping him stand out. <em>This film has been a useful source of inspiration for my own short film project.<\/em> I was particularly interested in how the film uses a distinctive art style and symbolic imagery to communicate emotions and themes without relying heavily on dialogue. Which I will take note of when creating my whole animated short film.<br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Gray-and-Black-Monochromatic-Simplicity-Landscape-University-Research-Poster-1024x724.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Gray-and-Black-Monochromatic-Simplicity-Landscape-University-Research-Poster-1024x724.png 1024w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Gray-and-Black-Monochromatic-Simplicity-Landscape-University-Research-Poster-300x212.png 300w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Gray-and-Black-Monochromatic-Simplicity-Landscape-University-Research-Poster-768x543.png 768w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Gray-and-Black-Monochromatic-Simplicity-Landscape-University-Research-Poster-1536x1086.png 1536w, https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/06\/Gray-and-Black-Monochromatic-Simplicity-Landscape-University-Research-Poster-2048x1448.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>Key info&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Name of film: Au Revoir Mon Monde&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Type of platform: Instagram&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>link to the social media platform: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/au_revoir_mon_monde\/\">Au revoir mon Monde~ \u2604\ufe0f (@au_revoir_mon_monde) \u2022 Instagram photos and videos<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Number of followers: 405<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Target audience: Au Revoir Mon Monde targets teenagers and young adults who enjoy emotional, character-driven films.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Content &amp; Posts&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Types of posts: Character designs, Trailer, Production Updates, Background design, Awards they have won, Interview with the animators, Full short film.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frequency of posting: The frequency is very steady, almost posting updates about the short film every month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main purpose of posts is to promote their film to a wider audience because it is such an indie film.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most popular post &amp; why: The most popular post is the full short film they have posted on Instagram; however, I am judging from the number of reposts (19) because they have hidden their like counts.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Promotional strategies&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How does it attract attention: I felt that the post doesn\u2019t attract much attention on their Instagram, judging from the number of awards it won and the number of followers the page has. The posts were very repetitive to me, 50% of the posts were them posting about the awards they have won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hashtags? What kind?: They only had hashtags for their post where the full animations were posted, and it was all animation-based.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use of trends?: There was no use of trends<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How is it building excitement\/anticipation: they did build excitement through posting of the production process and trailers when the account just started, but that is all they did with building anticipation for the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Audience engagement&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How does it interact with the audience&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is the audience encouraged to like\/share\/comment&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What kind of responses does the audience give&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Conventions&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Visual used &#8211; colours\/fonts, logo, style: The colours used on the posts are very colourful, making it match the animation created; however, the colours feel repetitive, which could reveal too much about the short flim discouraging the audience from watching it, the font of the posts remains the same but the sizing is very different from each other so it feels more appealing to the eye, the logo stays the same and it fits exactly to the format of instagram posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consistent theme\/branding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Does it include links, release dates, and calls to action:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Convergence&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How does it connect to other media?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What other media\/platforms does it link to, and why<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Research Task 1 Research Task 2 &nbsp;Analysis of \u201cI\u2019m Not a Robot&#8220;\/ &#8220;Ik Ben geen Robot&#8221; Key Information The narrative structure follows Todorov\u2019s narrative theory, the equilibrium being that we are introduced to Lara at her job, where she seems to be just an ordinary office worker. She is disrupted by CAPTCHA tests for an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-26","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":74,"href":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":169,"href":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions\/169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediastudies.pinehurst.school.nz\/alina-zhang2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}