Navi 2013
Programs used
‘Navi (나비)’ is a 2D animated that addresses the ‘Confort Women’ issue where young girls were forced into sexual slavery during World War II by the Japanese Imperial Army. This 2D rotoscoping animation highlights the neglected issue neglected by the public through visual metaphors and symbolisms. These girls, known as ‘Comfort Women’, suffered unimaginable atrocities during the many years as sexual slaves to military personnel. For many years, Comfort Women were denied official recognition of their suffering and lived as outcasts. Navi aims to provoke discussion and raise awareness of the pain and suffering endured by thousands of ‘Comfort Women’ and to acknowledge the terrible injustices inflicted on these women, past and present. After winning Animal Logic’s encouragement award at COFA Annual, in 2013, ‘Navi’ was then selected for Hatched 2013, at PICA (Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts) screened. It was then chosen for official student competition in SICAF (Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival) and screened in 2014. Following the festival, in 2015, it was also selected for exhibition at Korean Manhwa Museum during ‘War and Family’ themed exhibition.
This animation preserved traditional 2D animation aims by referencing real human movements(rotoscoping), whilst only using digital methods to produce. The progressively employed ‘Morphing technique’, one of the most substantial merits of using animation as mediums, maximised effective visual communication and kept viewers entertaining. Three colours, black, white and red, were carefully chosen for strong visual communication. Black and white represent clear historical facts, and red present the damage caused by the Imperial Japanese Soldiers. As an artist and as a member of modern world society, I felt the need to make known this issue to the general public. I chose animation to create more interest and for easier distribution. I cannot tell the audiences to feel specific ways or do such actions to assist the victims. However, I wanted people to know such crimes as an ongoing issue because the surviving victims still have not heard the Japanese government’s official apology. Because they are getting older each day, this issue needs our urgent attention. What audiences do after watching this animation is up to them. I would not care so much even if they do so much as nothing and move on. However, if more people are aware of this issue, it will become harder for the Japanese government to avoid doing what is right, and together with the world, we will be able to move forward to a future with one less problem.
