ABSTRACT
The possibilities for a convergence of interactive media and independent animation are evaluated through several case studies that all take their own unique approach. In Adventurous Spirit, the history of point-and-click adventure games and the importance of animation within them are briefly summarized before looking to the genre’s resurgence within the indie game market. The character development and world-building of Rumpus Animation’s The Adventures of Bertram Fiddle series is explored, alongside the mechanics of translating an IP originally created with the intention of short films and broadcast series production to the interactive space. The atypical artistic background of Michael Frei and how it informed his dual project PLUG & PLAY – that exists as both an accoladed independent short film and an independent, interactive app – is then examined in To Defy the Laws of Tradition, as well as his working relationship with collaborator Mario von Rickenbach, the challenges of adapting one format to another and the lessons learned since the project’s release. The chapter concludes with a look at previous case study artist Ant Blades’s “choose your own adventure” animation project Singing Christmas Hedgehogs, which ingeniously harnesses the interactive potential of YouTube’s interface to create a comedic, interactive user experience that invites repeat viewing.
