Figures of Speech

The Film

Figures of Speech is a 30-minute compilation of short interstitials that uses pioneering animation techniques called “interpolated rotoscoping.” These digitally animated, documentary-style interviews focus on how gesture, facial expression, and other body movements combine to communicate personality. Using new software, Figures of Speech turns real people interviewed for parts in a short film into cartoons, infusing their distinct personalities into animated characters. The result is a variation on verité documentary, with a hand-drawn aesthetic. The particular attention paid to audio and the unrehearsed nature of the interviews adds to the documentary style of these playful spots.