We live in a world of images where the visual language is as important
and certainly more prevalent than the spoken language. Just as literacy
is part of everybody's basic education, visual literacy could be promoted
equally throughout our culture.



In learning animation, not only are we gaining access
to an expressive visual art, but we are gaining a new and dynamic
international visual language. We are, in effect, learning to `write`
moving pictures which gives us the possibility of communicating
with other cultures worldwide.

We also end up as more critical observers of the programmes being
offered to us on TV and cinema screens. Our awareness and understanding
of film is more perceptive and confident, and we will be the best
future audiences, not only for animation but for all films in general.

What makes animation so successful in communicating ideas?

Animation is an interdisciplinary subject that brings together the
arts of storytelling, music, drawing, modelling, and even dance and
performance, with new audio-visual technology.

Combining the communication of meaningful issues with playful work,
film animation can be a fun way to make a point.

As animation has so many technique possibilities it is possible
for every one to find success whatever their age and intellectual
ability. Animation is even appropriate for people with learning
disabilities, social and behavioural problems, and it teaches us
how to work together in the same project.