IN WHICH The Girl Falls In Love With a Paperman

By day (and often night), I work as a college English instructor, mainly teaching composition. Last semester, I was looking for a video to show in class that the students could analyze together in preparation for writing a film analysis paper. Usually I would use a television episode, but I knew there wouldn't be enough class time for a whole episode this time around. I went looking online for a short film to use instead.

Personally, my knowledge of short films is pretty limited, as I would guess it is for most people. We seldom see them in theaters unless you happen to go to the rare children's movie that shows one before the feature starts. Television does not show them often either. So, unless you go looking for short films specifically, the opportunities to see them are scarce. However, I found out that a lot of wonderful short films are available on the Youtube and other websites. For the purposes of my class, I wanted an animated short film that wasn't too childish. I ended up with a wonderful 7 minute film called Paperman. 

Paperman is quirky and adorable. The story follows George, an accountant in 1940's New York City, who meets a beautiful girl, Meg, at the train station when one of his business papers blows into her face, leaving her red lipstick on the page. Unfortunately, she boards the train before he can make her acquaintance. When George arrives at work, he happens to see Meg through the window in the office building across the street and tries, through hundreds of paper airplanes thrown at the window, to get her attention. No luck. Already in trouble at work, George makes one last attempt by forming an airplane out of the sheet with Meg's lipstick. The wind sweeps the paper away before he can even throw the last airplane, and George leaves work feeling defeated. But this is a Disney film, so both magic and fate intervene. The paper airplanes, led by the lipstick sheet, come alive and pull the two protagonists together. See for yourself:

Paperman by videobash

Beyond the cute story, I love that Paperman has an old-fashioned feel but is mixed with some modern elements. Everything is in black and white, which seems appropriate to the era, but the lipstick is red, drawing your attention and foreshadowing the paper's significance. According to what I've read (and barely understand), the animation is a mix of 2D drawings and 3D computer animation, which gives the film a more traditional look but with modern movement. Paperman also initially seems like a silent film because no one speaks. Nonetheless, you can actually hear sounds, such as the train, the papers swishing, and cars honking. In actuality, there isn't really any need for talking in this film. George's job requires him to work silently and he never gets a chance to speak to Meg. The film seems both black and white and silent without completely succumbing to those traditional elements.

The music really steals the show though. At first the music is light and in the background, but corresponds directly to George's mood. As the plot reaches its climax and the paper airplanes gain life, the music also gains momentum. The tune becomes happier and almost motivational. From the music alone, we know that George and Meg will meet again soon. The film also uses a mickey-mousing technique (look I actually learned something when I taught film); it is a Disney film after all. Mickey-mousing means that the music and the actions on screen are synchronized, just like in old Mickey Mouse films. When the planes start to come to life in the alley, the music parallels their actions precisely. This musical action adds another whimsical and traditional element to a lovable film. 

Now, I just need to go out and watch some more short films to expand my horizons.