Adapting “8-bit” motion style to 3D computer animation for Wreck-it Ralph

Tangled (2011) demonstrated that Walt Disney Animation has successfully extended the traditional Disney animation aesthetic to the 3D medium. The very next film produced by the studio however, Wreck-it Ralph (2012), required the animators (trained in the traditional Disney style) to develop a limited style of animation inspired by the 8-bit motion of 1980s video games. This paper examines the 8-bit style motion in Wreck-it Ralph to understand if and how the principles of animation were adapted for the film.

John and Ursula Schlosstein nee Gottschalk with their infant son Ralph. portraits family

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Portrait of Rudolph Gottschalk (Ralph Gramme) as a young man; Hannover, Germany.

Photograph taken shortly before he left Hannover for England on the Kindertransport, May 1938; other data show a January 1938 departure.

Portrait of Ralph and Joan Grahme with Ralph's sister Ilse Schuster nee Gottschalk and her husband James at restaurant "Old Vienna"; London, England.

Left to right: Ralph Grahme, Joan Grahme, Ilse Schuster nee Gottschalk, and James Schuster;

Studio portait of Ralph Grahme.

Verso: 93-8-1 Ralph Grahme Donated by Joan Grahme to T. Krakauer; Apollo Photography no longer exists (note by 10/6/1986)

Wedding portrait of Ralph Grahme and Joan Traylan.

Digital Image

John and Ursula Schlosstein nee Gottschalk with their infant son Ralph. portraits family

Digital Image

Portrait of Rudolph Gottschalk (Ralph Gramme) as a young man; Hannover, Germany.

Photograph taken shortly before he left Hannover for England on the Kindertransport, May 1938; other data show a January 1938 departure.

Portrait of Ralph and Joan Grahme with Ralph's sister Ilse Schuster nee Gottschalk and her husband James at restaurant "Old Vienna"; London, England.

Left to right: Ralph Grahme, Joan Grahme, Ilse Schuster nee Gottschalk, and James Schuster;

Studio portait of Ralph Grahme.

Verso: 93-8-1 Ralph Grahme Donated by Joan Grahme to T. Krakauer; Apollo Photography no longer exists (note by 10/6/1986)

Wedding portrait of Ralph Grahme and Joan Traylan.

Digital Image