Writer: Lin, Tsai

During this year’s Kuandu International Animation Festival, the SCAD Focus School Screening featured international animation instructor Davonne Dupart, who shared insights from her years of teaching and industry experience. She explored the emotional structures and visual language behind compelling stories, emphasizing that successful animation does not rely solely on technical skill or visual splendor, but rather on the emotional connection built between characters and the audience.

The Heart of a Story: The “Emotional Goal”

According to Dupart, every great story must begin with an emotional goal—the core that defines a character’s desire, which drives the entire narrative forward.

Creators, she said, must ask themselves: “What does the protagonist desire most, and what do they fear most?” This tension gives the story its soul and allows the audience to resonate deeply with the characters.

She illustrated this with the classic animated films Lilo & Stitch and Mulan:

The former revolves around the belief that “Ohana means family”—every action the characters take stems from their fear of abandonment and longing for belonging. The latter centers on the theme of “being true to oneself.” Through Mulan’s internal struggles reflected through Mushu, the film portrays the conflict between identity and self-acceptance.

Building the Story’s Skeleton: “StoryBeads”

In her talk, Dupart further introduced the concept of “StoryBeads,” a framework for connecting story elements.

She compared the story’s emotional goal to the thread of a necklace, while each StoryBead—a key plot event—acts as one of its essential beads.

Each event must stay closely tied to the emotional theme to maintain a strong narrative structure.

For instance, in Mulan, the scene where Mulan fails to impress the matchmaker is not merely a setback—it reinforces her internal conflict of “being unable to be herself.” Her decision to take her father’s place in the army pushes her deeper into the struggle of concealing her true identity. These linked narrative beads form a continuous emotional journey. If even one is removed, the entire story risks falling apart.

Painting with Emotion: The Language of Visual Storytelling

Beyond the narrative, Dupart stressed the importance of visual storytelling—the idea that light, shadow, and color in animation are not just aesthetic choices but also precise emotional languages.

She cited the jungle battle scene in Tarzan as an example:

Bright areas symbolize exposure and danger, while shadows represent safety and protection—a visual inversion of “safety versus threat.”

Similarly, in WALL-E, the color green symbolizes hope. After forty minutes of desolate scenery, the first appearance of a small plant transforms green into a metaphor for humanity’s renewed chance at life and return home.

Collaboration in Animation

During the post-screening discussion, Dupart also shared insights into SCAD’s collaborative approach to animation education.

She emphasized that an impactful animation is never the result of a single person’s effort—it is a collective creation born of teamwork.

Over the course of a 30-week production pipeline, students experience pre-production, production, and post-production phases that simulate real-world industry practices. Throughout this process, they establish their A, B, and C skills: one primary specialization and two complementary abilities.

Conclusion

Through this session, Dupart guided audiences to reflect on the connection between visual storytelling and emotion—two elements that must work in harmony to create a truly powerful animation.

She reminded creators that visual elements are not merely displays of technical ability but tools for building emotional resonance. When designing visuals, one must first understand the character’s inner feelings so that light, color, and composition all serve the emotion.

Only when the image itself can “speak” can the audience feel the heartbeat of the character—even in silence.