Why We Need More Animated Movies

Anthropomorphic toys. Houses that fly with just the help of helium balloons. Rats that get under a cook’s toque and almost become a secondary brain. Cavemen using starfish to create makeshift footwear. You have seen them all and you will see more, thanks to animated movies.

Nineteen ninety-five is a landmark year in the history of animation. The first ever 3D animated movie of the world—Toy Story—released with great fanfare and managed to capture many a heart across the world. It wasn’t until 2010, the year the final part of the trilogy released, that I got to watch the movie, however. Since then I’d have watched the entire Toy Story trilogy at least 4-5 times.

It’s not just the treat to the eyes that makes me love animated movies. The messages they try to convey, the lessons they strive to teach, the efforts they take to remind “mankind” of “humanity”. Not many movies remind us of the ‘fun’ side and good things of life as much as animated movies do.

Woody and Buzz (Toy Story) taught me to not give up on friendship, no matter what situation one is in. Horton (Horton Hears a Who) taught me that everyone, irrespective of their size and status, deserves to be treated well. Guy (The Croods) taught me to follow light in order to progress in life and that change is not such a bad thing. Carl and Ellie (Up), in that little montage, showed me how married life is supposed to be. Hero Girl (The Polar Express) taught me the value of belief. Mumble (Happy Feet) showed that it’s ok for one to be different. Alex, Marty, Gloria, and Melman (Madagascar) showed me that people can be great friends despite their differences. Marlin (Finding Nemo) showed me what pure fatherly love is. Diego (Ice Age) taught me it's never too late to turn a new leaf and be a good person.

I can go on. I can keep talking endlessly about characters in animated movies and what I learnt from them.

Considering that the first ever 3D-animated movie came out in 1995, we can see that 3D animation is just a teenager. But a very responsible teenager who knows what’s right and wrong. One who understands life. One who values relationships more than materialistic pleasures. One who wishes good for all. One who continues to teach mankind of virtues. The teenager whom parents wish their kids would hopefully emulate. The ideal teenager.

I’m basically the kind of person who considers each movie a work of art. That way, animated movies easily top my list of favourite artworks. There’s so much to watch and enjoy. There’s so much to learn from them and apply in our lives.

Francis Pharcellus Church, in his famous “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” letter, writes:

“Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.”

Animated movies, again, are like the same Santa Claus. They make tolerable this existence. Their very existence and the lessons they teach can bring happiness to people's lives. We constantly praise animated movies for the ‘imagination’ and ‘creativity’ in them. I believe they deserve praise for their ‘life’ too.

Like I said, animated movies remind “mankind” of “humanity”.

So, yes. The world does need more animated movies.

My Perspective on Happiness

The girl I love had once asked me if I have any posts about happiness. I've been trying to come up with one ever since she made that request, but in vain.

The reason is very simple. You can 'feel' happy to any extent, but you would definitely find it difficult to 'describe' it or 'define' it. But I've just made an attempt to pour out my thoughts about it.

Let me tell you one thing very well in advance. You'd have definitely come across whatever I say here through any media, through anyone. So it might sound redundant. Please bear with it if so.

After some brainstorming and intense introspection, I concluded that happiness is nothing but the state of feeling good. That's it? Is it as simple as that? Well, it may look simple. But in fact, it is highly complex.

Now, let me tell you more about this state of feeling good. This state is absolutely intrinsic and is unfazed due to external circumstances. I'm now reminded of a statement that I used to tell my mother when I was in 7th standard: "I'll surely be the class topper if Jagadish is not my classmate." Here I am making use of the word 'if'. Those with a computer science background would have realized what I'm talking about.

We use 'if' only to introduce conditions. We can use this 'if' in both positive ways as well as negative ways.

For example, you can say, "I'll succeed if I work hard."

or

"I'll be happy if you leave me alone.", "I'll be happy if I have an iPod."

That's the difference. You are concerned with your self in the former and you are concerned with a different person or a thing in the latter.

You will never find happiness if you look for it elsewhere. Happiness is always where it is, within the self. What is this self?

The definition of the self is highly spiritual. If you have an idea about what the soul is you'll have an idea about what the self is. Both are one and the same.

The body has its limits but the self does not. It's an unlimited entity. It's completely capable of achieving anything. That's why it is highly important for one to be sure or confident of one's self.

You probably might have not experienced the power of the self in real life and are hence sceptical about it.

Detach your self from the 'if's. A change of thought can certainly brighten up your mood and help you sustain it.

That doesn't mean that you should renounce all your materialistic pleasures. It only means that you should realize that you are greater than all those things put together. An iPod is just a thing that is there to entertain you; you are its master. Being the master you should be able to live without it. Remember, the master is always powerful than the servant. So the former should definitely be able to do whatever the latter can.

Having confused you a bit, I would like to jump to a different facet or dimension that is concerned with being happy. The first thing one needs to do in order to be happy is to be thankful.

Be thankful for sitting in front of a computer reading this blog post. Because, there are millions of people in the world who don't know to read and an equal number of people who haven't even heard of a computer.

Be thankful for each and every thing you have in life. Don't worry if you don't have something today. You'll get it tomorrow. Now that brings us to another thing.

Hope.

That four letter word which is as indispensable as love. I strongly feel that hope is not a dead thing. It is in fact, a good thing. That's what makes you accomplish things.

I fell in love with this quote the moment I saw it, which is nearly 5 years ago.

"The difference between an optimist and a pessimist is droll;
The former sees the donut, the latter sees the hole."

I'm an optimist. I'm grateful for whatever I have in life.

I'm grateful for the wonderful parents I've got.
I'm grateful for the highly supportive friends I've got.
I'm grateful to the arts which never fail to make me feel good. Perhaps that's the reason I'm good at them.
I'm grateful to my teachers.
I'm grateful...
I'm grateful...

The list goes on and on. I'm grateful for each and every thing that happens in my life. This is what they call looking at things in the right perspective.

I don't feel bad that the girl I love doesn't reciprocate my feelings. I only feel happy that I can love someone so much. Isn't that something one should feel really happy for?

I'm grateful to her for making me realize the magnitude and intensity of love that is present in me.

And I hope that all will be well in the end.

As you sow, so shall you reap.

I've sown something invaluable. So, I'll definitely not fail.
This is a matter of hope. It makes me feel good.

I'm grateful and hopeful. I'm grateful for the past and hopeful for the future.

Hence I'm happy. :)

I don't know if I have confused you or if I have helped you come to a conclusion.

Feel happy if I have confused you, because conclusion follows confusion. Feel happy if I have made my point clear because I have helped you reach a conclusion.