Ellen Besen knows animation. And with over 35 years in the business, including directing films for the National Film Board and broadcast work for CBC Radio on the topic of animation, she has just published her first book, Animation Unleashed: 100 Principles Every Animator, Comic Book Writer, Filmmaker, Video Artist and Game Developer Should Know, as a guide for young animators.

With the success of feature films like WALL-E and Kung Fu Panda, there’s no doubt there is a strong market for 3D animation. But Besen prefers the more traditional approach demonstrated in films like Oscar-noms Waltz with Bashir and Persepolis. In fact, she notes that animation has become a popular medium for documentary filmmakers eager to avoid the stale interview style and cheesy re-enactments. According to Besen, animation ‘allows incidents for which there is no recorded footage to be powerfully visualized in a manner that is more effective and more personal than live-action recreations.’

The distance it provides also makes it a prime tool for expressing political or social views. Besen explains that animation is a good forum for social commentary because ‘in a fictional context, it can amplify the power of allegory by presenting it very literally. This approach creates a critical degree of psychological distance, allowing difficult subject matter to be explored and even enjoyed as entertainment without losing its message.’ Look to shows like South Park and Family Guy as evidence. They manage to cover taboo subjects otherwise avoided in primetime.

As for the next evolution in animation? Perhaps total domination.

‘I do believe that digital technology is going to significantly change the balance between live action and animation, giving animation a much larger presence,’ says Besen.