Analysing a 3-4minute extract

Extract: Toy Story 3, The Incinerator Scene

Intro

I have analysed a scene from Toy Story 3, because personally I like this film as it is a classic and even though it is animated and doesn't have actors/actresses I feel that it shows different techniques and emotions. I find this scene to be exciting and full of suspense.

Sound

Within the first few seconds of the Incinerator Scene, there is diegetic sound from the machinery grinding up waste in the background. Whilst Woody is searching for his friends, music appears. The music's dark and mysterious; this highlights Woody's emotion, setting and his worry for his friends. At this point the music is non-diegetic. Throughout the 4 minute and 39 second extract the characters' voices are all diegetic.

As Buzz, Woody and Lots-O' fall from the magnetic ceiling, you hear the ruffling of the shredded waste as they land, this is diegetic sound.

The first 1 minute and 22 seconds of the extract, there are echoes in voices at times (diegetic). It emphasises the emptiness of the setting and how big the setting is for the characters.

The close up on Woody's face and the high-pitched non-diegetic music in the background shows Woody's realisation that what Rex saw wasn't what he thought he saw. Tensions build for audience members. This scene onwards tension is built up further, audience members become tense and worried and keeps the audience guessing.

Noise then escalates from a low sound to a high pitched sound to show how far away the toys are from danger. High pitched violins are used throughout this point in the extract as it builds tension, creates suspense and a terrifying atmosphere as the toys panic and run for their lives. The panting of the toys are heard as they run, this makes you on edge as you want them to live. We sympathise the toys. The music is fast paced to build tension. It then suddenly changed to deep, dark, low sounded instruments this gives a sense of something evil about to happen.

As the toys fall, instruments play quickly to exaggerate how far they fell. After the non-diegetic sound of the instruments, machinery is heard. You hear a clinking noise from the machinery over 5 times every 2 seconds to add tension. this diegetic noise then merges into non-diegetic noise and turns into instruments making a deep noise every couple of seconds. Violins, non-diegetic sound is being played as it's a miserable part. The same musical instruments are played in the same way, this builds tension.

Towards the end of this scene, angelic voices are sung to highlight that it's a miracle, that they've been saved, it's a key moment. Trumpets are played after to show the triumph of the rescue. Machine noises are also played in the background at times. Light, happy music is being played and the characters begin to talk. Whereas before in danger, their actions spoke louder than, their words and they didn't talk to each other. The music clearly showed the emotions of the situation. There's foreboading in this extract, foreboading's when tension is built and itmakes the audience think something bad will happen. Sound's important in the part of the extract where no one speaks, as it is tense.

As Lots-O' sneaks off a dustbin truck stops beside him, the noise of the truck are diegetic.

Mise-en-scene
A close up of Woody and then onto his point of view shot, which is panned slowly. Old appliances are shown and the atmosphere is dark with no lighting, this gives us a clue to the setting. An over the shoulder shot of the group's point of view of Rex and what he was seeing. As it moves onto a close up of Rex, we see that the group of toys are stood behind Rex blurred, while Rex is clear. As Woody moves next to Rex he becomes in focus for example.

 Editing

The characters and the setting of the place in the extract are all clear and detailed. At the start action is face-paced as they’re running and trying to escape from danger. It then slows down as it’s a sad moment and everyone thinks they are coming to an end and they struggle and give up.

Cinematography

Lots of ranges of shots are used such as; point of view, slow panned, bird’s eye view, medium shot.

Most of the colours and lighting in the start of the film and dark and there is no light. However above the stop button is a flashy whitey, blue light this signifies that this could be what saves them. As they come to the dangerous near death experience part, you see a bright light at the end of the tunnel; however, this isn’t daylight, its fire. Just as they’re being recused a bright, whitey, blue light is shone this gives a sense of heaven and safety. Daylight is also shown at the end to show they’re outside and it makes the setting.

In one part of the extract Jessie calls Woody’s name. Woody then looks down; this is his point of view from a bird’s eye view shot. In the first part of the extract it changes from birds eye shots to medium shots of the whole group a few times. These dramatic changes in shots highlight the smallness of the toys.