Creative Engagement: Shakespeare's Animated Theater

Jessica Paranczak's rumination "Shakespeare on a TV near you" actually got me thinking about more interpretations of Shakespeare. By far the most interesting interpretations that I could find (on YouTube) is BBC's Shakespeare: The Animated Tales. I think this is a really good chance to see a Shakespeare play interpreted without being limited by the resources of the stage or even live-action, and in ways it may actually be closer to how Shakespeare might have thought about them.
Each play is given a totally different treatment under different directors and some in different mediums (claymation, cell animation, puppets, etc.). The semester is winding down and a lot of us are dealing with finals and research papers, but if you get the chance I would definitely recommend you check out at least one of these episodes.

It was really interesting to see a low-budget prison production of the Tempest. I believe that creativity works best when your resources are lowest. But watching the Tempest in animated form with actual Shakespearean (actual British) actors is incredibly rewarding. Stop-motion animation always creeped me out so I apologize ahead of time.

THE TEMPEST

 

 The dark, gloomy, and violent Macbeth was done serious justice in this episode. I've got to say this is my favorite out of the bunch although I'm personally partial to Macbeth anyway. Award-winning actor Brian Cox tears up Denmark as the voice behind Macbeth.

MACBETH

The infamous Romeo and Juliet is done here in a very colorful way. I actually haven't finished this one, but it's very uniquely animated and really well directed.

ROMEO & JULIET

If Macbeth didn't satiate your thirst for treachery and bloodshed, then the Julius Caesar will. This interpretation, like Macbeth, was done with a very surrealistic style that stays very true to the style of the play itself.

JULIUS CAESAR

Just to end on a positive note, here's A Midsummer Night's Dream. I'm not a big fan of the style in which characters are drawn, but the direction, voice acting, and artistry are all top notch. The donkey-headed Nick Bottom is voiced by Bernard Hill, best known as King Theoden from the Lord of the Rings and the Captain from Titanic. Again, I apologize for the somewhat terrifying style of animation, but you should give it a chance because it really is well done.

A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM

It's hard to say whether Shakespeare is better suited for animation or live-action, but there is most certainly a huge difference. I still prefer to simply read the plays rather than watch them, but every interpretation of Shakespeare seems to add a totally new perspective on his plays.