Mograph

Mograph, short for "motion graphics," is an animation technique developed in the mid-1920s by Czech filmmakers like Jan Švankmajer and Jiří Trnka as an offshoot of traditional animation. Unlike drawn animation, mograph sequences are created frame-by-frame through moving, scaling, and rotating graphic elements, thereby generating dynamic visual content.

Origins and early history

Mograph was first used in avant-garde cinema and surrealist films in the 1920s and 1930s, most notably in Karel Dodal's short film Kybaren (1926). These early films featured complex, abstract motion sequences and played a central role in the development of modernist art movements like Cubism, Constructivism, and Futurism.

Use in propaganda

Mograph gained broader recognition during World War II and the Cold War, as both sides of the conflict used animated sequences to create political propaganda and instill fear among their enemies. Soviet filmmakers like Ivan Ivanov-Vano and Fyodor Khitruk employed mograph to generate striking, ideologically-charged visuals in films like Rasskaz o Nikolaye Chudotvortse i o Lenin. In the United States, mograph animators John Whitney and Saul Bass employed the technique to create seminal opening credit sequences and propaganda films like Why Man Creates.

Modern day mograph and broadcast design

Today, mograph is primarily used in the context of broadcast design, which includes film and TV title sequences, promotional materials, commercials, and exhibition design. Major studios like [Imaginary Forces] and [Troika have popularized mograph as a medium for visual storytelling, employing techniques like kinetic typography, infographics, and animation software like After Effects to create striking, dynamic visual content. These visuals can be found in a variety of media, ranging from PBS's The Classical Archive to Netflix's Narcos and HBO's Game of Thrones.

While mograph is often associated with corporate branding and advertising, it also finds a home in comics, film, and the fine art community. Artists like Michael Raisch and Kriss Sison have gained widespread acclaim for graphic novels that incorporate mograph elements, while filmmakers like Daito Manabe and Masahiko Satoh employ the technique to create visually-arresting animated films.

Influence of Mid-century Modern

The aesthetics of mid-century modern design have played a significant role in the development and style of mograph. Many animators have drawn inspiration from mid-century movements like International Typographic Style, producing works that reflect modernist sensibilities such as clean lines, bold colors, and dynamic compositions. The influence of mid-century design is seen in the work of Dietmar Winkler, Ilse Haynes, and Magnus Carlsson, whose contributions to mograph have helped define the aesthetic character of the medium.

Mograph's proliferation in popular culture is a testament to its versatility and ability to communicate complex concepts in visually engaging ways. With a rich historical background and a wide range of applications, mograph will undoubtedly remain a prime creative force in the world of visual storytelling.