Ways of adapting literary works, myths and fables within the animated feature films

Abstract

This paper investigates issues of fable adaptation into an animated film. Further, it analyses why characters from fables are transformed in particular ways to conform with contemporary preferences. Additionally, concepts of realistic depictions of time and space are explored to demonstrate how fables use these elements flexibly as vehicles in which to explore national and cultural history, values, and beliefs. Today films tend to be the preferred narrative medium and many fables are animated rather than live-action — rapid development of modern technology contributes to this tendency of cinematic substitution. Among these animated fable adaptations, there are several approaches; from absolutely faithful-to-the-source-material versions to highly divergent examples and these approaches are influenced by culture. The stories chosen for adaptation tend to refer to certain cultural values and reproduce historical concepts which support key themes in their animated versions. Their characters are thus necessarily transformed to conform to a contemporary environment. The practical redesign of folklore characters to contemporary standards is investigated to better understand how future adaptation processes may be improved.