The Function of the Spider Web in 1930s Cartoon Animations

Abstract

This Paper investigates the diverse functions of the spider web on the narrative and spatial level in cartoon animations from the 1930s, considering the technical conditions and the animation style of the period. In these films, while a spider often plays the villain, a cobweb can appear not only as a trap but also as various objects due to its simple but unique form, often providing clues for “the passage of time” by giving the impression of desolation or even poverty. Most importantly, a cobweb functions as various Depth Cues because of its web-like structure and thus creates visual depth in a two-dimensional world. Its transparency is also advantageous in the spatial composition of cell animations, which consist of multiple layers. In The Old Mill, a translucent plane formed by a cobweb right in the front stresses the cross-over motion of focus—going deep into the mill—thereby enhancing the impression of depth created by a multiplane camera. Moreover, depicting a delicate spider web also serves as the optimal showcase for the Disney Studio’s advanced colour techniques and sophisticated drawing skills.