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The Wrong Trousers Micro Analysis, Title - wag, image, Eyeline match -…
The Wrong Trousers Micro Analysis
Mise en Scene
Wallace's outfit suggests that he is a typically Old fashioned character, despite his ways with technology and inventing. His sweater vest is common for most older men to wear, especially the elderly. The juxtaposition with Wallace's extensive technological knowledge combats the spectators expectations of him as the elderly are stereotypically bad with all things technology.
The medium of clay allows for very comedic, exaggerated moments in the short film. The animators can convey a wider range of emotions that the human face is unable to naturally make for emotional value.
The spare room that was listed "to let" had a run down, uncared for appearance. The action of Gromit being deduced to this decayed room places him as the second choice in this scenario as Wallace hardly tries to intervene with the penguin claiming Gromit's room as his own. Gromit being placed as the second choice also further emotionally aligns the spectator with him as they can hopefully sympathise with him, and feel pity for him as his best friend pushes him to the side.
When it is revealed that Penguin has began the process of redecorating Gromit's room the pattern of the wallpaper is made apparent. It is fish. Although dogs and penguins are not typically polar opposites, cats and dogs are; we can link the fish to cats, and typically we compare cats to dogs. This choice of set dressing indicates that Penguin and Gromit are complete polar opposites to one another, and we can see that in Penguin's malicious intents throughout the short film.
The note on the robotic trousers that reads "To Gromit, Love Wallace x" completely contradicts the threatening nature in which they were introduced with. This note was placed on purpose to make the trousers appear as though they are a friend to the Wallace and Gromit household, not a foe like they end up being manipulated into being.
Cinematography
A slow outwards zoom for the gift is paired
with an inwards zoom and canted angle shot of
Gromit. The outwards zoom helps to build suspense through ths slow reveal of the form of the gift and the inwards zoom/canted angle suggest something is wrong (foreshadowing how the trousers will be used) and create a sense of claustrophobia.
During the diamond robbery scene, multiple extreme close up shots of the robotic shoes are used to emphasise the precision needed from Feathers via the controls. It also switches between close up shots of four focuses: the controls, Feathers' face, the shoes and the diamond. This assists in creating tension due to the closeness of the camera as it mirrors the accuracy neccesary for the heist.
A handheld camera is used during the train scene, mimicking the style of fast-paced action films and enhancing the sense of danger as Gromit attempts to apprehend Feathers.
A close up shot of Gromit's face as he picks up his and Wallace's framed photograph enhances the emotional aspect of the scene, allowing the viewers to see his eyes tear up. This is especially important as Gromit is a nonverbal character so the shot showing his exposed vulnerability reveals the intensity of the betrayal.
An extreme close up is used after Gromit is tormented by Feathers' constant playing of music; this helps to exaggerate the annoyance shown on Gromit's face and exemplify that he is nearing the height of his frustration and defeat.
Editing
Fade to black after the title screen to open up the film, implies it is the beginning of a new day, characters have just woken up.
Eyeline match - Gromit looks over at the noise and the next shot is a close up of the board, this allows the audience to 'be in the room' and makes it seem more realistic. Moreover, this is used to introduce the next character - Wallace. Moreover, this is also a J cut, as we can hear the sound of the alarm before we see the alarm.
Introduction title text, quickly pops up on the screen. The fast pace of the text appearing and the font used immediately give of a horror element.
Footage has been assembled in a shot reverse shot style at the dinner table to show a conversation between Wallace and Gromit. The reverse shot of Gromit emphasises the bitterness from Gromit as he thinks Wallace forgot his birthday.
Additional Info
Released: 1993
30 mins
Dir. Nick Park
Gromit (a dog) finds himself being pushed out of his room and home by a new lodger who is actually a ruthless criminal (and a small penguin). The penguin is planning a robbery and needs to use Wallace and his mechanical remote controlled trousers to pull off the raid. However, Gromit is wise to the penguin and comes to the rescue.
Sound
During our introductory scene, the diegetic sound of birds chirping is used to signify that it's the early morning.
The short film uses lots of pleonastic sound, likely because it's harder to get certain actions across within the Claymation, so adding lots of pleonastic sound makes certain actions more comprehensible to the viewers.
Pleonastic sound is used the most in the first scene at the breakfast table, and the scene where the Penguin has Wallace break into the bank.
The Non-Diegetic score is mainly present within tense and comedic scenes, often working to amplify the impact of said scenes.
For example, when the Penguin is introduced, a menacing, low brass score begins to play - thereby foreshadowing the Penguin's malicious intent before we even know him.
In contrast, following when Gromit opens his birthday card, there's a distinct lack of non-diegetic sound, with the audio being solely diegetic until the introduction of the "wrong trousers" - where an ominous score begins to play. The absence of score during a more domestic scene between Wallace and Gromit grounds the moment in reality - this isn't a spectacle or point of high tension like the rest of the short film, but rather a quiet moment between the two.
For example, when the Wrong Trousers walk Wallace out of the house, a low brass score reminiscent of the Penguin's theme begins to play, before transitioning into a score that resembles the "Wallace and Gromit" theme tune in sound. This paints the moment as more comedic, as it serves as a narrative punishment for Wallace after he ignored Gromit. This "punishment" was necessary in order to move the plot as well as to appease the audience, by giving Wallace some comeuppance for treating Gromit poorly.
Wallace is the only character who has any spoken dialogue - both Gromit and the Penguin are animals, so their means of expression relies more in body language and gestures. The lack of dialogue serves to make the Penguin in particular more menacing, as he never says what his plan is and we instead have to infer it from visual cues.
The choice for only Wallace to have dialogue is based on a desire for realism (despite the absurdity of the short) as animals can't talk.
Performance
Audience can interpret Gromit and the Penguin’s mannerisms and behaviour without needing to hear them. We make impressions on both the characters through their facial expressions, and how they act towards one another.
We see the penguin walk off, then suddenly on the beat of some loud string instruments, the penguin turns and stares straight at the camera (aimed from Gromit’s POV). Extreme close-ups of Gromit show his fear, and we are made to be fearful as well.
Two of the three main characters remaining completely silent throughout the film, performance is not really a forefront of the film.
Gromit exaggerated facial expressions, which allow us to understand his thoughts and feelings without the need for him to tell us them. Park humanises the dog and give it human-like emotions and expressions.
Gromit breaks the fourth wall, when he lands on a chair facing away from the table as jam is sent hurtling towards him, covering his face. Gromit turns and stares at the camera, without saying a word, the sarcastic thoughts are seen.
Wallace doesn’t appear to recognise Gromit’s reaction to the penguin, which is why we align ourselves with Gromit to a further extent than we do with Wallace.
Through Wallace and Gromit’s performances, we are lead to believe that despite Wallace being Gromit’s “owner”, Wallace depends on Gromit in many situations.
