Representations of Scent In Animation

By Kyle Block

     In animated film and television, there is a special emphasis on audio and visual elements that serve to evoke an illusion of smell within the minds of viewers. Animated scenes, like the ones found below, use specific camera angles and manipulate the visual perspective of characters to affect the perception of viewers. Also, because animation is an interpretation of real life and not a reflection, editors can exaggerate sounds by fabricating them and giving them a heightened level of tangibility. A heavy exaggeration of facial expressions and personal reactions (verbal and non-verbal) to smells help viewers to imagine the smells as if they were seeping out of their television monitors. The choice of music and the setting of a story may also invite viewers to associate personal experiences and connections with the aromas being represented on screen. Using a variety of techniques, animators can manipulate a viewer’s perception of smell, while representing it with different meanings. 

Representation of aroma in Ratatouille-

     In this first clip, I analyze different animation techniques from the movie Ratatouille that are used to represent the smells of an Italian kitchen, while presenting scent as a characteristic of high class, authenticity and precision. The movie focuses on the life of a human chef -named Linguini- that is only able to perform expert cooking ability under the direct physical control of a mouse with an incredibly sensitive nose. The sequence begins soft classical music playing in a fancy Italian restaurant. The dialogue revolves around a desire for a new special recipe made personally from the chef, Linguini. Ambient sound effects of silverwear and dinner plates are present. These sounds of a resturant are familiar to the audience as being related to the act of fine dining. Immediately, the audience can smell that this ‘special’ meal is one of expertise and authenticity. Specific dialogue is used to make this dish reek with a unique odor when the head chef reminds the waiter “don’t forget to stress its Linguininess”. A long list of ingredients is read to give the audience a strong mental image of all of the smells and tastes that are part of the dish. The female chef makes sour facial expressions as she reads certain ingredients. Her tone of voice and facial reactions made me feel that the dish had a pungent smell that would make my eyes water. As the mouse conducts Linguini’s movements, from behind the veil of the white chef’s hat, an emphasis on sound helps the smell become more apparent. The sniffing noises are exaggerated and different spices and liquids are sloshed together to establish the aroma of an Italian kitchen. The mouse decides to improvise his own recipe and manipulate Linguini like a puppet. The customers eat the dish with smiles on their faces and a wave of special requests rush back to the kitchen. The music continues and the words ‘special order’ are repeated as dish after dish is served to happy and hungry customers. The mouse’s recipe is bold and intuitive, reinforcing the notion of expertise and authenticity of the food and its omniscient aroma. In this scene, scent most strongly relied on the sound effects (primary- sniffing, dialogue, sizzling and Ambient- Italian music, and silver wear scraping on porcelain dishes) to engage its audience to smell the dish as if it were real.

Representation of Stinkiness in Ren and Stimpy-

     The next sequence is a compilation of clips from different episodes of the show, Ren and Stimpy. In this sequence, there is a heavy emphasis on the visual and verbal modalities of animation to help provide viewers with a sense of smell. A close up depiction of Ren’s mouth reveals his teeth to be rotting with discoloration, desinigration, and fumes emitting from his mouth. Animation enables smells to be represented as a physical property that can be seen visually. The swirly, dark and transparent fumes flow out of Ren’s mouth and the audience can see the smell as if it were as tangible as smoke from a fire. Green and hairy tounges, big and fat shirtless prison inmates, projectile vomiting of mysterious brown goup and rotten discolored body parts all represent a sickening odor of poor hygiene and bodily fluids. The narrator tells its audience that what they are smelling is ‘not their imagination’, but in fact it is Ren and Stimpy’s stinky stories.” The word ‘stinky’ is repeated multiple times as visual depictions of grotesque images are compiled. Sound also plays a significant role as fart noises, the buzzing of a fly, and a prolonged slurpring sound as Stimpy licks a thick patch of hair of a burley man’s arm, all evoke certain emotional responses from viewers as they experience this multimodality. Many of these sounds are familiar to all viewers (sniffing, farting, purging, slurping etc.) and thus, a notion of ‘stink’ is bound to sounds and colors that result from bodily functions.

     Below I have posted a slightly sped up version of a Spongebob Squarepants episode titled, “Something Smells”. Try to apply your knowledge to analyze the ways that these animators convey a sense of smell through multimodal representation. Further, consider the social and cultural associations that the smells in this episode are connected with. Along with the social descrimination of certain odors, what are the cultural implications of this representation of odor in society? Do the representations of smells in this cartoon tend to be more based on specificity and precision (the exactness or what is being presented) or ambiguity and fluidity (the smell is mysterious and its interpretation is arbitrary, depending on the viewer).