Der brechtsche V-Effekt im Animationsfilm

: Der Einsatz von Verfremdung in David O’Reillys The External World und Ari Folmans Waltz with Bashir

Abstract

This thesis explores how Bertolt Brecht’s concept of the alienation effect can be translated into the medium of animation and further developed within this artistic field. Brecht’s intention was to disrupt theatrical illusion in order to release audiences from passive consumption and encourage critical reflection and political engagement. While his methodology was originally conceived for the stage, this thesis asks to what extent its principles can be applied to animated films, which—due to their inherent artificiality, stylistic flexibility, and formal freedom—offer unique conditions for strategies of alienation. The theoretical part outlines the central characteristics of animation that make it particularly suitable for the use of alienation techniques, such as the explicit “madeness” of images and the free manipulation of space, time, and narrative. Building on this, the thesis provides an analysis of David O’Reilly’s The External World (2010) and Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir (2008), examining how elements of alienation function within the films and how they contribute to the overall narrative and aesthetic design. Finally, the findings are connected to the practical component of the thesis, the short film mouse.mp4. The aim is to reflect, from both a theoretical and practical perspective, on how Brecht’s Verfremdungseffekt can be productively adapted to animation.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Jürgen Hagler (Supervisor)