Madama Butterfly Blog
At first glance, "Madama Butterfly" claymation was quite horrifying. It wasn't due to the plot or the characters, but rather a personal taste, or distaste, of claymation films. Most claymation films have given me a bone-chilling feeling after viewing them. There isn't a particular reason behind it. I wasn't haunted by my toys, nor was I afraid of Toy Story.
Aside from the eerieness of the film, I thought that the plot was unsettling. It was predictable that the man would have sex with Madama then leave because he's in the Navy and can't stay on a deserted island with a random woman from the woods. A few incidences stood out and caught my eye in a distasteful manner. After Madama gave birth to the child, she kept the umbilical cord attached. I understand that it was supposed to be symbolism for how in love and attached she is to the man and the child was her only memory of him. However, was it really necessary for her child to fly her like a kite from the cord? Additionally, the representation of Madama didn't do her justice. In the opera, Madama is a rather beautiful woman. The claymation made her seem like a wild woman of the island. With her hair unkempt and raggedy clothes, there was almost a feeling of sorrow for when you felt like she depended on the Sailor. Each detail was some sort symbolism and had meaning, but the visual effects brought in with the meaning took away from the sentimental feeling.
That all being said, the short film was very moving emotionally. After getting past most of the cringe-worthy moments, having a sailor come back and physically rip the child away from Madama was truly powerful. There is no worse feeling a mother could have than being separated from her child, and that is later shown by her disassembling herself.
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