Paper On Imaginative Play

As a Student attending Eastern Michigan University, I study in the Simulation Animation and Gaming program. I plan to become an Animator or Game Designer after getting my degree in the S.A.G. program. When considering a career, it is important to know whether or not it will be fun for you or not. In order to be sure of this I have done research on how animation companies foster creativity and innovation. I have learned that examining imaginative play can help us understand how we play ourselves (Conroy). Companies like DreamWorks, Disney, and
Pixar animation studios have very unique techniques of making employees think more openly by focusing on helping them enhance their creativity which makes them all some of the top power houses in animation.

Steve Conroy is an independent animator that has taught Undergraduate and Graduate animation at the University of Toledo (Conroy). He conducted a study using imaginative play to better understand the mental process of creativity. Conroy recorded him and his daughter walking in the park and used the voice over in an animation he created he also paid close attention to the imaginative transformations she would make (Conroy). He came to the conclusion that, “imaginative play can be used to create characters with a greater sense of realism and stronger emotional connections to the viewer (Conroy).” Steve Conroy also states that, “I was also able to better understand my own creative processes” after examining his daughters imagination transitions. Steve’s conclusion shows us that imaginative play can be used to help develop an animation that will make viewers more immersed into the

If play is in involved in the workplace, it would show that we enjoy what we do because it wouldn’t just be a job; it would be your passion. The most outstanding motive of play is purpose because in this motive you do something for the outcome and not just to do it (McGregor). Companies like DreamWorks implement play in the workplace because they want their employees to feel safe about sharing successes, mistakes and to take risks. At DreamWorks they give employees perks like “free movie screenings on Monday night, snacks and a cafeteria with wooden picnic tables (Hennemen).” These benefits may seem small but they reduce stress in order for the employees too have an open mind for ideas and have plenty of opportunities to share them. DreamWorks fosters creativity with this method believing that an animator cannot put out their best work if they feel their job is in jeopardy because they make a mistake and limit their open thinking (Hennemen). This philosophy that DreamWorks implements on the job, gives employees the purpose motive of play because they feel they create animations because of the outcome of a complete project and not for the purpose of fighting to keep their