In the garden

Corompt's research focuses on aspects of animation, such as anthropomorphism, caricature and the animate space. She extends this further in this work as she aims to respond to a lack of screen media for very young a child that is also appropriate for their development. 'In the Garden' is part of an animation series aimed at the 0 - 4 age-groups that introduces toddlers to the wonders of nature in the suburban backyard. The work innovatively creates a form of story telling that is not didactic but instead encourages interactivity and enquiry rather than passivity. Collaborating with writer Sonia Orchard, Corompt uses simple animation with sound effects and music to depict familiar life cycles of nature found within an average backyard, without the use of dialogue, or narration. RVI (rapid visual imaging) has been identified as being harmful to young developing brains particularly under 3 years (Royal Australasian College of Physicians [RACP] 2004) and so many children's TV programs are not suitable for the under 3 age-group. In addition, the prevalence of narration and dialogue in children's TV shows promotes a viewing habit that is passive, whereby the child is relying on the voices to provide the narrative information. With only music and sound, this work shows that the viewer may more actively contribute to the story, as well as sharing the experience with others such as carers or siblings. This DVD is unique to the market of pre-school screen media and has received encouraging feedback in the way children are responding and interacting with the DVD. Responses include, that children are talking and pointing to the characters on the screen, (children generally don't 'talk' to conventional television) and when they go out into the garden, are excited when they see the real versions of what they saw on the screen and will repeat the words.