Using Animation to depict "The Real"

In chapter four Walt Disney is quoted with saying, “I definitely feel that we cannot do the fantastic things based on the real, unless we first know the real.” When it comes to animation, I completely agree with this quote. Animators who are creating characters also have to create the multiple different emotions that these characters feel. Without having experienced these emotions and experiences hands on first, how can they accurately depict them through animation? By honing in on these emotions and experiences, animators can ultimately create a much stronger and emotional scene. In chapter 2, the book talks about caricature and realism as parts of animation. I do not feel that there is a contradiction between this quote and those concepts. Realism and caricature are simply just two ways of depicting a situation or emotion that those animators have experienced in “the real.” Sure, realism is supposed to be a more truthful and accurate depiction of a certain emotion or situation. By creating a scene that is more focused on realism, the audience will be able to connect with that scene or character greatly. However, caricature can have the exact same effect in my opinion, and in some cases even push that emotion even further. Caricature is exaggerating the emotion of a character to the furthest degree. I think that sometimes exaggeration in animation can be a key aspect to really making the scene more powerful and emotional for an audience. It may look more like a cartoon and not realistic, but there are definitely moments where that exaggeration works just as well as realism.