The Use of Animation in Education and "Karagoz Academy" as a Sample Study

Abstract

Animation, which is applied through the use of many techniques and methods such as traditional technique, stop-motion technique and computer, has been used effectively in many areas since its first emergence. The main areas where animation is often used nowadays are entertainment, commercials and education. Thanks to technological advances, animation has played an active role especially in entertainment sector by creating a new language in cinema, and it has been quite effective in education sector by helping educators to present visualized versions of difficult formulas, abstract notions and structures in their teaching environment. Karagoz Shadow Theater is theatrical show, which is based on the stories of two traditional Turkish characters called Karagoz and Hacivat. Although there are not reliable resources about its historical development, it is considered a popular form of public entertainment during Ramadans; the whole-month period when Muslims fast. This study deals with an animation-book project titled "Academy Karagoz" and prepared as part of "virtual education programs". Being an educational program, this project has been inspired by traditional shadow theater and aims at explaining the role of mathematics in our lives. Animation was thought to be the best method to realize this aim and a 13-episode animation project were prepared accordingly.