Breathing Life Into Webcomics : Pay Attention

Abstract: This work explored the potential issues concerning attention when adding animation to a webcomic. The aim of the research has been to quantify reader reactions to a comic with animated elements to investigate potential gain or loss from the new format. The research question is formulated with regards to the specific issues of attention and distraction that movement poses on a reader’s ability to focus on the narrative content. A prototype comic tested the guidelines discovered in the background with regards to how animation should work in comics. The results shows that with the guidelines participation reaction becomes more predictable. The prototype was tested on a small group of participants, and the results show that while animations do distract they do not necessarily negatively impact reader experience. The conclusion is that animation within comics has the potential to further the media expression and that is worthy of further study.