Bump

I love the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Not all movies from my childhood hold up, but this one does. The story, the humor, the characters, and the animation all connect, especially for an 80s movie.

The movie blends the human world with a cartoon world. A cartoon rabbit is charged with murder and claims he was framed. He hires Eddie Valiant, an angry, toon-hating human detective. To create “realism,” each animated element was painted directly on the film in layers for depth.

There is a scene where the clumsy Roger Rabbit is handcuffed to Eddie. Eddie is furious and wants to detach himself as quickly as possible. They bump into a hanging lamp while looking for a saw in a dimly lit room. The lamp swings wildly through most of the scene, creating dramatic shadows.

It is a relatively short scene, but the animators took special care and attention. They ensured that the swinging shadow in the room was mimicked in every frame of Roger. At Disney, this level of excruciating detail to something that may not be directly noticed became known as “bumping the lamp.”

My work, in the broadest sense, reflects the essence of my mood. My interactions and output—essentially everything I create—are influenced by the level of care I invest in them. While it may not be seen, this attention to the details can be felt.

Do I notice the care in others' work? While not everything I do needs this level of investment, do I notice what should? Will I put in the effort to bump the lamp?

Be curious, be kind, be whole, do good things.