# WWI-Cut Paper Documentaries 'And We Were Young' by Andy Smetanka Combines Beauty with Brutality By Andrew Robertson | Published 2012-05-28 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/andy-smetanka References: [laughingsquid](http://laughingsquid.com/and-we-were-young-a-cut-paper-animated-documentary-about-americans-in-wwi/) & [kickstarter](http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1486916197/and-we-were-young) There is an abundance of [WWI documentaries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bruz-beers1) that describe the extreme violence and brutality that characterized the first great war, including the new Andy Smetanka piece. The documentary about the Meuse-Argonne campaign, which remains to be the bloodiest battle in American history, does, however, boast an extra element of artistic value. Made out of thousands of [cut-out paper characters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fragmenti), 'We Were Young' will combine real-life narratives from survivors of the battle with paper animations. The project has been funded through [Kickstarter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stl-sculptures) and demonstrates the potential for new forms of art to relay history in a captivating and emotionally compelling way. As described on the projects Kickstarter page, "Smetanka's feature debut demonstrates what fighting men have always noticed: that war, in all its abject ugliness, can have its senseless beauty, too." The silhouettes of the soldiers against a crimson sky are both distressing and moving. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.3/10 - Popularity: 1% | Activity: 1% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Cut-out Paper Animations:** The use of cut-out paper animations in documentaries presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for filmmakers to create visually captivating and emotionally compelling storytelling experiences. - **Artistic History Narratives:** The combination of art and history narratives in documentaries opens up a disruptive innovation opportunity for filmmakers to create unique and engaging ways of relaying historical events to audiences. - **Crowdfunding for Creative Projects:** The success of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter in funding art projects showcases a disruptive innovation opportunity for artists and creators to secure financial support for their ventures. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Film and Entertainment:** The film and entertainment industry can explore the use of cut-out paper animations to create visually stunning documentaries and reshape the storytelling experience for viewers. - **Art and History Education:** The integration of art and history in documentaries provides an innovative opportunity for the education industry to engage students in a captivating and immersive learning experience. - **Crowdfunding Platforms:** The success of Kickstarter in funding creative projects indicates a disruptive innovation opportunity for the crowdfunding industry to continue supporting artists, filmmakers, and other creators. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Journalist-Focused Short Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-shooting.md) - [Iconic World War Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/world-war-armies.md) - [Cross-Continental Beer Brewing Documentaries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beer-is-art-campaign.md) - [Contemporary Military Fashion Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ukrainian-brand-rbtnk.md) - [Material Memory Watches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/normandie-1944.md) - [3D-Printed Flip Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stl-sculptures.md) - [Explosion-Damaged Sculpture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/light-into-darkness.md) - [Sculptural Paper Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fragmenti.md) - [Analog Nostalgia Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/back-to-basics-ii.md)