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Why the shape of your screen matters - Brian Gervase

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TEDEd Animation

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Watching a movie at home isn’t quite the same experience as seeing it at a movie theater -- but why? Learn how changes in aspect ratio affect every film, and why your television might not be delivering the whole picture.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

The Letterbox and Widescreen Advocacy Page is a great source for easy-to-understand information about aspect ratios, widescreen, the "black bars" on the top and bottom of your screen, pan-and-scan, and so much more! http://www.widescreen.org/
For an indepth look at aspect ratios and other technical terms related to the size of your screen, visit this website: http://bitbucket.co.uk/work/aspect_ratios.html
For more information, visit this Wikipedia page. You'll find pictures, diagrams, and relevant links to help you understand aspect ratios: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_%28image%29

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Animator Andrei Feheregyhazi
  • Educator Brian Gervase
  • Narrator Brian Gervase

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