AMERICAN ANIMATION:

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—————A History————

Animation is one of the most all-permeating forms of visual communication today, seen everywhere from TV channels dedicated solely to cartoons to the graphic interfaces on our smartphones. Yet, while most of us have a vague idea of how, when, and where it all began, we tend to take for granted the incredible visual storytelling possible today.

With that in mind, here’s a brief history of the medium’s beloved beginnings.

1

Animation Before Film

With the rise of the Industrial Revolution in Europe and North America in the 18th and 19th centuries came experimentation with machines that would make images appear to move.

Invented in 1603, the Magic Lantern is an image projector that uses pictures on sheets of glass. Since some sheets contain moving parts, it’s considered the first example of projected animation.

Yet, even before the Magic Lantern, contraptions like the phenakistoscope, depicted above, and thaumotrope used rotating mechanisms to show a combined picture (known as persistence of vision). In the late 1860s, the flipbook, also known as the kineogrpah, reached a wide audience and is credited with inspiring early animators even more than the machines developed during this era.

The Silent Era

2

The early 20th century marks the beginning of theatrical showings of cartoons, especially in the United States and France. Many animantors formed studios - the Bray Studios in New York proved the most successful, launching the careers of the cartoonists that would create Betty Boop, Mighty Mouse, and Woody Woodpecker.

1906 - Humorous Phases of Funny Faces

The first animated film with hand-drawn animation, considered by film historians to be the first animated cartoon.

1919 - Felix the Cat

Introduced by Musical Mews and Feline Follies, Felix the Cat is often considered the first animated movie star.

The Silent Era

  • tons of pics

1928 - Steamboat Willie

The first cartoon with sound printed on the film, Steamboat Willie is the first notable success for Walt Disney Studios.

You don’t have to be a cartoonist for animation to be a big part of your life. Animation is everywhere - in our homes, schools, jobs, and everywhere with a screen. And if you grew up in the United States, chances are you’ve witnessed seminal accomplishments in animation history without even realizing it. Does Snow White and the Seven Dwarves ring a bell? How about The Flintstones, or Toy Story? These works mark important milestones in animation, a form of art that continually challenges creators to push technology so that anything imagined can be brought to life.

But why is this important?

But why is this important?

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

- Walt Disney -

All images are PUBLIC DOMAIN

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