History of Animation

🎬History of Animation Unit 1 – Early Animation: Optical Toys & Silent Era

Early animation emerged from optical toys and silent films, captivating audiences with the illusion of movement. Devices like thaumatropes and zoetropes laid the groundwork for more complex animations, while pioneers like Émile Reynaud and Winsor McCay pushed the boundaries of the medium. The silent era saw rapid advancements in animation techniques, from hand-drawn frames to cel animation and rotoscoping. Iconic characters like Felix the Cat and Mickey Mouse rose to fame, establishing animation as a powerful storytelling medium and setting the stage for its future as a major force in entertainment.

Key Concepts & Terminology

  • Animation the rapid succession of images to create the illusion of movement
  • Persistence of vision the phenomenon where an afterimage persists on the retina for a brief time, allowing for the perception of motion
  • Phi phenomenon the illusion of motion created by rapidly presenting still images in succession
  • Thaumatrope a disc with different images on each side that appears to combine the images when spun rapidly
  • Zoetrope a cylinder with slits cut vertically and a series of images placed inside that create the illusion of motion when spun
  • Praxinoscope an improvement on the zoetrope, using mirrors to create a clearer image and allowing for longer sequences
  • Flipbook a book with slightly varying images on each page that create the illusion of motion when flipped rapidly
  • Stop-motion animation a technique where objects are physically manipulated and photographed frame by frame to create the illusion of movement
  • Rotoscoping a technique where animators trace over live-action footage to create more realistic movements

Early Optical Devices

  • Thaumatrope invented by John Ayrton Paris in 1824, one of the earliest devices to demonstrate the persistence of vision
  • Phenakistoscope developed by Joseph Plateau in 1832, a spinning disc with a series of images that created a looping animation when viewed through slits
  • Zoetrope invented by William George Horner in 1834, a cylinder with slits and a series of images inside that created a looping animation when spun
    • Improved upon the phenakistoscope by allowing multiple viewers to experience the animation simultaneously
  • Praxinoscope created by Charles-Émile Reynaud in 1877, used mirrors to improve the clarity of the zoetrope's images and allowed for longer sequences
  • Flipbook patented by John Barnes Linnett in 1868, a simple book with slightly varying images on each page that created animation when flipped rapidly
  • Mutoscope developed by Herman Casler in 1894, a mechanized flipbook that allowed for longer and more complex animations

Pioneers of Animation

  • Émile Reynaud created the Théâtre Optique in 1892, which projected hand-drawn animations using a modified praxinoscope
    • Considered the first public performance of projected animation
  • J. Stuart Blackton produced "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces" in 1906, one of the earliest examples of stop-motion animation
  • Winsor McCay created "Gertie the Dinosaur" in 1914, a landmark in character animation and interactive performance
    • Demonstrated the potential for animation as a storytelling medium
  • Otto Messmer created the iconic character Felix the Cat in 1919, which became one of the most popular early animated series
  • Walt Disney founded the Walt Disney Company in 1923 and revolutionized the animation industry with his innovative techniques and storytelling

Animation Techniques in the Silent Era

  • Hand-drawn animation the most common technique, where each frame is drawn by hand on paper or celluloid
    • Required a high level of skill and was time-consuming, but allowed for great artistic expression
  • Stop-motion animation used to bring inanimate objects or puppets to life by photographing them frame by frame with slight changes in position
    • Allowed for the creation of unique and imaginative characters and worlds
  • Cutout animation a variation of stop-motion using flat characters made from paper or other materials
    • Simplified the animation process and allowed for more graphic, stylized designs
  • Rotoscoping invented by Max Fleischer in 1915, involved tracing over live-action footage to create more realistic movements
    • Used in the "Out of the Inkwell" series featuring Koko the Clown
  • Cel animation developed by Earl Hurd in 1914, where characters are drawn on transparent celluloid sheets and layered over static backgrounds
    • Allowed for more efficient production and became the standard in the animation industry

Notable Works & Milestones

  • "Fantasmagorie" (1908) by Émile Cohl, considered the first fully animated film
    • Featured a stick figure character and surreal, transformative imagery
  • "Little Nemo" (1911) by Winsor McCay, a groundbreaking adaptation of McCay's comic strip that showcased his skill in character animation and backgrounds
  • "Gertie the Dinosaur" (1914) by Winsor McCay, featured an interactive performance where McCay appeared to give commands to the animated dinosaur
  • "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" (1926) by Lotte Reiniger, the oldest surviving feature-length animated film
    • Used intricate cutout animation inspired by Middle Eastern silhouette puppetry
  • "Steamboat Willie" (1928) by Walt Disney, the first fully synchronized sound cartoon and the debut of Mickey Mouse
    • Marked the end of the silent era and ushered in a new age of animation

Cultural Impact & Reception

  • Early animation was often viewed as a novelty or a form of entertainment for children
    • Gradually gained recognition as an art form and a powerful storytelling medium
  • Animated characters like Felix the Cat and Mickey Mouse became cultural icons and helped to establish the medium's popularity
  • Animation studios emerged as major players in the entertainment industry, with Disney leading the way
  • Animated films began to tackle more mature themes and appeal to adult audiences, expanding the medium's cultural impact
  • International animation styles and techniques developed, reflecting the cultural diversity of the medium (Japanese anime, Soviet animation)

Technological Advancements

  • The introduction of cel animation in 1914 revolutionized the production process
    • Allowed for more efficient and cost-effective animation by separating characters from backgrounds
  • The development of the rotoscope in 1915 enabled animators to create more realistic and fluid character movements
  • The Fleischer brothers invented the rotograph in 1917, a device that allowed for more precise and consistent registration of cels
  • The introduction of synchronized sound in 1928 with "Steamboat Willie" marked a major milestone in animation history
    • Opened up new possibilities for storytelling and character expression
  • Advancements in camera technology, such as the multiplane camera used by Disney in the 1930s, allowed for greater depth and dimensionality in animated films

Legacy & Influence on Modern Animation

  • The pioneering techniques and storytelling approaches developed during the silent era laid the foundation for the animation industry
  • Early animators like Winsor McCay and Walt Disney set the standard for character animation and inspired generations of artists
  • The use of cel animation, rotoscoping, and other techniques from the silent era continue to influence modern animation production
  • The success of early animated characters demonstrated the potential for animation as a powerful marketing and merchandising tool
  • The silent era's experimentation with surreal and imaginative imagery paved the way for more abstract and artistic animation styles
  • Modern animated films continue to pay homage to the silent era through visual references, storytelling techniques, and the enduring appeal of classic characters


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.