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900 BCE
Shadow Play
Shadow Play is an ancient form of story telling that uses shadows. It was primarily used by the Chinese. that is, until it spread to the ottoman empire. -
332 BCE
Egyptian Animation
The earliest recorded attempt at animation can be found as far back as 5,200 years ago. On Egyptian walls you can find small pictures showing a progressive movement from "slide" to "slide". These are thought to be moving images. -
The Magic Lantern
In 1659, Christiaan Huygens invented the magic lantern. He drew an encircles sketch of death raising his arm and removing his own head. He did this by using painted glass slides. -
Thaumatrope
during the 1800's, John Paris invented the first Thaumatrope. A Thaumatrope is a card between two strings. when the strings are twisted the two images seem to morph together and make one. -
Phénakisticope
The Phénakisticope was the very first animation device that used rapidly moving sequential pictures. Invented by Joseph Plateau, the future of animation was changed forever. He first published his invention in January, of 1833. -
Zoetrope
Created by Simon Stampfer, the Zoetrope is an edited version of the phénakisticope. Rather than being plate-like a cylindrical version was made. One adaption they added was the idea of being able to change the image stripes -
The Flip Book
When John Barnes Linnett patented the first flip book, little did he know this was the beginning of traditional animation. Like sticky notes, you bend the book back and let the pages fall one at a time. the individually drawn pictures will "move" as you go through the book -
Praxinoscope
With twelve rectangular mirrors places evenly around the center of the cylinder. Each mirror reflects another image of the picture strip placed opposite on the inner wall of the cylinder. This work of genius was made by none other than Charles-Émile Reynaud. -
Zoopraxiscope
Almost the same as the Praxinoscope, the only main difference between the two is that the sequences where painted onto the glass disks. After the glass was painted with dark contours it was then colored by hand. Eadweard Muybridge used these during his popular lectures during 1880 and 1895. -
Animations on Film
In 1888, Charles-Émile Reynaud further developed the projection of the praxinoscope by using transparent hand painted pictures on perforated strips. The strips were then wound between two spools. This event was a major game changer, animation was now on film rather than glass or mirrors. -
Fantasmagorie
Fantasmagorie was the very first animation. It was created by Émile Cohl. It is the earliest example of traditional animation -
Snow White
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first full length animated movie. Ever since Disney studios completed this feat they have been nothing but successful in their films. Thanks to them and other major animation studios, the future of animation looks very bright
