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The Phenakistoscope
This was the first widespread animation device that created the fluent illusion to motion. It is regarded as one of the first forms of moving media entertainment that paved the way for the future of moving pictures and animation as a film concept. -
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The Silent Age of Animation
This is the earliest age of animation lasting from the early 1900s to the late 1920s. Without any access to properly record sounds many animations during this time period did not have sound effects to go with the movement appearing on screen. However, this did not hold back the progression of animation. The earliest cartoon that we know of being a French short film known as Phantasmagorie by Emile Coal in 1908. This was the first animation that relied only on moving pictures. -
The Enchanted Drawing
This was an early example of animation containing the first animated sequences of moving pictures. It was recorded on a standard picture film, by director J. Stuart Blackton. The film received critical acclaim leading Blackton to be considered the father of animation. -
Little Nemo
Little Nemo was a fictional character created by American animator and cartoonist Winsor McClay. Nemo was originally the protagonist of the comic strip: Little Nemo in Slumberland. This ran in the New York Herald from October 15, 1905 to July 23, 1911. There were many adaptations to McClay's original character and comic strip including an animated film in Japan called: Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland released on July 15, 1989 in Japan and August 21,1992 in the U.S. -
Cel Animation
This was first used by French artist Emile Cohl which came to be known as traditional animation in 1908. The film was created by drawing each Frame on a paper and then shooting each frame on to negative film, which gave the picture a blackboard look. Cohl later went to New Jersey spreading the technique to the U.S. -
Gertie the Dinosaur
Gertie the Dinosaur was an American animated short film created by Winsor McClay. It is the earliest film to feature a dinosaur. McClay used the film before live audiences as an interactive part of his vaudeville act, Gertie doing tricks for his master. McClay's employer wanted hime to make a film featuring the dinosaur, but this project would never see the light of day as the project was abandon after completing one minute of animation. -
Cutout Animation
This is a form of sap motion animation using flat characters on a flat surfaces, using props and backgrounds made out of paper, stiff fabric or photographs. Today, the cut-out style is produced using computers, with scanned images or vector graphics taking the place of physical materials. An example of this style being implemented would be the popular show South Park. -
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Walt Disney Animation
Walt Disney Animation Studios was founded on October 16, 1923. It was founded as the Disney Brothers Cartoon studio in 1923 then changed to Walt Disney Productions in 1929. The studio was dedicated to producing short film like Steamboat Willie in 1928 until 1934 with the release of the first animated picture Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This studio pioneered the art of story which is one of the most notable animation concepts made their. The studio has produced a total of 56 films -
The Bouncy Ball
This was a technique of directing singalong in movie theaters where the lyrics are displayed on screen while a ball bounces along each word or syllable, in sync with the beat or rhythm of the song. This was invented by Max Fleischer in 1924 and is still being used to the day. -
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The Golden Age of Animation
This was a period of Animation History that is said to have begun with the release of Steamboat Willie, and cemented with the release of Fleischer's, Warner's and MGM's rise to prominence in the years following. Many memorable characters emerged during this golden age including: Micke Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Donald Duck, Daffy Duck, and so much more. Feature length animations also started appearing with the first animated film: Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1938. -
Steam Boat Willie
Steam Boat Willie was an American short film directed by Walt Disney in 1928. This cartoon was considered the debut of Mickey Mouse and his girlfriend Minnie Mouse. Steamboat Willie is notable for being the first Disney cartoon with sound effects to go with the movement and animation. While the film did receive some criticism at first, it now receives critical acclaim, not only for introducing one of the worlds most popular characters, but also for its technical innovations. -
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The Dark Age of Animation
During this time period a trope started to form among animations, this being limited animation. Its start coincided with the fall of the studio system in Hollywood, The theatrical short slowly died of, and cartoons started to move to television, as the primary audience for cartoons became children. Originally the limited animation was just a stylistic choice, but soon people found out it was also a way to save money, so it started to become the norm for many cartoons. -
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Stop Motion Animation
Stop Motion Animation is a technique that physically manipulates an object to appear as though it is moving on it's own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames creating the allusion of movement when the series of frames is played at a fast sequences. Some examples of this technique being used is in films such as: Coraline (2009) Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and ParaNorman (2012). -
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Warner Bros. Animation
The animation division of Warner Bros. was founded in 1980, until then they started with short films with known characters such as Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes from 1933 to 1963. Their first feature film being The Lone Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie in 1981. Original films including the Batman: Mask of the Phantom in 1993 and Space Jam in 1996.
