The History of Animation

  • the start of all animation

    the start of all animation
    H.W. Goodwin invented a celluloid film which could hold images. It was made of gum cotton and gum camphor.
  • theayre opened by Emil Reynaud using an invention called the Praxinoscope.

    theayre opened by Emil Reynaud using an invention called the Praxinoscope.
    Emil Reynaud opened a theatre using an invention called the Praxinoscope. It used turning mirrors to reflect images and produce a 10 to 15 minute "moving picture."
  • Thomas Edison's Kinetoscope

    Thomas Edison's Kinetoscope
    Using the celluloid film developed by H.W. Goodwin, Edison was able to produce moving film pictures on the wall. The film moved over a series of wheels to produce the pictures.
  • The first official animated film by Emile Cohl

    The first official animated film by Emile Cohl
    Emile Cohl produced a film called "Fantasmagorie." It was a hit, and is known today as the first true animated film.
  • Felix the Cat

    Felix the Cat
    Otto Messmer, who had been working in animation for a few years, created a character named Felix the Cat. Felix was very successful and even ended up including dolls and watches.
  • Laugh-O-Grams

    Laugh-O-Grams
    Twenty-year-old Walt Disney began his first animation film studio called Laugh-O-Grams. It failed after only a short time.
  • Steamboat Willie

    Steamboat Willie
    Walt Disney didn't give up on making animated films. In 1928 he released a short film called Steamboat Willie featuring Mickey Mouse and using sound for the first time, and it was an instant hit.
  • Warner Bros. Studio is born

    Warner Bros. Studio is born
    Looney Tunes was supposed to be a spin off on the Silly Symphonies produced by Disney. It soon took on a life of its own and became very popular.
  • The first full-length film

    The first full-length film
    Walt Disney produced the first ever full-length animated film. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a major hit.
  • Computer generated movies

    Computer generated movies
    At the University of Utah, Ed Catmull developed a method of creating computer generated movies. It used scripting language.