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30,000 BCE
How far does Animation date back to?
Animation traces its origins back to prehistoric times, where early forms of art can be observed in cave paintings dating to around 30,000 BC. Notably, the Chauvet Cave in France showcases paintings of animals in various poses, suggesting an early attempt to depict movement through images. Moving forward in history, ancient artifacts provide further evidence of early animation techniques: Cave art, Egyptian Murals, and Greek pottery. These techniques consisted of materials like clay and rock. -
18th Century Optical Toys
devices creating motion illusions, The start of modern animation: Thaumatrope (1824): Invented by John Ayrton Paris, it featured a disk with images on both sides that blended into one when twirled. Phenakistoscope (1832): Created by Joseph Plateau, it used a spinning disc with sequential images viewed through slits to simulate motion. Zoetrope (1834): Developed by William George Horner, it utilized a cylindrical device with inner images viewed through slits, similar to the phenakistoscope. -
Hand drawn animation Vs. stop motion animation
Hand-drawn animation involves creating frames by hand or digitally, offering stylistic flexibility and smooth motion. In contrast, stop-motion animation uses physical models posed and photographed frame by frame, providing a tactile quality with deliberate movements and textured visuals. -
Early 19th Century
Silent Film Era:
Émile Reynaud (1892): Presented "Pantomimes Lumineuses" at the Musée Grévin in Paris using his Théâtre Optique, an early form of animated film projection.
J. Stuart Blackton (1900): Created "The Enchanted Drawing," often considered one of the first animated films.
Winsor McCay (1911): Produced "Little Nemo" and later "Gertie the Dinosaur" (1914), pioneering character animation. -
"Fantasmagorie"
"Fantasmagorie," by French cartoonist Émile Cohl in 1908, is one of the earliest examples of hand-drawn animation. It features a surreal sequence of morphing shapes, whimsical characters, and playful transformations. Cohl's innovative use of animation techniques, such as line drawing and frame-by-frame animation, showed potential of animation as a medium for imaginative storytelling. It marked a big milestone in history, influencing future animators and layed a foundation for film animation. -
How Does it Work?
Depending on how many images are shown in a second, It can make the images feel slower or unpolished, This is called FPS (Frames Per Second).The images can be 2D or 3D, In traditional animation images are drawn by hand on transparent celluloid sheets (cels) to then be photographed and exhibited on film. -
Cel Animation
Cel animation revolutionization:- It allowed animators to use a single background cel across multiple frames, changing only the cels with moving elements.
- This modular approach reduced labor and enabled independent work on different elements, ensuring consistent and smoother motion.
- Artists could focus on detailed backgrounds without redrawing for each frame, enriching visual depth.
- Layering cels enabled complex scenes and realistic effects like rain and shadows, enhancing realism.
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"Steamboat Willie"
In 1928, Disney released "Steamboat Willie," a pioneering animated short film that introduced Mickey Mouse and synchronized sound to cinema. It marked a pivotal moment in animation history, revolutionizing the industry by combining lively animation with synchronized sound effects and music. The film's success propelled Mickey Mouse to iconic status and established Disney as a leader in animation innovation, setting new standards for the medium's technical and storytelling capabilities. -
"Flowers and Trees"
In 1932, Disney released "Flowers and Trees," the first animated short film to be produced in full Technicolor. This milestone marked a significant advancement in animation technology, showcasing vibrant colors and enhancing visual appeal. The film's success encouraged studios to adopt Technicolor for future animated productions, revolutionizing the way colors were used in animation and setting a new standard for visual storytelling in the industry. -
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
In 1937, Walt Disney Studios released "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the first full-length animated feature film. It was a groundbreaking achievement, showcasing innovative animation techniques like the multiplane camera and setting a standard for storytelling in animation. The film's success solidified Disney's reputation and paved the way for the development of animated films as a significant genre in cinema history. -
"Tom and Jerry"
In 1944, MGM's animated short film "Tom and Jerry" won its first Academy Award. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the series featuring the cat Tom and mouse Jerry became renowned for its dynamic animation, slapstick humor, and innovative use of music and sound effects. The award marked a significant achievement in animation, solidifying Tom and Jerry's place as enduring icons in the history of cartoons and animation. -
Fun Fact
Animation is typically produced at 24 frames per second (FPS) in cinema standards, a rate established over its century-long history. This frame rate is considered the minimum requirement for fluid motion perception. Studios opting for higher frame rates face increased workload and complexity. The familiarity of 24 FPS stems from animation's longstanding tradition and its alignment with cinematic viewing perspectives. -
Animation Vs. CGI
Animation has a long history dating back to ancient times, While CGI can be dated to around the 1950’s. What's the difference? Animation encompasses a diverse range of techniques rooted in artistic expression and manual craftsmanship, while CGI leverages computational power and digital tools to achieve realistic and dynamic visual effects. Together, they represent the evolution of animation as a versatile medium for storytelling and visual communication in film, television, gaming, and beyond. -
Tim Burton's Animation's
Tim Burton is crucial to animation for his distinct gothic style and innovative use of stop-motion. His films like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Corpse Bride" blend dark aesthetics with whimsy, pushing creative boundaries. Burton's vision and storytelling prowess have influenced animation, making him a key figure in the genre's evolution, inspiring both artists and audiences alike with his unique narratives and iconic characters. -
What is animation?
Animation is a form of drawing, Much like CGI (Computer generated images), Animation is putting still images to create an illusion which makes the drawings feel like they have come to life. -
video games in animation: Cuphead
"Cuphead" is a 2017 run-and-gun indie game developed by StudioMDHR, known for its distinctive 1930s cartoon art style inspired by Fleischer Studios and Disney. The game's animation emulates hand-drawn cel animation, a tribute to classic cartoons. The game is award-winning and well depicted, This shows that even in the current age, a well-plotted and designed game using animation that is hand-written and without CGI Still exists, This shows the growth and development of the current-day animation.