-
The First Animation
James Stewart Blackton created what most recognize as the first animated film. It contained a mixture of regular film as well as animated images. A composer draws characters on a chalk board and erases them after they are animated. Considering it was the first, however, and made more than a century ago, the animation was poor and the actual film was scratchy. -
Gertie the Dinosaur
Gertie the Dinosaur was an animated film created by Winsor McCay. He had created the first animated dinosaur displayed on the big screen. The big significance of this event is not only the above, but that McCay had created a character who the audience could adore. -
Mickey Mouse
Mickey mouse had finally appeared on screen and was a big success. It was a large asset to Disney's growing fame and a character that still has a significance today. It was also the first animation with sound. -
Merrie Melodies
The Merrie Melodies were created, incorporating classic cartoons characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and more. Along with being classics, it also had some significance with World War II. Merrie Melodies cartoons would sometimes have depictions of Axis leaders and such that was meant to encourage people in times of war. -
Pinocchio
Yet another classic, Disney had produced Pinocchio. Pinocchio wasn't only a classic, however, but some may argue that it greatly benefitted or even saved the company. It also created original music and songs which received awards. Pinocchio was the first animated film to receive competitive awards. -
The Release of Winky Dink and You
Winky Dink and You was released on public television. Though it was lacking in the amount of animation it contained, it served another important function. The show was designed to be more interactive with kids by having them finish cartoon drawings. -
The Flintstones
The Flintstones was released on prime-time television. This was the first animated show to do this and was very popular. It was so popular that it helped to establish Hanna-Barbera as the biggest animated films producer and produced around 166 episodes within six years. -
Westworld
Not to be confused with the 2016 Westworld, this was a movie about pretending to be a gunslinger with androids in a desert. This was the first animated film to use 2D animation via computer. This was considered groundbreaking and later had a sequel that used 3D animation. -
The Adventures of Andre & Wally B
Though not the first to do so, this film made use of CGI. It was, however, the first film to be made completely with CGI. It was made by a group that would eventually become Pixar. -
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park followed suit with other films' use of CGI, but this time had something better to offer. Considering its use to create more realistic dinosaurs, it opened up its audience to new elements of animation. For the most part, this had to do with including elements in films that seemed unreal, but showing them in a realistic way. -
The Matrix
The Matrix: Reloaded was the first film to include digital clones. It used this in a scene where Neo fights and defeats clones of Agent Smith. It also, of course, included plenty of other special effects by the use of CGI. -
Big Hero 6
Though Big Hero 6 doesn't necessarily contain any huge milestones in animation, it does mark the first of something. Big Hero 6 was the first Disney animated film to include Marvel Comics characters. Along with that, it was a huge hit and contains plenty of ethnic diversity, which can deter from the normal caucasian focus of characters.
