The History of Animation

Phenakistoscope

Jan 1, 1832

Joseph Plateau created this as a toy. When the user looks through the slots at a mirror and spins the first disc, the drawings on the second card will appear to move.
Sources: Photo/ info: "Phenakistoscope." Phenakistoscope. Ncssm.edu, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016. http://courses.ncssm.edu/gallery/collections/toys/html/exhibit07.htm.
Video: Welt, Bernard. "Film Before Film - Phenakistoscope, Zootrope, Praxinoscope." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Jan. 2012. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.

Praxinoscope

Jan 1, 1877

Emile Reynaud adapted this invention from the popular Zeotrope. In a praxinoscope, the images revolve around mirrors and are reflected onto a screen. He used this tool to give live performances. Info/ Image: "Technology Praxinoscope." EarlyCinema.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2016. Video: "Praxinoscope." YouTube. YouTube, 05 Aug. 2007. Web. 16 Sept. 2016.

Humorous Phases of Funny Faces

Jan 1, 1906

George Méliès created this film by drawing on a chalkboard, stopping the camera in frames to make the drawings "magically" change. Claimed to be the first animated movie. Info/ Video/ Photo: Jonathan Crow. "Watch Humorous Phases of Funny Faces, the First Animated Movie (1906)." Open Culture. N.p., 9 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.

Claymation

Jan 1, 1908

The Sculptor’s Nightmare is an example of as early animation using plasticine to bring a story to life. This is a type of stop motion, but is more expensive and time consuming than cel animation, and was therefore never extremely popular in Hollywood. Info: Href, Mailto, Blochm, and Mark Bloch. "A History of Clay Animation." ABC News. ABC News Network, 10 July 2016. Web. 21 Sept. 2016. Video/ Image: "The Sculptor's Nightmare (1908)." YouTube. YouTube, 28 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2016.

Little Nemo

Jan 1, 1911

Winsor McCay and James Stuart Blackton co-directed a colored animated short, showing the potential of animation. Info/ Video/ Photo: Jonathan Crow. "Watch Humorous Phases of Funny Faces, the First Animated Movie (1906)." Open Culture. N.p., 9 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.

Felix the Cat

Jan 1, 1920

Otto Messmer was the creator of this first ever animated celebrity. Felix the Cat was the first to have a line of merchandise. Also, his black body model was used for later characters, such as Mickey Mouse. Info/ Photo/ Video: James, Robert, Ph.D. "Animation History: Felix the Cat." Artograph. N.p., 25 Feb. 2015. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.

Warner Bros. Established

Oct 6, 1927

Warner Bros is currently one of the most successful cartoon studios in the world. It started with The Jazz Singer and continued to create innovative films, experimenting with major animation features and creating legendary cartoons. Info/ Photo: "WB Studio History." Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood, 16 Aug. 2016. Web. 15 Sept. 2016. Video: Warner Bros. "Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.

Steamboat Willie

Jan 1, 1928

Walt Disney created this film as the first fully synchronized sound cartoon. It also officially introduced Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Info/ Video/ Picture: Colman, Dan. "The Disney Cartoon That Introduced Mickey Mouse & Animation with Sound (1928)." Open Culture. N.p., 19 Jan. 2012. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.

Stop Motion Animation

Jan 1, 1929

A notable stop motion animation from this era was Le Roman de Renard (The Tale of the Fox) by Ladislas Starewitch. The first stop-motion works involved puppetry in jerky frames, but would evolve into colorful, full length films. Info/ Image: Priebe, Ken A. "'The Advanced Art of Stop-Motion Animation'" Animation World Network. Animation World Network, 20 Jan. 2011. Web. 20 Sept. 2016. Video: "Ladislas Starevich: The Tale of the Fox (1930)." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Feb. 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.

Loney Toons

Apr 19, 1930

The first Loony Tunes strip to air was the "Sinkin' in the Bathtub."It was the first cartoon with a prerecorded soundtrack (not produce by Disney). Info/ Image: Allan, Eric. "What's Up, Doc?: The History of The Looney Tunes." All Day. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2016. Video: Silverhalfcrown. "LT001 Sinkin' In The Bathtub (May, 1930)." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Aug. 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.

Storyboarding

Jan 1, 1933

The first storyboard ever used was in Walt Disney Studio's Three Little Pigs. Storyboarding allows for the planning of scenes and camera setup. Today storyboarding is especially useful in planning camera setup for special effects. Info/ Photo/ Video: Matthews, Vince. "Behind the Scenes of “The Avengers”: The Storyboarding Process." DMA Central. Digital Media Academy, n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.

Multiplane Camera

Jan 1, 1933

Ub Iwerks invented this camera for Walt Disney Studios. The multiplane camera added more depth and dimension to animation. It was used in the making of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Image/ Info/ Video: JChan. "Multiplane Cameras." Animation School Daily. Academy of Art University, 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 16 Sept. 2016.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Dec 21, 1937

This was the first animated movie in English and in Technicolor. It was a major gamble for Disney, as the allure of a cartoon about dwarves was questionable, but the risk payed off with an honorary Academy Award and an Oscar nomination for the soundtrack. Info: "Disney Releases Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2016. Video/ image: "Heigh Ho - Snow White." YouTube. YouTube, 24 Sept. 2012. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.

Peter Foldes' Hunger

Jan 1, 1974

The first ever Computer Generated Imaging used in a full length animated film appeared in Hunger. This technique would eventually evolve into what would be used in films such as Star Wars. Info: Gonzalez, Rowan. "A (CGI) History." Computer Stories. Computer Stories., 11 May 2016. Web. 23 Sept. 2016. Image/ Video: "La Faim (Hunger) - Peter Foldès." YouTube. YouTube, 25 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2016.

Tron

Jan 1, 1982

Steven Lisberger directed Tron, the first ever lice action movie to also integrate CGI. Though the CGI was unrealistic, it was excusable with the fictional bases of the movie, and acted as a milestone for future movies such as Jurassic Park to build form. Info: "TRON - The 1982 Movie." TRON - The 1982 Movie. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2016. Image/ Video: MovieGuy975. "TRON Original Movie Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, 07 Oct. 2010. Web. 23 Sept. 2016.