Guide Note
Animation simulates motion through filming, in quick succession, two-dimensional incremental images or models. Some common forms of animation include cel or traditional animation, claymation, cutout animation, stop-motion animation, limited animation, rotoscoping, and puppet animation. The initial use of hand-drawn artwork has since been enhanced by the use of computers as both production and artistic tools. Computer graphics and editing tools have also expanded upon the range of visual design possibilities within animated works.
Fast Facts
- The first fully computer animated film was Toy Story (1995)
- The oldest record of animation is a 5,200 year old Iranian bowl that, when spun, shows a goat in motion
- The common flip book, patented in 1868, was a step in the evolution of animation
- Emile Cohl is widely considered the inventor of cinematographic cartoons
Early Animation
The first animated film was created by Charles-Émile Reynaud and screened in 1892 in Paris. The first animation studio was either Barre Studios, founded by Raoul Barre, or J.R. Bray's Bray Productions. Both began production in 1914.
The first Japanese animation film dates to around 1900 and consists of 50 Celluloid frames pasted together.
