Animated Cartoons

by Owen Jones⁽¹⁸⁷⁾ Red Star

http://the-real-way.com

An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn (or created with computers to look similar to something hand-drawn) film for the cinema, tv or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot (even if it is a very short one).

Animation itself can be described as the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create the illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways.

It is hard to believe but the very earliest instances of attempts to capture the impression of motion by drawing can be found in Paleolithic cave paintings. Here animals are depicted with multiple legs in superimposed positions, clearly trying to convey the perception of motion.

Further examples can be seen on an earthenware bowl over 5,000 years old from Persia and an Egyptian mural of wrestlers in action, which is about 4,000 years old.

However these examples cannot really be described as animation as there was no means of making the objects actually move.

The first mechanical devices designed to supply the illusion of movement were developed for children’s amusement or as entertainment at private parties. These included the zoetrope, magic lantern, praxinoscope, thaumatrope, phenakistoscope, and flip book.

Charles-Emile Reynaud created the first animated film in 1892 when he exhibited an animated film consisting of loops of around 500 frames. This film is also notable as the first known example of film perforations being used. His films were not photographed, but drawn directly onto the transparent strip.

But the first film which can truly be designated as an animated cartoon was 'Humorous Phases of Funny Faces' fashioned by J. Stuart Blackton in 1906. It features a cartoonist drawing faces on a chalkboard, and the faces seemingly coming to life.

One of the very first successful animated cartoons was "Gertie the Dinosaur" (1914) by Winsor McCay. It is considered the first instance of true character animation.

All the main film studios used animated cartoons of 5 to 10 minute lengths as “fillers" before the leading film was shown during the time of the 1930s to the 1960s.Theatrical cartoons were produced in huge numbers and MGM, Disney, Paramount and Warner Brothers were the largest studios producing these 5 to 10-minute "shorts".

However the ever increasing popularity of television and the subsequent decline in cinema going has meant that today most animated cartoons are produced for EV.

The most well-known animated cartoon character of all is no doubt Mickey Mouse who was introduced to the world by Walt Disney in May 1928 in Plane Crazy but also starred some six months later in the first animated cartoon with sound - 'Steamboat Willie'.

Incidentally, Mickey was initially christened Mortimer Mouse until Walt Disney’s wife persuaded him to make the modification.

Mickey Mouse, predated by another cartoon animal called Felix The Cat, made his debut in 1919. However another all time favourite cartoon series Tom and Jerry had to wait until 1931 to put in an appearance.

All these characters and many more have long since made the transition from movies to TV where, no doubt, they will be seen for many years to come.

If you would like one of our unique, hand-made, custom cartoons or caricatures from photos suppled by you please click on one of these links History of Football . If you would like to know more, please go to website at Custom Cartoons .

Article submitted Tuesday, November 02, 2010 & read 519 times.

Owen Jones writes on many subjects and is currently running several websites. He was born in Wales but now lives in northern, rural Thailand.

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» left by Jennifer Stewart (1 year 200 days ago.)

I'm fascinated with how cartoons are made and I'd love to see that first animated film. I have a tiny flip book of a couple doing the jive - it's fabulous and, I think, very clever!
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» left by Paul Schroeder (1 year 199 days ago.)

When you write,"Further examples can be seen on an earthenware bowl over 5,000 years old from Persia /

However /really cannot be described as animation as there was no means of making the objects actually move. "

I wanted to inform you that the bowl in question was again placed upon the very potter's wheel which formed it and again rotated; thus spinning, it did indeed appear that the figures moved as animated figures.

Thank you, for an interesting article.

Paul

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» left by Owen Jones⁽¹⁸⁷⁾ (257 days 14 hours ago.)

Hi,

Yes, on the potters wheel, but for the normal viewer?

Unless they put it on a stand in the middle of the room and ran around it, I suppose.

Thanks for pointing that out

Owen
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» left by David Tanguay (1 year 199 days ago.)

Very interesting Owen, thanks for sharing
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» left by Owen Jones⁽¹⁸⁷⁾ (257 days 13 hours ago.)

Thanks, David.

Sorry, I replying so late.

Owen
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