How Did Animated Film Start?
Many people are familiar with animated films, but how they work is not always clear! This article will go in depth to explain what it is, where it comes from, and some of the trends for this genre.
A movie that uses animation as its storytelling tool is an animated film. There are many different styles of animating, so it can be hard to identify which kind any given film is.
This article will talk about the history of animated movies, how professional studios produce them, and some theories about why people enjoy them.
We will also look at some examples of popular films and see how each part of their production process applies to those films. That way you will have a better understanding of how all parts fit together to make an animated feature movie.
First animated films were drawn
Many people may not know how popular animation has become these days, but it’s really old-school! Before there was The Lion King or Toy Story, there were cartoons that were mostly drawn.
These early cartoonists would draw their ideas through pictures or use photography as a base for things like backgrounds or characters.
Some even drew everything by hand before computer graphics came around to help create animations. These artists then put all of those images together into something smooth and entertaining for us to watch.
Today, most animators use computers to generate what will happen in each frame of an animation. You can probably imagine why this is necessary - if you have to do it yourself, then you need a way to make your drawings look good!
But some people still prefer doing it the hard way instead, which is what makes art fun.
Walt Disney invented animation
Before there were cartoons, people made pictures move by drawing pictures of things being done to paper or plastic and filming it! This is what we now know as animaiton. People have been making moving images like this for centuries!
We now know that someone coined the term ‘animation’ in the 19th century when they used it to refer to any type of movie with long sequences of repeated actions. For example, a running scene with lots of chasing between two characters was an animated film before the word was invented!
However, not everyone agrees that Walt Disney invented animation. Some say his version wasn’t really animation at all but something else- liquid ink and collage?
Many other famous artists have said similar things about how their own style got its start. In fact, some even went so far as saying that they had never drawn a single line of artwork and that everything they created came from inspiration given to them through dreams or meditation.
If you are looking to take your artistic skills to the next level then you can learn many new techniques here.
The first animated film was “The Magic Kingdom”
In 1838, Frenchman Felix Octave Gérand lived up to his name with an eight-minute short movie he called L'Histoire du Soldat (the soldier's story). This is considered the world's very first example of animation as we know it today.
Octave Gand filmed himself drawing pictures that would later be painted by others or performed by actors. He also used dabs of black paint to show shapes morphing into other shapes. These elements combine to create what we now call animation.
In fact, some experts believe that Gendan's work was even more advanced than what we consider modern day animation. He experimented with moving objects in space not only horizontally but vertically too!
Since then, many great filmmakers have built upon Genden's technique, creating newer styles and concepts of animaiton. Many people recognize these techniques as part of what we now refer to as cartooning.
The first animated film to sell tickets was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
In 1901, animator Robert Paul Laughlin created what would become one of the most iconic stories ever told. Snow White is an inexperienced young woman who wishes for love in her life but does not believe that she will find it. One day however, while walking through the woods with her close friend, the prince comes across the beautiful and charming snow white. He immediately falls in love with her and asks if she would like to be his bride.
She agrees, and so he takes her home where he teaches her how to take good care of herself and the house. After some time has passed they are married, and she gives birth to their son. They live happily together for years until one winter when the child becomes ill and cannot survive.
When spring arrives, the couple goes outside only to discover that everyone around them has disappeared. All except for for one figure, which looks just like the Prince, lying dead next to Snow. It is then revealed that this man had been murdered by his own brother. His body had transformed into that of someone else and he had killed himself.
The people involved all seem shocked and saddened by this event, making it clear that there was no longer anyone left to take care of Snow and the baby. She makes the difficult decision to put him in bed and watch him sleep before vanishing without a trace.
This story has inspired many artists over the past century, both in real life and in films.
The first animated film to gross millions was “Frozen”
In November 2013, Disney released their new movie called Frozen. It is a story about two princesses who are very close friends. They share a beautiful bond that we as viewers can admire and relate to.
The movie received widespread praise for its incredible soundtrack, stunning visuals, and powerful storylines. It even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song!
But what many people don't know is how much effort it took to bring this movie to life. Not only did director Jennifer Lee have to find a way to tell Elsa's backstory, she had to come up with ways to show her powers in action.
It seems almost impossible to believe now, but before Frozen there were no examples of animation depicting supernatural abilities.
So when Elsa freezes Arendelle’s palace and snow comes pouring down from the sky, most people assume something natural caused the phenomenon.
The first animated film to win an Oscar was “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color”
Many people credit Walt Disney with creating the modern cartoon movie, but it took quite some time before he actually released one himself! He made several attempts at animating short films that were not necessarily intended for wider consumption, but his efforts soon paid off as he created what we know today as the classic cartoon character.
The very first animation produced by Disney was called An Introduction to Animation (also sometimes referred to as A Cartoon Sketch). This short film features Mickey Mouse in action and is now considered a collector’s item due to its rarity. It also won three Academy Awards including Best Short Subject - Picture.
It wasn't until ten years later though when Disney finally decided to take his skills one step further and create something more substantial. In 1938, he directed and wrote For You!, which premiered at Hollywood's Rialto Theater.
The first animated TV series was “The Mickey Mouse Club”
In 1928, filmmaker Fred Mares began creating short films with his patented invention, the mimeograph. He made his first foray into feature length cartoons with an adaptation of one of his earlier shorts, titled It's Time to Make Millions!
In this film, two mice quarrel over who will inherit their deceased uncle's farmhouse. Things take a violent turn when both animals fight using knives as weapons.
This sparked Mares' inspiration to create what would become one of the most popular movie formats ever-the cartoon.
He drew illustrations and wrote scripts for his early cartoons, which were then narrated by actor Hugh Harman. Many famous characters got their start in these early years including Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, and Elmer Fudd.
The first animated TV series to sell millions was “The Simpsons”
In 1989, Matt Groening, creator of the long-running cartoon show, made his own foray into television with an idea that he had been developing for years.
He would create a sitcom about a family who lived in a house full of friends they grew up with. Only this time, everything would be animated instead of live action.
This is how The Simpsonsthe name of the show comes from-features several characters living together under one roof. And not just any ordinary house, but one packed with personality and humor.
Since its debut in 1987, The Simpsons has maintained a strong fan base all around the world. It boasts some of the most loyal followers ever seen for a prime time comedy show.
With every new season, more and more people become invested in the stories and characters. This passion is what keeps the show thriving and brings in additional revenue through merchandise sales and DVD/Blu-ray releases.
These two formats are essential for media companies to survive since they are how most people consume entertainment today.