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From animation’s humble beginnings at the outset of the twentieth century to the mind-blowing technology of today’s Pixar features, the world has had a long preoccupation with the moving image. There are many industry heavyweights, but certain individuals have greatly influenced the progression of the medium and should be highlighted when chronicling its history.
Frenchman Émile Cohl began experimenting with animation early in the twentieth century. He wowed audiences with a two-minute film entitled Phantasmagoria (1908), comprised of his own drawings. A prolific artist, as well as director, Cohl would go on to make a hundred films in the next ten years.
In America, Windsor McCay was bringing animation to new levels by creating more rounded characters and story lines. He made an unprecedented feature entitled Gertie the Dinosaur (1914), which was well received by audiences. Because of his strides, McCay paved the way for future animation innovators—including the powerhouse Walt Disney Studios.
In 1923, Disney moved his operation from Kansas City, Missouri, to Hollywood, producing the ageless films Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937) and Pinocchio (1940). Around this time, MGM and Warner Bros. Studios produced “Looney Tunes,” and “Merry Melodies,” as well as the famous Bugs Bunny character, which Warner Bros. took ten years and thirty films to perfect.
In the 1960’s Bill Hanna and Joseph Barbara teamed to create the cartoon duo Tom and Jerry and had twenty years of continued success in television with shows like “Scooby Doo” and “The Smurfs.” The 1980’s was a renaissance for Disney, it producing such box office smashes as Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) and The Little Mermaid (1989). Today, Pixar Studios continues to push the boundaries of technological innovation with such films as Toy Story (1995) and Finding Nemo (2003) (certainly, no small feats—or features—at all).
Everest Knobel graduated in 2003 with a B.A. in Art from Furman University. She is an intern at Aperture Foundation in New York City.
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