History of Animation

film history · art and technology · moving pictures · creativity

Movies from drawings. Animation is a technique where artists create lots of still pictures and then show them really fast one after another to make it look like things are moving. It's kind of like a flip book, but on a movie screen.

Celluloid made it possible. Before 1888, animation couldn't really happen the way we know it today. But when celluloid film was invented, animators could finally paint drawings on clear film strips and photograph them, which changed everything.

Many tricks were discovered. Between 1895 and 1920, animators figured out tons of different ways to make things move. Some used stop-motion by moving objects or clay puppets a tiny bit and taking pictures, while others drew or painted their pictures.

Hand-drawn animation won. By the 20th century, hand-drawn animation became the most popular method. Artists would paint pictures on clear sheets called cels, and when they were shown quickly in order, the drawings looked like they were moving and dancing.

Still used today. Even though computers now help make movies, hand-drawn animation from back then is still loved by people everywhere and inspired all the animation we see in cartoons and films today.