What Is the History of Animation Art?

Art|Art History

Animation art is an ever-evolving form of expression that has been around since before the dawn of cinema. It has been used in many different ways, from feature films to commercials to video games.

Animation art is the process of creating movement and life in a static image or series of images. It can be used to tell stories, create visual effects, or simply add life to a scene.

The earliest forms of animation art date back to the late 19th century. In 1892, Emile Reynaud created the Praxinoscope, which was a device used for projecting moving images on a screen.

In 1895, Auguste and Louis Lumière released their early film projector which showed short clips from their own films. These technologies laid the groundwork for future animators.

By the 1920s, animation had become more sophisticated with Walt Disney’s creation of “Steamboat Willie,” which was the first animated short film with sound. This ushered in a new era of animation art and led to Disney creating some of the most beloved animated films ever made.

In 1937, Disney released its first full-length animated feature film – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – which revolutionized filmmaking forever. This set off a wave of animated films that have become beloved classics such as Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941), Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953) and many more.

As technology advanced throughout the 20th century, so did animation art techniques. The introduction of computer-generated imagery allowed animators to create even more complex animations that were no longer limited by physical space or materials like paper or celluloid film. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, 3D computer graphics had become commonplace in feature films such as Toy Story (1995) and Finding Nemo (2003).

Today, animation art continues to evolve as new technologies are developed and pushed to their limits. Animators are now able to create lifelike animations with remarkable detail while also keeping costs relatively low compared to traditional methods.

Conclusion: Animation art is an ever-evolving form that has been around since the 19th century when devices such as Praxinoscope and early film projector were developed for projecting moving images on a screen. With Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” leading the way for animated features in 1937, it then progressed throughout the 20th century with computer generated imagery becoming commonplace by 2000s. Today it continues to evolve as new technologies are introduced allowing animators more freedom while also keeping costs relatively low compared to traditional methods.