What Is the History of Animation in Art?

Art|Art History

The history of animation in art is one that is filled with innovation and experimentation. In the early days of animation, the medium was used primarily for cartooning and short films. However, as technology advanced, so did the possibilities for animation in art.

The first known instance of animation in art was in 1824 by British scientist Peter Mark Roget. His invention, which he called the “Thaumatrope,” was a small disk with a picture on each side.

When the disk was spun, it created an illusion of motion as the two images blended together. This invention sparked a wave of experimentation with animation by other scientists and artists.

In 1906, French animator Émile Cohl created what is considered to be the first animated film – “Fantasmagorie” – using drawings on paper that were then photographed one frame at a time. This technique laid the foundation for traditional hand-drawn cel animation that would become popularized by Walt Disney during the 1930s and 1940s.

By the 1960s, technology had advanced to the point where computers could be used to create animations digitally. One of the earliest examples of computer-generated imagery (CGI) was created by John Whitney Sr., who used analog computers to create abstract shapes and patterns in his 1965 film “Matrix III”.

In 1975, animator John Lasseter released his short film “Young Sherlock Holmes” which featured some of the earliest use of CGI in an animated feature film. Since then, CGI has become increasingly sophisticated and is now often used to create entire animated feature films such as Pixar’s “Toy Story” franchise or Disney’s “Lion King” remake.

Today, animation continues to be an important part of visual artistry across mediums including television shows, video games, commercials, and feature films among others. Many modern animations are created entirely digitally and utilize techniques such as motion capture or 3D modeling to create realistic looking characters and environments.

The history of animation in art has come a long way since its inception more than two centuries ago; from hand-drawn cels to digital 3D models – each development has pushed boundaries further than ever before and opened up entirely new avenues for artistic expression.

Conclusion: The history of animation in art is one filled with countless innovations throughout its long existence which has made it into an incredibly versatile medium used across many different forms today – from feature films to video games – making it an integral part of visual artistry today.