I wonder if Émile Reynaud, the French inventor of the praxynoscope, had any idea what his invention would set in motion back in 1892. Émile created a 12-image animation system, which paved the way for the birth of animations that continue to capture hearts around the world to this day.
The 20th century brought the first modern animations: in 1902, Fantasmagorie, an animated film by the Frenchman Émile Cohl, was released, and its technique spread throughout the United States. The technique was very well studied and used, so much so that it was on American soil that the first animated feature film was born.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a classic from Disney studios, was released in 1938. Running for 1 hour and 23 minutes, the film took three years to complete, not to mention that its projected budget of $150 ended up costing the studio $1,4 million.
An expense that, at the time, was surreal for a film production, is justified even today. This is one of the most famous stories in the world, with numerous adaptations in films and series, both animated and live-action.
Animation techniques
Who hasn't tried their hand at animation using stick figures in the corner of a notebook, flipping through pages to see the drawing move? This technique is called Flip Book and is just one of many in the animation world. Check out other techniques used in animation:
- Cutout animation: It uses cut-out characters, objects, and sets, which can be made from various materials such as paper, cardboard, fabrics, or whatever the imagination allows. A good example of animation using this technique is South Park.
- Stop motion: This technique originates from photographing individual frames, that is, each photo capturing every action of the characters. After the frame-by-frame photographs are taken, a real-time projection is made, creating the illusion of movement.
- Traditional animation: It is created from sequential drawings at 24 frames per second. It can be done on a light table and transparent sheets or acetates, where animators can create the main poses to compose the actions.
- Traditional 2D and 3D animation: Here, nothing is done manually; the characters and settings are produced virtually. In 2D animation, the lines are vector-based with flat colors and repetition of graphics. 3D animation, on the other hand, is done using three-dimensional animation modeling software.
Motion capture: One of the most famous films that used this technique was Planet of the Apes. It consists of recording human actors and then animating 3D character models from that.
Are cartoons just for kids?
It's clear that animation isn't exclusively a children's product, but be careful, as some may not be very appropriate for children. Check out this list of some intended for an adult audience.
The secret beyond the garden
The Misadventures of Flapjack
Rick & Morty
Gravity Falls
BoJack Horseman
Now I want to hear from you, tell me in the comments what your favorite animated film is, the one where you already know all the characters' lines by heart.
