| Film Appreciation | Animation Time Line | last updated: 03.16.99 |
This is a list of notable highlights from the history of animation. Although the list is by no means inclusive it does include most of the important animated short subjects and feature length films. It also notes major technical innovations and achievements in animation and mentions the works of many of animation's most significant creators.
| 1906 | J. Stuart Blackton's "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces" This first animation was crude by today's standards, however, it set the standard for early animators. |
| 1908 | Emil Cohl's "Fantasmagoric" began exploring effects such as metamorphosis. |
| 1911 | Winsor McCay animates "Little Nemo", concentrating on rendering space, physical properties of characters, and timing. Many animators got their start as "Lightning Sketch Artists." These speedy artists were famous for quick, sequential sketches at sideshows and carnivals. Known for their accuracy and storytelling abilities, they were a creative and quick-witted bunch. McKay got his start as a Lightning Sketch Artist, and brought artistic style to animation. |
| 1912 | McCay's second film, "How a Mosquito Operates" is released |
| 1913 |
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| 1914 |
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| 1916 |
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| 1918 |
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| 1919 |
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| 1921 | "Aesop's Film Fables make their first appearance in theaters - John Foster and Paul Terry serve as directors |
| 1923 | Walt Disney releases the first of the "Alice" comedies |
| 1924 |
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| 1926 | The German animator Lotte Reiniger releases his first film, "Adventures of Prince Achmed" |
| 1927 | Disney's
"Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series makes its debut
"Koko's Earth Control" released by the Fleischers. "Lost World" is released bringing forth a new brand of animation. Brought to life by Willis O'Brien and his ingenious method of "stop-motion animation", dinosaurs, and other creatures roamed the earth once again. |
| 1928 | Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks join forces to create the first three Mickey Mouse cartoons:"The Gallopin Gaucho," and "Steamboat Willie" - a star is born! "Steamboat Willie" was the first animated film with the soundtrack on the actual film, rather than on a separate record. |
| 1929 | Disney premiers the first Silly Symphony cartoon, "The Skeleton Dance" |
| 1930 |
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| 1931 |
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| 1932 | The
first three-strip cartoon "Flowers
and Trees" wins the Academy Award for best animation
"Boop Boop a Doop" released by Fleischer, starring (of course) Betty Boop. |
| 1933 |
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| 1934 |
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| 1935 |
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| 1936 |
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| 1937 |
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| 1938 |
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| 1939 | Elmer
Fudd makes his debut. Apparently, Porky got tired of hunting.
Max Fleischer releases his first feature film, "Gulliver's Travels" Disney builds on the success of "Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs" and releases "Pinocchio". I wouldn't lie. |
| 1940 |
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| 1941 | Disney
releases "Dumbo"
Max Fleischer releases the first in a series of Superman cartoons |
| 1942 |
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| 1943 |
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| 1944 | Leon
Schlesinger sells his cartoon studio to Warner Brothers
Loony Tunes and Merrie melodies begin color production Live Action and animation are married together in "Anchors Aweigh" when Gene Kelly and Jerry Mouse dance together on screen |
| 1945 |
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| 1946 |
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| 1947 | "Tweetie Pie" wins Warner Brothers its first Academy Award |
| 1948 | The German film studio UPA begins releasing cartoons through Columbia Pictures |
| 1949 |
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| 1951 | UPA's new graphic style is honored with an Academy Award for "Gerald McBoing Boing" |
| 1953 |
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| 1954 |
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| 1955 | CBS purchases Terrytoons from Paul Terry |
| 1956 | MGM closes its cartoon unit |
| 1957 | Hanna-Barbera
begins a TV animation dynasty when it launches "Ruff and Reddy"
"7th Voyage of Sinbad" released by Ray Harryhausen |
| 1958 | Bugs Bunny wins his first and only Oscar for "Knighty Knight Bugs" |
| 1959 |
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| 1960 |
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| 1961 | Zagreb Studios becomes the first foreign studio to win an Academy Award for best animation for "Ersatz" |
| 1962 | Bob Clampett's cartoon "Beany and Cecil" makes its debut on TV |
| 1963 | Japan
gets its first animated TV series in "Astro Boy"
Warner Brothers closes its animation studio |
| 1964 | "Jonny
Quest" makes its TV debut
DePatie Freleng begins releasing its series of Pink Panther theatrical cartoons, the first of these, "The Pink Phink" wins an Academy Award. Not a bad first appearance if you ask me. |
| 1965 | The prime-time special "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuts |
| 1966 | Chuck
Jones combines with Dr. Seus to create "How
The Grinch Stole Christmas"
Filmation's first series "Superman" debuts Walt Disney dies December 15, 1966 |
| 1967 | Paramount and Terrytoons shut down their animation studios |
| 1968 | The Beatles' Ralph Bakshi's "Fritz the Cat" is released |
| 1977 | Ralph Bakshi's "Wizards" is released |
| 1979 | "The Bugs Bunny / Road Runner Movie" debuts at the New York Film Festival |
| 1980 | Fritz Freleng rejoins Warner Brothers and begins a series of TV specials and features |
| 1982 | Don Bluth's first feature "The Secret of NIMH" is released |
| 1983 | DIC enters the U.S. animation market "Inspector Gadget" |
| 1985 | Bugs Bunny becomes the first cartoon to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame |
| 1987 | Ralph
Bakshi's "Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures" is released
Steven Spielberg presents "An American Tale" |
| 1988 | "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", the most sophisticated blending of live action and animation to date makes its debut |
| 1989 | Warner Brothers and Amblin Entertainment launch "Tiny Toon Adventures" |
| 1990 |
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| 1991 |
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| 1992 |
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| 1993 | Steven
Spielberg presents "Animaniacs"
On another Spielberg note, "Jurassic Park" is released. This movie marks one of the first attempts at creating visual effects in live action movies using computer animation. Good dinosaurs. Yes. |
| 1995 | "Toy Story" is released by Pixar Animation Studios. This is the first feature length, fully computer animated film. |
© 1999 Debbie Twyman. All rights reserved. TERMS OF USE