American animation
Vitagraph released Humorous Phases of Funny Faces in 1906. This short film marked the first documented instance of American animation. Early animations started as simple novelty acts. They often depicted magic tricks or borrowed heavily from comic strips. Gertie the Dinosaur arrived in 1914 and showed rapid technical growth. Felix the Cat, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and Koko the Clown followed these early experiments. Silent cartoons played alongside newsreels in theaters. An organist or full orchestra provided live musical scores for screenings. These films became obsolete after 1928 when sound synchronized cartoons emerged. Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie debuted that year with Mickey Mouse. The industry shifted from silent novelty to synchronized audio almost overnight.
The golden age began in 1928 with sound synchronized cartoons. It lasted until the early 1960s when television took over. Theatrical animated shorts dominated this period before losing popularity. Disney, Warner Bros., and MGM produced most major works during these decades. Hanna-Barbera later stopped making big-budget theatrical shorts by the mid-century. Television animation thrived on lower budgets and limited techniques between the late 1950s and mid-1980s. Scooby-Doo appeared under Hanna-Barbera's banner. Josie and the Pussycats and Captain Caveman also emerged from this era. Hong Kong Phooey joined the roster of popular characters. Filmation created He-Man while DiC Entertainment produced Inspector Gadget. Marvel Productions and Sunbow Productions launched The Transformers. Critics sometimes called this period the bronze age due to perceived cheap production values. Members of Generation X fondly remember Saturday-morning cartoons from the 1970s and 1980s.
World War II changed the possibilities for American animation entirely. Before the war, animation served mostly as family entertainment. The attack on Pearl Harbor marked a turning point in its utility. On the 8th of December 1941, the United States Army began working with Walt Disney at his studio. Military personnel stationed themselves there for the duration of the conflict. The Army and Disney made various films for different audiences. Public films often included propaganda elements. Training and education films targeted troops directly. Many public films aimed to build morale through ridicule and crude humor. Others reflected war culture as pure entertainment. Strong messages aroused public involvement or set specific moods. These government partnerships transformed animation into a tool for military training and public morale building.
The television era started in the late 1950s with the decline of theatrical animated shorts. It reached its peak during the 1970s before ending around the mid-1980s. Studios generally stopped producing big-budget theatrical short animated cartoons that thrived in the golden age. New television animation studios thrived based on economy and output volume. Hanna-Barbera ceased production on low budget television series after Ted Turner acquired it. Cartoon Network launched following this acquisition. Nickelodeon rose to fame by creating the Nicktoons brand in 1991. Various acclaimed programs appeared under the label in the 1990s and 2000s. Viacom Inc owned Nickelodeon until 2019, then ViacomCBS until 2022, and Paramount Global thereafter. The period came to an end in the late 1980s when many companies revived their franchises. Entertainment companies returned to making high-budget successful works. Disney began producing critically and commercially successful animated films based on well-known stories. Warner Bros produced highly successful animated cartoon television series inspired by classic Looney Tunes cartoons. The DC Animated Universe also launched during this time.
Modern animation in the United States spans from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. This period is frequently referred to as the renaissance age of American animation. Pixar debuted with the extremely successful Toy Story film. It was the first feature film to entirely use computer-generated imagery. DreamWorks Animation spun out from DreamWorks Pictures later in the era. They became a major competitor and alternative to Disney in the subsequent decade. Traditional animation using hand-drawn cels declined beginning in the mid-1990s. Digital ink and paint emerged as a modern form of traditional animation. Three-dimensional computer animation rose to prominence alongside these changes. These technological shifts led to the millennium age of American animation starting in the early 2000s. The industry continues evolving into present day. The Walt Disney Company went back to producing critically and commercially successful animated films. Disney Channel launched following the creation of successful animated television shows. The technology used to produce animation experienced revolutionary shifts throughout this period.
Common questions
When was the first documented instance of American animation released?
Vitagraph released Humorous Phases of Funny Faces in 1906. This short film marked the first documented instance of American animation.
What year did sound synchronized cartoons emerge to end silent films?
Silent cartoons became obsolete after 1928 when sound synchronized cartoons emerged. Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie debuted that year with Mickey Mouse.
Which studio began working with the United States Army on December 8th 1941?
On the 8th of December 1941, the United States Army began working with Walt Disney at his studio. Military personnel stationed themselves there for the duration of the conflict.
In what year did Nickelodeon rise to fame by creating the Nicktoons brand?
Nickelodeon rose to fame by creating the Nicktoons brand in 1991. Various acclaimed programs appeared under the label in the 1990s and 2000s.
Which Pixar film was the first feature film to entirely use computer-generated imagery?
Pixar debuted with the extremely successful Toy Story film. It was the first feature film to entirely use computer-generated imagery.