Learn in a minute — Stick Figures to Superstars

Be The Ignite
3 min readMay 25, 2024

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Sometimes it’s not the high-tech brilliance but the little things that make you happy and transport you back to your cute, little childhood. 🦸🏻‍♂️

Are you a fan of animated cartoons? Then this one’s for you!

Image Credit Wikimedia

#The Birth of Animation

In the late 19th century, people were mesmerized by simple flip books and zoetropes.

Each flick of a page in a flip book or spin of a zoetrope drum transformed static pictures into dynamic scenes, laying the groundwork for the development of animation.

The title of “first animated cartoon” goes to a French film called Fantasmagorie, created in 1908 by Émile Cohl. This wasn’t exactly Mickey Mouse quality, mind you.

It is one of the earliest examples of traditional (hand-drawn) animation. It may not have been high-tech, but it definitely had heart ❤️ (and maybe a couple of mismatched socks for limbs, but that’s part of the charm, right?)

Cohl, the ingenious fellow that he was, developed a technique where he drew each frame on paper, then filmed them one by one. This created the illusion of movement, like a flip book come to life!

Cohl himself said,

“I wanted to make drawings move, to give them life.”

Mission accomplished, monsieur!

Then,

The release of McCay’s “Gertie the Dinosaur” in 1914 marked a significant milestone, showcasing the potential of animation to tell compelling narratives and evoke emotions.

#The Golden Age of Animation

The evolution continued with the advent of cel animation, allowing for more complex and efficient production processes.

Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” in 1928 introduced synchronized sound to animated films, forever changing the landscape of entertainment.

Image License CC0 Creative Commons

This innovation set the stage for the Golden Age of Animation, where beloved characters like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny became cultural icons.

“Animation is not the art of drawings that move, but the art of movements that are drawn.” — Norman McLaren

#The Future of Animation

The animation industry is set for an exciting future fueled by innovation and a focus on audience engagement.

Tech-driven storytelling: Animation will take advantage of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to streamline processes and create more realistic characters and environments.

Immersive experiences: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are poised to revolutionize animation. Imagine stepping into your favorite cartoon or interacting with animated characters in the real world.

3D animation takes center stage: While 3D animation is already widely used, expect even more sophisticated and nuanced 3D creations.

Interactive animation: The line between viewer and participant is blurring. Interactive animation experiences will allow viewers to make choices that affect the storyline, creating a more personalized and engaging experience.

These advancements promise to push the boundaries of storytelling.

Image Credit Wikimedia Commons

My favorite cartoon? That’s a tough call, but if I had to pick, I’d say “Tom and Jerry.”

Their timeless antics and classic slapstick humor always bring a smile to my face. 😊

Now tell me,

What is your favorite cartoon? and why?

#cartoon #learninaminute #bytelearning #animation #betheignite

Hope you learnt something new today!

If yes, let’s give it a virtual round of applause!

Share your comments down below.

And to each and every one of you who’s been part of this journey, from the depths of my heart, thank you.

Your existence certainly empowers my fingers to keep writing…

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