digital art notes

Thaumatrope

A device created in 1827 with two drawings on opposite sides of a disk that merge when spun.

Phenakistoscope

An 1832 spinning disc device that creates the illusion of motion when viewed through slits.

Zoetrope

A device invented in 1834 allowing multiple users to view animated images through vertical slits.

Praxinoscope

An invention by Charles-Émile Reynaud in 1877 that improved on the zoetrope using mirrors for enhanced viewing.

Birth of Photography

The invention of photography in 1827 by Joseph Niépce, which made animation on film possible.

Improvement of Photography

The advancements in photographic technology during the late 19th century, including George Eastman's introduction of flexible film.

Eadweard J. Muybridge

A photographer who proved that all four hooves of a horse leave the ground when running using a series of cameras.

Motion Pictures in America

Thomas Edison developed the kinetograph and kinetoscope in 1891, establishing early American motion pictures.

Birth of Narrative Films

The evolution of film towards storytelling, exemplified by Edison's 'Fun in a Bakery Shop' and 'The Great Train Robbery'.

Motion Pictures in France

Auguste and Louis Lumiere created the first motion picture 'Workers Leaving the Factory' in 1895.

Georges Méliès

A magician turned filmmaker known for his film 'A Trip to the Moon' and innovative special effects.

J. Stuart Blackton

An early animator known for 'Humorous Phases of Funny Faces,' considered the first animated film.

Émile Cohl

French animator who created 'Fantasmagorie' in 1908 using an illuminated glass plate technique.

Winsor McCay

A prominent cartoonist and animator known for 'Gertie the Dinosaur' and his work during the silent era.

Silent Movie Era of the 20’s

A period when silent films dominated, leading to a demand for animated shorts alongside them.

Celluloid

A material that revolutionized animation by allowing images to be inked onto transparent sheets for movement.

Otto Messmer

Creator of Felix the Cat in 1919, a studio character that became popular across the nation.

Fleischer Studios

The studio known for 'Koko the Clown' and developing the rotoscope technique for animation.

Walt Disney

The animator who introduced synchronized sound in film, color animation, and created the first full-length animated feature.

The Golden Age of Animation (1930’s – 1950’s)

A peak period for animation dominated by major studios like Disney and Warner Brothers.