The animated motion picture has been around for over a century, and during that time it has become one of the most popular and beloved genres in cinema. Though their popularity means they are often taken for granted, there are many interesting things to be learned about animated motion pictures. We will explore six of them and see how they have helped to shape the art form into what it is today.
1. Disney Was Not the First to Make Animated Motion Pictures
The first animated motion picture is generally agreed to be Emile Cohl’s Fantasmagorie, which was released in 1908. It is a short, black-and-white film that uses stop-motion animation to tell the story of a man who is chased by ghosts. The film was successful enough that Cohl was able to make more films in the same vein, and he is now considered one of the pioneers of animation. But when it comes to Disney films, about which you can see more at Featured Animation, the first Disney animated film was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was released in 1937. This was followed by other classics like Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), and Bambi (1942). So while Disney may be the most well-known studio when it comes to animation, they were not the first.
2. Animated Motion Pictures Are Not Just for Kids
Though animated motion pictures are often thought of as children’s entertainment, this is not always the case. Many animated films are aimed at adults and deal with mature themes. For example, Akira (1988) is a Japanese anime film that deals with cyberpunk themes and features graphic violence. Animated films like Waltz with Bashir (2008) and Persepolis (2007) are also aimed at adults and deal with serious topics such as war and revolution. So while there are many great animated films for children, there are also plenty of animated films that adults can enjoy.
3. Animated Films Can Be Live-Action Too
One of the most interesting things about animated motion pictures is that they don’t have to be entirely animated. Some of the most popular animated films are live-action/animated hybrids, such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and Space Jam (1996). In these films, live-action footage is combined with animation to create a unique and visually arresting experience. Additionally, some animated films are entirely live-action, such as The Polar Express (2004), which uses motion capture technology to create its animated characters. Additionally, there are also stop-motion animated films, such as The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and Coraline (2009), which use puppets or figurines instead of drawings.
4. Animated Films Have Won Academy Awards
While it is often thought that only live-action films can win Academy Awards, this is not the case. There have been several animated films that have won Oscars, including Walt Disney’s first-ever animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), which won an honorary Oscar for “revolutionizing the art of animation.” Other notable examples include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991), which became the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture, and Pixar’s Up (2009), which won Best Animated Feature.
5. You Don’t Need to Be an Artist to Make an Animated Film
While you do need to be a skilled artist to create traditional hand-drawn animation, this is not the case with computer animation. With the advent of computer-generated imagery (CGI), anyone with a computer and the right software can create animated films. This has led to a proliferation of amateur and independent animators, as well as a new wave of professional animators who are self-taught.
6. Animated Films Take a Long Time to Make
One of the reasons why there are so few animated films made each year is because they take a long time to produce. For example, Pixar’s Cars (2006) took four years to make, while their most recent film, Inside Out (2015), took six years to complete. This is because each frame of an animated film needs to be created individually, which can be a very time-consuming process. Additionally, animated films often have large teams of people working on them, which can further add to the production time.
There are many things to know about animated motion pictures. These six points are just a few of the most important things to keep in mind when discussing this topic. And, of course, there are many other great animated films out there that are worth watching. So if you’re looking for a great film to watch, be sure to check out some of the classics, as well as some of the newer releases.