The History of Animation and Motion Graphics
Newspaper advertisement for Winsor McCay's film Gertie the Dinosaur, published in Variety and other magazines in December 1914 • Wikimedia Commons
PBS video about the history of moving graphic design.
“One of the first conversations I had with Leah about this was about how one of the most useful sets of narrative devices for this new comic would be those pioneered in the first ten years of the 20th century by Windsor McKay. McKay basically invented the animated cartoon with Gertie The Dinosaur, he was a genius.“ • Alan Moore
Video: The Art of Animation and Motion Graphics | Off Book | PBS Digital Studios
Lanterna Magica: A History of Projecting Imaginative Cartoons
"The history of animation started long before the development of cinematography. Humans have probably attempted to depict motion as far back as the paleolithic period. Shadow play and the magic lantern offered popular shows with projected images on a screen, moving as the result of manipulation by hand and/or some minor mechanics. In 1833 the phenakistiscope introduced the stroboscopic principles of modern animation, which decades later would also provide the basis for the cinematography." • Wikipedia
"The magic lantern, also known by its Latin name lanterna magica, is an early type of image projector that used pictures—paintings, prints, or photographs—on transparent plates (usually made of glass), one or more lenses, and a light source. It was mostly developed in the 17th century and commonly used for entertainment purposes. It was increasingly used for education during the 19th century. Since the late 19th century, smaller versions were also mass-produced as a toy. The magic lantern was in wide use from the 18th century until the mid-20th century, when it was superseded by a compact version that could hold many 35 mm photographic slides: the slide projector." • Wikipedia
“Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim. The cut-out shapes of the puppets sometimes include translucent color or other types of detailing. Various effects can be achieved by moving both the puppets and the light source. A talented puppeteer can make the figures appear to walk, dance, fight, nod and laugh" • Wikipedia
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