A history of animation

History of animation
In Victorian time thaumatropes were toys consisting of a bit of card and string. On both sides there were two pictures for example, on one side a bird, the other a cage. When spun quickly the two images would appear as one. Though unassuming the thaumotrope was the basis for the first animations. This was down to the persistence of vision. Persistence of vision is the idea that the idea of seeing both images as one was down to the eyes. The idea is that the eyes leave a afterimage for a split second while the other image is shown so they appear as one. This however was disproved as being instead of a trick of the eyes, more to do with the brain. A more plausible explanation is that the brain phi phenomenon and beta movement however none are actively proven. In order for this to work there must be a significantly high frame rate.

 One of the early animation devices which supported this theory is the Phenakitoscope. Invented by Joseph Plateau, this device showed one of the first pioneering developments in animation technology. Like most of these early devices this worked on the persistence of vision. These two discs on a axis replicated animation by looking through the slits and watching the images rotate as if they were moving. Although the image isn't moving the changes from image to image replicate the illusion of moving.

Following this there was the invention of the Zoetrope which used the same concept however in this case there was the image on the inside of a can which had slits. This provided the user to look through and see a moving image. The concept of creating a 'moving image' would also apply to the zoetrope, as the images were seen to be moving.

 Next was the praxinoscope. Similar to the Zoetrope the praxinoscope however the slits were replaced with mirrors. This was invented by  Charles-Émile Reynaud who had used the praxinoscope to make the first motion cartoon in 1887 in public. The images from the Praxinoscope were then allowed to be seen through projecting the images. This was the  Théâtre Optique. This was a improvement on the zoetrope as the viewer would simply look into the mirrors to see the images. Not only this the device was projected for multiple people to view.

 The concept of the persistence of vision which underlines all of these inventions was further looked into by Eadward Muybridge who started looking into animation using photographs and how the images can appear to be in motion if used in succession of each other. The idea that the eyes left a after image while we then saw the next picture. This would mean that the images on screen would be moving. In identifying the horses feet leaving the round all at one time the realisation was that photographs played together replicated moving images.

 In 1892 a device was invented by Thomas Edison which would show motion using photographs. This was the Kinetoscope in which one person at a time could view through a peephole at the top. This set off the motion picture in America.Then there was the kinetophone this was the same basic principle as the kinetoscope except in this case it would have ear phones in order to play music. Although the first kinetescope was meant for each individual viewer, Edison then created the projecting kinetiscope which was intended for multiple viewers.

Stop motion animation is the means of playing certain similar images to replicate the illusion of the image moving when in reality are a series of static images.In terms of stop motion animation the frame rate must be at 12 frames a second as the frames work in 2's thus providing the illusion of movement. Most real time television in 24 frames per second.

The Lumiere brother set off the industry. They developed a tool to actually record motion. This cinematograph was not only the first recording device, but was also a projector as well. They first started showing films of workers leaving the Lumiere factory. There advances in the industry had inspired the world of cinema today. Their first motion pictures were small as they were 17 metres and handcranked projections. Not only were they regarded as the ones who set off world cinema, but also they had used many techniques during filming which granted them recognition as early cinematographers as well.

 Another pioneering developer was George Pal. George pal set up the main animation techniques we use today. However not only that, his breakthroughs in stop motion animation are still regarded as being good for the time today. The methods used in all his films for animation are the basis for creating animation today. Although regarded for his role as a producers it was his animation methods used in the puppetoons which really set up the main techniques used today.

Willis O'Brien is most famous for his stop motion animation style. These titles include that of "Lost World" and "King Kong. As a animator, Willis started using clay figures however after started using wire frames around rubber type bodies. He first started developing these early style in the 1915 where he animated 'the missing link' which was a animation with a prehistoric theme. His style of animation has often been credited to be rubber type skin with metal armatures supporting it. He later went on to do more feature films using his own animation style in which he perfected.

Ray Harryhausen was a animator who had wanted to do animation due to the influence of Willis O'Briens work on 'King kong'. With this he started developing animation styles by doing short films at home. While doing this his work was criticised by Willis O'Brien due to the models. This spurred Harryhausen on to do graphic arts and sculpting to hone his skills. In 1947 he was hired as assistant animator in the film 'the mighty Joe Young' in which he worked with his inspiration Willis O'Brien. Harryhausens most credited work was his skeleton fight scene in Jason and the Argonauts in 1962. With 'Jason and the argonauts' Harryhausen raised the bar for stop motion animation because of the complexity of the animation in which the skeleton scene took 4 months to create.

Jan Svankmajer is a Czech film maker which specialises in the surreal. In his films his stop motion animation makes the impossible, possible in such a way it makes the visuals look surreal. In regard to the surreal this is best shown in his film "Faust" which details the twisted surreal which inspired his stop motion animation. In Faust you can clearly see that it is Jan Svanmajers work.

The Brothers Quay were inspired by Jan Svankmajers, their work is also bordering on the surreal. Their animation was based mainly on the set design. The brother quay also prefer the idea of the something tangible. They explain in this the significance of having something that you can touch and animate.

Tim Burton is renowned not only for his twisted dark style, but also for his stop motion animation. As shown most critically in "Sleepy Hollow" with the scene where the horseman finds his head. Not only this but Tim Burton has also done other stop motion animations. For example Nightmare before christmas was pinnacle in stop motion animation. This was a key stop motion animated film mainly for its design of not only characters but the set as well. In this its intricut design also makes it look like computer graphics.

Aardman animations is a company which is most famous for its 'clay-mation' animation style in which had made such a impact on the industry. Being most famous for their show "Wallace and Gromit" Aardman make a point similar to what what the brother Quay had made about the significance of having something real to play around with and something you can touch. Not only this but Nick Park had made a point about how with he plastacine they didn't have to refine the models too much. In this they keep the character "funny and thumby". In making their first feature film as Chicken run Nick Park had commented about how they had focused too much on refining the characters even though part of the fun of having such characters was how they looked hand made. They do these animations by using a metal frame and molding the plastacine round it. They then would move the frame slightly and take a picture and repeat this for every shot.

Over the years animation has evolved dramatically. The first animation film was in 1937 which was "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". This set off the motion picture industry from its wide spread success. There began the emegence of different forms of animation as the technology and advances in animations had improved. For example there began the emergence of "Clay-mation" which was animation with the use of plastacine. This gave it a stylised effect. Not only that but these days the advances of computer graphics are getting better and better. From what started with "Gertie the dinosaur" , the media industry had a knock on effect. Now animation is recognised as being appropriate for television for children. Such shows as Mickey mouse and other such disney characters. Not only have the ways in which they have been shown changed. But in terms of the target audience. What was originally meant for children can now be enjoyable for adults. Such Tv shows as Family Guy and South Park have made it so animation is appropriate for adults.

However this doesn't stop at the entertainment industry but also is included in advertising. Such things as the "Milky Way" advert is shown to have stop motion animation. As well as this there is also channel idents which are the small sequences shown before the show. This is like the E4 estings. Not only this but these idents are becoming much more creative in their development.

Furthermore certain stop motion animation is employed in other aspects like video games in which uses drawn characters or even models. Though not usually big games they have been developed to video game standards. This game "Cletus Clay" uses clay-mation. Also animation can be used in website design by including moving images or even characters.