HISTORY OF ANIMATION

Paper Code: 
BMA 112
Credits: 
4
Periods/week: 
4
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course will provide an overview of the history of animation. Our studies will take us from the early magic lantern shows of the late nineteenth century to current and emerging digital animation technologies. This will be accomplished through a series of discussions, lectures, assignments, as well as viewing and evaluating videos.

Unit I: 

 

Introduction to animation history: Cave paintings, Ajanta Ellora caves, Elephanta Caves, Comic Strips and how they are made. Egyptian Paintings and their art style.  Animation in India and its history: initial attempts, man- power involved, average time to produce a feature length film. Types of Animation: Cell Animation, Stop Motion Animation, Computer Animation, 2-D Animation, 3-D Animation.

Unit II: 

 

Evolution of animation, delving into animation history- both of India and the world. Precursors to animation: Cave paintings, animation toys, Animation before Disney, Studio animation, Feature animation, Experimental animation, Personal films and expression, Animation Today.

Unit III: 

 

Early “Traditional” Animation: First animation using a camera, 1896, Georges Melies, moving tables, 1900, J. Stuart Blackton, added smoke, First celebrated cartoonist, Winsor McCay, Little Nemo (1911), Gertie the Dinosaur (1914).  Disney: Advanced animation more than anyone else, First to have sound in 1928, Steamboat Willie, First to use storyboards, first to attempt realism, Invented multi plane camera, Creating illusion of depth, Zooming, Parallax, Motion blur.

Unit IV: 

 

Animation Heritage- Early Devices: persistence of vision- shadow puppets, flipbook, Thaumotrope (18800s), Phenakistiscope (1830), Zoetrope (1834), Photograph: - Muybridge (1885), Film projector (Edison, 1891).

Unit V: 

 

Skills for an Animation Artist: Visual and creative development of an Artist, importance of observation with minute details, efficiency to draw gestures, facial expressions, good listener, hard work and patience, creative and innovative.

ESSENTIAL READINGS: 
  1. Frank Thomas and Ollie Jhonston, “The Illusion of Life”, Disney Publications.
  2. Leonard Maltin 1987, “Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons, Penguin. ISBN: 0-452-25993-2
  3. Norman M. Klein, “7 Minutes: The Life and Death of the American Animated Cartoon 1998, Verson. ISBN: 1-85984-150-3
REFERENCES: 
  1. Stephen Cavalier, “The World History of Animation (Hardcover)”, University Of California Press
  2. Beck Jerry, “Animation Art: From Pencil to Pixel, the history of Cartoon, Anime & CGI”, New York: Collins Designs Intl, 2004
Academic Year: 
2015-16
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