History of Animation

Course Outline

Module 1 | The Silent Years of Film

The Silent Years of film and Animation are the foundation of the moving picture industry. The student will discover the creative and magical techniques developed by artists McCay and Max Fleischer that brought memorable characters to life, and into our hearts. These masters of the silent films were able to convey the art of storytelling without any spoken word.

Module 2 | Cel Animation and Multiplane Camera

The art of storytelling continues with the development of Cel-Animation and the Multiplane Camera. The student will discover how these inventions transformed the entertainment industry and the success of the Walt Disney studios.

Module 3 | Disney, Iwerks & the Golden Years of Animation

The student will explore the Golden Years of Animation and the dynamic partnership between Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. From their early years at Universal and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to the creation of Mickey Mouse and the Disney Studios, these are the men behind the magic that transformed character animation forever.

Module 4 | Warner Brothers Studios

The students will explore the history of the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts and artists such as Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, and Mel Blanc, "The Man of Thousand Voices" that created them. The student will cover the contributions of the Warner Brothers Studios in the field of animation and how the development of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck where some of the most iconic characters ever penciled on paper.

Module 5 | Industrial Light & Magic / Pixar

The entertainment industry would be lifeless without the visual effects to help drive the story. The student will discover the contributions of John Lasseter, George Lucas’s THX, and ILM – Industrial Light & Magic, Steve Jobs and the creation of Pixar. During this time in history, the visual world comes alive in the field of CGI with the contributions of engineers and visionaries.

Module 6 | New Studios

The art of innovative storytelling and visual effects continue with the development of some new iconic creative studios such as DreamWorks, Blue Sky Studios, Sony and Aardman Animation. The students will see the contributions of Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, and many others and their innovative way of storytelling.