The First Animated Cartoon: How It All Began

The inception of animated cartoons marked a significant milestone in visual storytelling, transforming static images into dynamic sequences that captivated audiences. The journey to the first animated cartoon involved several pioneering efforts that laid the groundwork for modern animation.​

Early Experiments in Animation

In 1906, J. Stuart Blackton, a British-American filmmaker and co-founder of Vitagraph Studios, produced Humorous Phases of Funny Faces. This short film is often regarded as the earliest surviving example of animation on standard film. It features faces drawn on a blackboard that appear to move and change expressions through stop-motion and cutout animation techniques. While rudimentary, it showcased the potential of animated sequences in cinema. ​

Émile Cohl's Fantasmagorie

Building upon these early experiments, French artist Émile Cohl created Fantasmagorie in 1908, which is widely considered one of the first fully animated films. The short features a stick-figure character encountering various morphing objects and surreal scenarios. Cohl's innovative approach involved drawing each frame on paper and then shooting them onto negative film, resulting in a blackboard-like effect. This technique allowed for fluid motion and imaginative transformations, setting a precedent for future animations. ​

Significance and Legacy

These pioneering works demonstrated the possibilities of animation as a medium for artistic expression and storytelling. They paved the way for the development of more sophisticated techniques and the eventual rise of the animation industry, leading to the rich and diverse world of animated films and series we enjoy today.​

For a visual glimpse into this early animation, you can watch Émile Cohl's Fantasmagorie here: