From Mickey to Buzz

Animations are everywhere! You might see them while you’re watching TV or a movie, while you’re checking your local weather forecast, or while playing a video game. But what is animation? In an animation, multiple still images shown together create one moving image. The first examples were developed nearly 200 years ago. Since then, the technology used in animation has improved so much that it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s real and what’s animated!

Animations are all around you! You might see them on TV shows, in movies, in video games, or on your local weather forecast. In an animation, multiple still images appear one after another. They seem to move. The first animations were made more than 200 years ago. With today’s technology, it can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s animated!

In a movie, many frames, or single images, are shown quickly to create the illusion of movement. This is possible because of a process called the persistence of vision. As you watch a movie, each frame stays in your mind for a split second as the next one is displayed. Your brain fills in the gaps, fooling you into thinking there is movement.

Early filmmakers used a device called a zoetrope (ZOH-ee-trohp), above, to play their animations. It’s a cylinder that looks like a tiny merry-go-round. The viewer places a strip of images inside the cylinder and spins it. The viewer looks through slits in the cylinder’s side, and the images appear to move as the cylinder spins.

A movie is made of many frames, or single images. When shown quickly, they create the illusion of movement. This is possible because of how the human mind works. As you watch a movie, each frame stays in your mind for a second. When the next frame is displayed, your brain fills in the gaps, tricking you into thinking there is movement.

Early animators used a device called a zoetrope (ZOH-ee-trohp), above. The viewer places a strip of images inside the device, spins it, and looks through slits in the side. The images seem to move as the zoetrope spins.

In 1928, animators Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks (uhb AHY-werks) released an animated short called Steamboat Willie, above. For the first time in history, the animators paired music with the action on-screen. Audiences loved the film, which introduced a new character named Mickey Mouse and launched Disney’s career.

Following Steamboat Willie’s success, Disney aimed to create a feature-length film. In 1937, he achieved his goal with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Artists illustrated this film by hand. They drew the characters—and the scenes they appear in—on thousands of plastic sheets called cels. In the photograph below, an animator reviews a stack of cels. They show Snow White moving her arm and changing her facial expression. Notice how subtle the variations are in each version.

In 1928, Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks (uhb AHY-werks) released an animated short film, Steamboat Willie, above. It was the first time an animation had music to match the action. The film introduced Mickey Mouse and kicked off Disney’s career.

In 1937, Disney created a feature-length animated film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Artists illustrated it by hand. They drew every character and scene on thousands of plastic sheets. In the drawings below, Snow White appears to move her arm slightly between frames. The differences in each drawing must be small for the animation to work.

In 1986, Disney partnered with a company called Pixar. In 1995, the team developed the first fully computer-animated feature film: Toy Story. With three-dimensional characters and backgrounds, it opened a new world of possibilities for animators.

Animation is a constantly evolving media. Read on to learn how animators created the upcoming film Luca. And don’t forget: Animation isn’t limited to entertainment. Scientists and doctors use animation too. Click here to find out why scientists at NASA rely on animation.

In 1986, Disney teamed up with Pixar. In 1995, they released Toy Story, the first feature-length film animated on computers. Computer animation allowed artists to make images that look three-dimensional. This opened a world of possibilities.

Animation isn’t only for movies, TV, and games. Turn to page 14 to learn how NASA scientists use animation!