Pre-History of Animation | Evolution of Cartoons, Part 1 (Prehistoric Age to 1893)

The Evolution of Cartoons: Part One - The Pre-History of Animation.
In this ongoing series I aim to chart the entire history of one of humankind’s most spectacular artforms - animation. In this first part, we’ll discover the early history of the artform - from prehistoric explorations of movement, ancient artworks, pre-cinema devices (such as Magic Lantern, Zoetrope, Praxinoscope), and the earliest projected stories (Emile Reynaud's Théâtre Optique / Optical Theatre).
Featured Media
FILMS
Fleischer’s Out of the Inkwell / Koko the Clown - Invisible Ink (1921)
The Bugs Bunny Show (1960)
Toy Story (1995)
The Horse in Motion (1878)
Walt Disney’s Disneyland - The Story of the Animated Drawing (1955) / Tricks of Our Trade (1957)
Felix the Cat - Film Flam Films (1927)
Sherlock Jr. (1924)
Mary Poppins (1964)
Mickey Mouse - Steamboat Willie (1928)
Georges Méliès’ The House of Ghosts (La Maison ensorcelée) (1907)
James Stuart Blackton’s Humorous Phases of Funny Faces (1906)
Georges Méliès’ La Siréne (1904)
The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Émile Reynaud’s Pantomimes Lumineuses - Le Clown Et Son Chien (1910) / Pauvre Pierrot (1892) / Autour D’une Cabine (1894)
Lumière Brothers’ The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station (1896)
Georges Méliès’ Conjuring (Séance de prestidigitation) (1896)
Georges Méliès’ L’Homme à la tête en caoutchouch (The Man with the Rubber Head) (1901)
NEWSREELS AND DOCUMENTARIES
The Biography of the Motion Picture Camera
KZbin VIDEOS
SUNIL TVM - Film Projector India 35mm
Newspeak - World’s First Animation / Trotting Horse Lamp
ICT Vision and Graphics La - The Parthenon (2004)
Ancient Athens 3D - The Parthenon 3D
Great Big Story - The Master of Shadow Puppets
Animation History Museum - Phenakistiscope
Noel Collection - Phenakistiscope
Bill Frankenberger - Praxinoscope: The Movie
The Henry Ford - The History of the Magic Lantern
Florencefst - Magic Lantern
Exoplanet - Early Cinema in 2 Minutes
BFI - Charles Dickens and the Magic Lantern
Mathieu Stern - Developing 120-Year-Old Photos found in a Time Capsule
#Cartoons #Animation #History
TWITTER: / daveleedwnundr
INSTAGRAM: / daveleedwnundr
FACEBOOK: / daveleedownunder
Shop on my AMAZON STORES for all the latest recommendations on media products and deals: www.amazon.com...
www.amazon.co....
As an Amazon Associate, any purchases made via affiliate links will earn myself a very small commission. By using these links you can help support my channel in a very small way.
Dave Lee Down Under Opening Music -
HYPERFUN Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons...
CARTOON EVOLUTION Opening Music -
YOU SO ZANY by Audionautix (audionautix.com/).
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Between 2016/17, channel was previously: Disney Dave Down Under

[@DanGamingFan2406]

I never realized animation predated film by so long, or how big a role it played in the invention of film itself. Some of these devices are pretty impressive. This is going to be such a fun and informative series. I can't wait for the next episode.

[@mayracordero382]

I'm excited to see part 2 and animation deserves better!

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thanks heaps!

[@olleselin]

Animation is the greatest formula of entertainment ever! It's been a huge part of everyone's lives. Thank you for this, Dave! Can't wait for P2

[@mayracordero382]

I love animation so much.

[@supermarioharvey2174]

I never thought I’d learn about ancient history in a video about animation and film. This should be shown in schools.

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thank you 🙏

[@rheneastheorangetankengine8727]

​@@DaveLeeDownUnder i hope you'll talk about my animation technique "imagemation"

[@ProfCoolio]

I can never get enough of the history of animation. Given you track record, this is gonna be great

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thanks heaps 😊

[@brianlevine871]

It's fascinating that some of the earliest works of art influenced animation as we know it. Can't wait to see the next part of your retrospective!

[@AngelPerez-tu1nk]

To see where it all started really puts things into perspective

[@lucasromualdo7003]

Well... I admit that I expected a longer video but this still a GREAT start to this series. Also, I want to work with animation and I know that this WHOLE series will be a great font of knoledge.

[@kuba70834]

At this point in the series, animation is a brand new thing. Next episodes, will probably be longer. :)

[@lucasromualdo7003]

@@kuba70834 I hope so...

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

I aim for this to be a very long, ongoing series that will likely take me years to complete. One of the aims behind it is to release these as shorter, easier to make, and easier to view / digest pieces for audiences. There's going to be a lot of information here, and I want people to be able to take their time with it all. I aim for most episodes to be around 10 - 15 minutes in length. I won't skimp out on the in-depth details, but don't expect 'Cartoon Evolution'-style 20/40/60-minute episodes. As a result of shorter pieces, I do also hope to get a couple instalments out each month when possible!

[@lucasromualdo7003]

@@DaveLeeDownUnder wow... well okay, it is just a litle thing, relax, don't blow your fuse about it.

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

What am I “blowing my fuse” over? I gave you a courteous response simply explaining why the video is short, since you mentioned it.

[@RespectTheLogos3]

Next time: Lumiere brothers Thomas Edison Georges Meiles J. Stuart Blackton

[@loganstamp678]

Can’t wait to see more on this series of videos David!

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thank you! Hope you enjoy!

[@LowellLucasJr.]

Animation...such a joy and wonder that captivates us for Eons! Not one interpretation but thousands of methods that mesmerize and captures that delight each time!❤

[@trentsgangreturns2nddontgi385]

When you get to the 1980s will you please talk about the real ghostbusters

[@WHYISMYNAMEZ]

Why? Isn't really too revaluationary in animation

[@trentsgangreturns2nddontgi385]

@@WHYISMYNAMEZ well it a adapted animated Spin off to the 1984 movie Ghostbusters

[@WHYISMYNAMEZ]

@trentsgangreturns2nddontgi385 yeah but it wasn't revolutionary, the only thing I can think of for it is like Saturday morning cartoons

[@trentsgangreturns2nddontgi385]

I agree @@WHYISMYNAMEZ

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

Can you evolution of Kirby cartoon evolution for me please?

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Sorry, as I have said many times before, I will not be doing a Kirby video.

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

@@DaveLeeDownUnder why?

[@calebc.2290]

I am floored by this. Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed learning about the early days of animation, if this is what crude early day techniques were like. Oh boy am i ready for the future. this was so well made, so detailed oriented, and extremely well explained. Phenomenal work.

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the series 😁😁

[@coolteen2861]

Imagine going from cave drawings to movies like Chicken Run 2, Trolls Band Together and Kung fu Panda 4 😮

[@RespectTheLogos3]

Part 1 (This video): Prehistoric art Ancient artifacts depicting movement Shadow puppetry Persistence of vision Magic Lanterns Motion devices (Thaumatrope, Phenakistoscope, Zoetrope and Praxinoscope) Theatre Optique Next video: Advancements in early cinema Lumiere brothers and the Cinematographe Thomas Edison’s contributions George Meiles and the beginning of special effects The works of J. Stuart Blackton Next video: Emile Cohl and Winsor McCay Invention of cel animation Fleischer brothers and rotoscoping Felix the Cat Dawn of Disney Next video: Oswald and Mickey Silly Symphonies Beginning of Looney Tunes Betty Boop and Popeye Technicolor Abstract film (Len Lye, Oskar Fischinger, Norman McLaren) Donald Duck Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Next video: Introduction of the main Looney Tunes cast (Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny etc) Woody Woodpecker Tom & Jerry and MGM Animation in World War 2 Disney’s Golden Age Dr. Seuss’ contributions Fleischers’ downfall Next video: The Disney strike and founding of UPA Puppetoons and advancements in stop-motion Dawn of television animation Disney in the 50s Explosion of international animation (Will continue this comment) NOTE: These are just my predictions.

[@eliassmeke3991]

When’s part 2 coming out?

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Not too long - a couple of weeks!

[@jbsMUWcreations2089]

Well this is going to be interesting

[@АртёмЛесин-р7ф]

My applauding to you. Nice way to discover early animation before 20th century

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thank you!

[@RespectTheLogos3]

Part 7: Disney in the 60s and Walt’s tragic passing Rise of Hanna-Barbera and beginning of prime-time Anime comes to America Independent films in the 60s Part 8: Independent films in the 70s (Fritz the Cat and Fantastic Planet) Disney after Walt The Saturday Morning time slot Beginning of Aardman Pioneering CGI animations Part 9: Toyetic cartoons of the 80s (He-Man, Transformers and TMNT) Non-toy based cartoons Independent films of the 80s Disney’s slow recovery Founding of Pixar The Disney Afternoon begins Who Framed Roger Rabbit Wallace & Gromit The Simpsons beginnings Part 10: Disney Renaissance CGI effects in movies Advent of adult animation Cable television Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network Anime explosion Toy Story and CGI films after it International films DreamWorks and Warner Bros. Animation SpongeBob SquarePants Macromedia Flash and the beginning of animation for the internet Part 11: DreamWorks and Disney's 2D struggles and the switch to CGI Blue Sky Studios Studio Ghibli International and independent films of the 2000s Pixar's further creations Shows on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney Channel Adult-Swim and adult animation boom CGI effects in 2000s films and motion capture Growth of internet animation Part 12: Adventure Time, Regular Show and cartoon shows in the 2010s Flash animated shows and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Web animation in the early 2010s (BFDI, Bravest Warriors and Bee & Puppycat) CGI effects in 2010s film Disney, Dreamworks and Blue Sky in the 2010s Illumination Entertainment Stop-motion films Rise of Netflix and streaming services Troubles in the 2020s and the dirty deeds done by Disney and Warner Bros. Boom of indie animation NOTE: These are just my predictions

[@completedoofus111]

It's pretty interesting IMO. Animation being older than film isn't really surprising actually given that drawings predate photography, and before photography there were only portraits and drawings, (Photography/Pictures were invented in the 1840s, at least i think so)

[@caidenjohnson7391]

When humans draw cave lion and woolly rhinos and woolly mammoth and horse and cave bear and wolf animation

[@olleselin]

Hey, so Disney Television Animation was totally founded on Walt's dying wish, right?

[@user-DLewis36]

I love cartoon animation. It's a wonderful art forum. I just don't understand why some people don't take animation seriously.

[@hectorgabrielsanchez6929]

Hate to bother you but there's an upcoming Oswald the Lucky Rabbit horror movie

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

Thanks!

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thank you!

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

@@DaveLeeDownUnder you’re welcome!

[@raymondtillotson6985]

Makes you wonder what the cavemen would have thought of Bugs Bunny.

[@Zebra_fandomfella03]

I love this new series. Keep up with the good job! When are you planning to release part 2?

[@retsof3125]

When's cartoon evolution march 2024

[@PABFDIF2024]

That history of Animation video really meant a lot to me! Can't wait for Part 2!

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@looneytrainsdinosaurs]

Don’t forget the loud house for the modern cartoon time please I be good to you 😊

[@kootunesscrewy]

Yay. A real *history* of cartoons.

[@djstarkidmashups8536]

This goes to show you that animation is an art medium, not a genre.

[@krisrhood2127]

People can still go to shadow puppet shows

[@michaelsanchez440]

I like the history of animation.

[@mayracordero382]

I love your series of animation so I can't wait to see part 2 and animation is outstanding dave lee!

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thank you!

[@usmaanilyas8639]

Wow. I always thought that Fantasmagorie was the first ever animation. I never knew it went as far back as the 1800s

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Technically, it's the first animation on celluloid film ☺️

[@MilasMixMedia]

Love it, it’s like saying taking a photo by using stop motion to make a scene come to life or anything, if you think about like drawings and paintings and in general that’s like a form of art style used in animation but in like it prehistoric comes back to the 18th century which I’ve heard about and the object used to make an image move without touching use by spinning it, it’s pretty clever. Before animation even existed it was like just a drawing but using movement it made it come to life on the big screen and when you draw something til this day onwards your basically drawing a picture and as they say when you draw something it comes to life, just ask Walt Disney, Walt Disney said in a documentary about Mickey Mouse which is one Disney Plus, he said he felt like Mickey Mouse was alive and was apart of him in many ways and when you’re a creator of a character, you feel like they are alive in sooo many ways and i think he is right on that, every drawing you make comes to life.

[@apex2000]

I researched this stuff as a kid. Back before internet when Pterodactyls still ruled the skies. Zoetrope woo!

[@kootunesscrewy]

That one time Saberspark voiced a zoetrope.

[@elizabethramirezsierra3700]

The first animations

[@themvtrooper]

That is crazy

[@nuhashahmed6274]

Great video

[@nicolasribeirodossantos6082]

9:23 i thought Snow White was the first animated movie ever.

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Not by a long shot. It was only the first feature-length, traditionally cel-animated film.

[@kuba70834]

Will the episodes appear regularly?

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Once I properly get rolling - At least one, hopefully two, a month!

[@retsof3125]

When's the cat in the hat evolution

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Not for a while.

[@Mevans_2001]

This is really fascinating stuff! Looking forward to more of this series!

[@reemakang3406]

Wow Amazing

[@ThisisIzzy69]

You did a great job! Been reading a book called Animation the whole story by Howard Beckerman which is very similar to this.

[@drevianedwardsproductions9244]

This is really interesting of the prehistory of animation all those centuries ago.

[@WHYISMYNAMEZ]

Can you do the evolution of Anime

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Sorry, I won’t be doing a whole series about anime - I’m not the right person for that, and I can only handle so many series at once. Anime will be covered in this series.

[@WHYISMYNAMEZ]

@DaveLeeDownUnder OK that's alright

[@imthewalrus2379]

What a great look at the earliest ideas and forms of animation. Looking forward to the rest of this series!

[@SoleaGalilei]

This is so cool. I had no idea about the magic lantern shows. Can't wait for part 2!

[@JustinFrazier_360]

That's so cool

[@spews1973]

Not only have I just learned more about the origins of animation, I have just seen the start of what will be Dave's magnum opus.

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Let’s hope so! Thank you!

[@stephenholloway6893]

Great video congratulations good luck and I'm looking forward to part 2.

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thank you 🙏

[@joaquinfernandezaracil1703]

Part 2 when?

[@almabasurto2981]

There have been many articles and videos discussing the history of animation, but none have been entirely detailed or “in depth”, This will absolutely be everyone’s go-to for them to learn the history of animation. Good Luck, Dave! You can do it!

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

I hope so -- Thanks so much!!

[@mrnekokittycatsaki1419]

​@@DaveLeeDownUnder when will part 2 come out

[@abnowacky]

For all we know, animation could be millions of years old somewhere out there! We might just have not discovered it yet, or perhaps the evidence has been long destroyed! It’s always a possibility and you could say the same about pretty much any other thing! Besides that, amazing start to the series and I am hyped to see more!

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thank you! 🙏

[@abnowacky]

@@DaveLeeDownUnder You’re welcome!

[@gufutru5465]

When are we getting a part 2

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Hopefully later this month - possibly early next month. Trying to get the next Cartoon Evolution out of the way first ☺️

[@Tinkerbe11]

What a great start to the series! I have read about that, I have seen pictures, and I have seen some of the aparatuses before, as pictures and at animation exhibitions, but there are still some things I have never seen "at work", like this projector that plaed the single drawn pictures. I wish, I could give more than 1 thumbs up! 👍👍👍

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

Thanks so much 😊