Course detail

History of Animation

FaVU-DAFAcad. year: 2024/2025

Lectures follow the chronological development of animation from the late of 19th century until the advent of digital technologies. Individual topics are involved in animated films that were part of the programs of cinemas and independent experiments. Attention is paid to the impacts of modern art, reactions to the development of broadcasting and the advent of computer technology. Lectures are accompanied by projections of samples from crucial films.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

MgA. Pavel Ryška, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Audiovisual Technology (KAT)

Entry knowledge

Students should have general knowledge of visual arts history. 

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Course assessment is based on an essay (minimum 5000 characters).

Teaching takes place in the classrooms of the FFA BUT in the hours determined by the schedule. Lectures are optional.

Aims

The aim of the series of lectures is to acquaint students with the history of film animation, which is conceived not only as part of the entertainment industry, but also as a tool of visual communication and versatile art form.
Students acquire basic knowledge about the development of animated film. They will understand the principles of classic animation. They will be able to distinguish conventional techniques and procedures. They learn to understand the experiments with moving images that transcend the boundaries of traditional genres. They will be able to recognize and critically analyze an array of important animated films.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Bendazzi, Giannalberto. Cartoons. One Hundred Years of Film Animation. Indiana University Press, 1995.
Bordwell, David ‒ Thompson, Kristin. Dějiny filmu. Přehled světové kinematografie, Praha: AMU/NLN, 2007.
Clements, Jonathan ‒ McCarthy, Helen. The Anime Encyclopedia. A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917. Stone Bridge Press, 2006.
Dutka, Edgar. Minimum z dějin světové animace, Praha: AMU, 2004.
Furniss, Maureen. Animation, The Global history. Thames & Hudson, 2016.
Wells, Paul. Understanding Animation. Routledge, 1998.

Recommended reading

Crafton, Donald. Before Mickey, The Animated Film 1898–1928. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1982.
Deitch, Gene. Z lásky k Praze. Praha: Garamond, 2018.
Faber, Liz ‒ Walters, Helen. Animation Unlimited: Innovative Short Films Since 1940. Collins Design, 2004.
Fleischer, Richard. Out of the Inkwell. Max Fleischer and the Animation Revolution. The University Press of Kentucky, 2005.
Hopkins, Albert. Magic. Stage Illusions, Special Effects and Trick Photography. New York: Dover Publications, 1976.
Johnston, Ollie ‒ Thomas, Frank. The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. Disney Editions, 1995.
Kubíček, Jiří. Úvod do estetiky animace, Praha: AMU, 2004.
Moritz, William. Optical Poetry: The Life and Work of Oskar Fischinger. Indiana University Press, 2004.
Murakami, Takashi. Little Boy. The Arts of Japan´s Exploding Subculture. Yale University Press, 2005.
Pilling, Jayne. A Reader in Animation Studies. John Libbey & Comp. Ltd., 1997.
Poš, Jan. Výtvarníci animovaného filmu. Praha: Odeon, 1990.
Russett, Robert ‒ Starr, Cecile. Experimental Animations: Origins of a New Art. Da Capo Press, 1976.
Strusková, Eva. Dodalovi. Průkopníci českého animovaného filmu. Praha: NFA, NAMU, 2013.
Ulver, Stanislav (ed.). Animace a doba. Praha: SPOFT/NFA, 2001.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme DES_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Pavel Ryška, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Animation before film. Optical instruments of the 19th century. Chronophotography, motion analysis. Pioneers of animation. Optical theater. Scenic a photographic tricks.

2. Origin of film animation. Lighting sketchers in front of camera. Comic strip as inspiration. The techniques of film animation. Presentation of animated films before the development of movie theaters.

3. Rationalization of the production. Technical innovations. Animated film as a mass-produced commodity and as a part of film show. Production companies in the United States. Rotoscoping. The beginning of synchronous sound in the animated film.

4. Avant-garde. Western European art, abstraction and animated films. Experiments with hand-drawn sound.

5. Animation and special effects in film advertising, promotion and propaganda. Czech animation of thirties. Promotional, instructional and propaganda films.

6. Snow White and 700 Dwarfs. The Walt Disney Studios in the 1930s and the 1940s. The Fleischer brothers. Animation department at MGM studios and Warner Bros. United Productions of America.

7. Animated films 1945-1960. The beginning of television and commercial broadcasting. Film and TV pictures in the Europe and the United States. Limited animation. Responses of inter-war modern art in an animated film.

8. Czechoslovakian animation
AFIT. Organization of nationalized cinematography. "Bratri v triku". Jiri Trnka, Bretislav Pojar, Zdenek Miler, Jiri Brdecka. Puppet films of Hermina Tyrlová. Special effects of Karel Zeman. Gene Deitch, an American director in Prague.

9. Experiments with moving images. Abstract animation in the postwar era. Artistic techniques, mixed media. Drawn-on-film animation, pixilation. Total animation.

10. New Technologies. Computer images. Technological innovations from analog computers and their usage in the film animation to the first experiments with 3D graphics.

11. Production company "Krátký film" in the seventies and eighties. Manufacturing practice of short films. Animation in popular scientific and educational films.

12. Asian animation. Animated film in China. Shanghai studio. Animation in the service of the Cultural Revolution, 1966–1976. The influence of Walt Disney´s films. Animation in Japan, manga & anime.

13. Digital Convergence. Film and digital video. Computer programs, interpolated rotoscoping process. Internet as a platform for promotion and distribution of digital animation.