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Movie Terms Wiki Filmmaking

Animation

The technique of creating the illusion of motion through sequential images.


Historical Background

From early hand-drawn shorts like Gertie the Dinosaur to Disney’s first feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), animation evolved through cel animation, stop motion and digital techniques.

Major Techniques

Traditional hand-drawn, stop motion, computer animation and hybrid approaches each offer distinct aesthetics. Technical advances in CGI revolutionized industry giants like Pixar and DreamWorks.

Industry and Markets

Animation spans feature films, television, advertising and gaming. Studios often invest heavily in franchises (e.g., Toy Story, Shrek) while smaller studios explore artistic or experimental projects.

Notable Examples

Key films include Spirited Away, The Lion King, Wall-E and Persepolis. Their diversity highlights animation’s capacity to tell universal stories across ages and cultures.


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