International Animation Day

Cartoons have been with us since childhood and provide an experience that regular feature films cannot. Their place in our lives is commemorated on International Animation Day, which is traditionally celebrated on 28 October. Why is this day important and how were the first animations actually made?

History

We associate the world of animation with many film studios or with Walt Disney, who released his famous Snow White, the first feature film, almost 90 years ago. However, the very first attempts to create an animated film are much older. The animations were born during the first public performance of a moving image projection held at the Grévin Museum in Paris. Émile Reynaud and his Théâtre Optique machine presented a set of three cartoons on 28 October 1892. Each of the animations consisted of between 500 and 600 painted images in total.

In 1888, he patented the machine. It worked on the principle of projecting images onto a screen, the images being drawn on long strips that were wound onto two spools. They had to be turned by hand during production , which required skill, and most of the animations were about 15 minutes long.

To commemorate the anniversary of the first screening, ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation) established International Animation Day in 2002 , which fell on 28 October.

Animation is more than just a cartoon

Animation is a field that combines different techniques. Today, however, the methods of making them are very advanced and digital technology is being used. International Animation Day thus highlights the beauty, complexity and the work of many people involved in animation. It is celebrated in more than 50 countries with events that offer opportunities to learn about the history of animation, current techniques and its undisputed cultural significance.

How to celebrate International Animation Day

Various screenings, fun workshops and exhibitions are taking place in countries around the world to celebrate the creation of animated films. The creation of animated films in particular speaks of the great creativity and meticulous and hard work of animators. The best appreciation and way to celebrate this day is by watching animated films. Whether it’s the old Disney classics, more recent popular cartoons or films that combine animation and traditional filmmaking.

Use this day to explore their diversity. Animated films are not just for entertainment. They are often used to create educational videos, commercial trailers, visuals and many other occasions.