Evolution of Animation from Cave Paintings to CGI

Introduction

• Presenter: Austin Gallagher
• Presentation topic: Evolution of animation from cave paintings to CGI.
• Animation dates back to cavemen era.

Animation in the Stone Age

• Earliest known animation: Spinning bowl by Shakata clan (3000 BC).
  • Animation of five frames of a deer jumping.
• Art supplies origin: Ancient pink paint pigments broken down to create dyes and charcoal.
  • Paint pigments date back to 13.5 billion years ago (Threshold 3 of OR Project).
  • Charcoal: Broken down into carbon (6 protons, 6 neutrons, 6 electrons), dating back to the Big Bang (Threshold 1).

Historical Developments in Animation

Magic Lantern

• Invented in 6003 by Dutch scientist Christian Hughes.
• Early projector: Paper over light source under glass.
• Functioned as a slideshow projector.

Zoetrope

• Invented in 1834 by British physician John Arden Paris.
• Concept: Series of images creating animation when spun.
• Analogy: Baseball throw broken into 25 frames on a spinning board.

Kinograph

• Created in 1868 by English printer John Spawn Lette.
• Known now as the flip book.
• Early flip book featured a horse animation.

Praxinoscope

• Created in 1877 by Charles-Émile Reynaud.
• Upgraded Zoetrope: Images on the outside, mirrors inside.
• Animation visible through spinning mirrors.

Digital Animation

• First digital animation by John Whitney and Saul Bass in the late 1850s.
• Saul Bass's groundbreaking work "Vertigo": 3-minute animation for a spy movie.
• One of the first publicly displayed television animations.

Modern and Future of Animation

Animation Spread

• Animation spread globally with companies like Disney and Pixar.
• Japan's influence through anime.
• Tools for public: Blender and Procreate for amateur animators.

Future of Animation

• Potential integration into everyday life.
• AI advancements influencing animation.

Personal Reflections

• Austin’s interest in art and animation influenced his topic choice.
• Favorite animation style: Anime.

Audience Q&A

• Flip book production time depends on complexity.
• Potential longevity of animation styles with AI advancements.
• Chemical elements related to early animation: Pink paint and charcoal's elemental breakdown.

Conclusion

• Acknowledgment of audience participation.
• Encouragement to appreciate the historical roots and future potential of animation.