Throughout time

Throughout time, there have been a plethora of amazing creations. There’s been cell phones, laptops, and of course, products such as the infamous Shake Weight. But there’s so much more beyond the materialistic that’s been produced; Actions and ideas are good examples. Specifically the idea to have a series of drawings that form a coherent story. A creation that is as visually unique as it is impactful. And of course, there’s the action of bringing said idea into fruition. Animation hasn’t been around since the dawn of man. In fact, the concept of animation itself is fairly recent. Within the past hundred years or so, humans have fabricated and perfected this process. Even in the earliest stages, animation has proven its value through its icons, sentiment, and evolution.
Icons are a pivotal factor to the relevance of animation throughout society. They give people a recognizable image to associate their feelings with. When asked to name an animated icon, most would respond with Mickey Mouse. Believe it or not, there was actually a time before Mickey Mouse. Crazy, right? This was a time where cats were the ones to dominate the market. In 1919, Felix was the product of Otto Messmer and Pat Sullivan, appearing in his first silent short Feline Follies (Encyclopedia.com). However, he was known as Master Tom until 1922, where he starred in the short film Felix Saves the Day (Artograph). Being the first notable animated character, Felix exploded in popularity. It didn’t take long for people to see how enticing a cartoon cat could be. In the same year, the New York Yankees made him their official mascot (Artograph). Then in 1927, he became the first ever balloon in the Macy’s Day Parade (nyctourist.com). Felix was known throughout the nation. Unfortunately, Felix’s popularity came to an abrupt end, much like his balloon, when Disney found its set of ears.
Mortimer Mouse was the replacement for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1928 after Universal had stripped Walt Disney of the character, his employees, and decided to let him go (Time.com). After a quick name change and an unpopular short, Mickey finally became a greater hit with the release of Steamboat Willie, known as “the first animation to feature synchronized music and sound effects” (Time.com). While Mickey proved to be successful, it took until the 1940 release of Fantasia for people to realize animation was more than mere entertainment. The movie captivated the audience, even without dialogue. The bold, colorful visuals and brilliant orchestra were enough. The magic and wonder associated with Disney emerged from Mickey’s character; The loveable sorcerer’s apprentice. Since the release of Fantasia, Mickey’s persona has expanded significantly. Between having his face plastered on various products and making constant pop culture appearances, it’s no surprise that the awareness rate of Mickey Mouse is at 98% globally for children between 3-11 (Time.com). More than anything, he paved the way for animated characters in films and shows. Nostalgic pieces like The Lion King, Aladdin, Kim Possible, and Lilo & Stitch are all real because of Disney’s success from its glorious poster boy. Suffice it to say these classics made up the childhoods of many generations.
Nostalgia is just one of the many feelings animation is able to evoke in