Animated films are a significant source of entertainment in American history. Creative and imaginative filmmakers have played a huge role in ensuring the field remains relevant and interesting. American animation has undergone several transitions as technology evolves. This research paper will analyze the golden age in the history of American animation. This is the age that begins from 1928 and ends in the late 1960s. During this period, the American cartoons were characterized by sounds as previously, animations were silent (Fischer 67). However, the period gradually ended due to the introduction of television animation. In the golden age, the theatrical version of animated films which were short, had gained much popularity. Conversely, the theatrical films were slowly overtaken by television animation due to the low cost of production and the use of an animation style that was more limited.
Many cartoon characters emerged during the golden age of American animation. Such characters include Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Tom and Jerry, Felix the Cat, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Terry toons’ Mighty Mouse and Daisy Duck, among others (Langer 36). These characters continued to be used as the field evolved increasing their popularity. The animation films that continue to be produced still feature these characters as they are significantly embraced.
Moreover, feature-length animated films were gradually introduced during the golden age period. A feature-length film runs continuously for an average of 40 minutes (Lerner 122). In addition, the animation must be on display for more than 75 percent of the films’ running period in the animated film (Wells 19). In a narrated animation, the film must have a high number of primary characters animated. Some of the feature-length animations at the time were Snow White and the seven dwarfs and The Jungle book (Fischer 67). Short animation films lost popularity as feature-length animations grew during the golden age.
Research Question
To thoroughly analyze the golden age of animated films, the following research questions were formulated.
General Research Question
What led to the success of animated films during the golden age period?
Specific questions
- What was the development of animated films between 1920 to late 1960?
- What technics were adapted during the animated film’s golden age period?
- How does the golden age era contribute to the success of the animated films field?
Research Methodology
This research paper will utilize the quantitative research methodology where past events are analyzed for a deeper understanding. Since the research topic features past events, recorded primary sources of data will be collected and the relevant secondary data analyzed. This paper will evaluate the recording of Felix the cat in Film Flam Films. Dir. Otto Messmer 1928 as a primary source. Sammond, Nicholas “Chapter 6: Disney Maps the Frontier.” Babes in Tomorrowland: Walt Disney and the Making of the American Child will be used as a secondary source. The two sources will assist in the understanding of the animated films from the golden age period. This paper shall critically evaluate the themes, technics, and advancements made by the films. To collect the most effective materials for the study, the researcher shall use keywords such as the golden age, American animation, and theatrical animated films among others. The study also utilizes the most recent sources, below five years to remain relevant.
Importance of the research topic
During the golden age of animation, a significant number of cartoon characters became famous laying a foundation for their success. Several changes occurred at the time such as the introduction of sound cartoons, feature-length animations, and the emergence of popular animation studios. This paper will analyze how this period is important to the success of American animation. It will highlight features that make it unique and special events through analyzing two sources from the period, that is, Felix the Cat in Film Flam Films. Dir. Otto Messmer 1928 and Sammond, Nicholas Stowell. The uses of childhood: The making of Walt Disney and the generic American child, 1930–1960. University of California, San Diego, 1999. This paper will help in understanding the origin of various developments in the animation field.
Relevant Key Concepts
The Golden Age
Cinema grew in popularity during the great depression which led to the embracement of animated shorts in the American market in the 1930s. This period was named the golden age as most famous cartoon characters emerged at the time such characters include Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Tom and Jerry, Felix the Cat, Terry toons’ Mighty Mouse, and Daisy Duck among others (Langer 29). The animation field grew significantly at the time leading to the future success of the industry.
Sound in Animation
The introduction of sound in animation led to the shaking of the roots of motion pictures. Sound animations were introduced in 1928 by the first theatrical film of Mickey Mouse which gathered huge attention contributing to Disney’s fame. Significant success was drawn from the elaborate symphonic and vocal talents in the films as well as visual artistry and images (Langer 32). Some of the popular vocalists in animation are Mel Blanc and voices from the radio era and vaudeville. The cartoons also played rich orchestras and soundtracks which created original cartoon sounds and developed entertaining and classical melodies.
The Wartime Period
In the 1940s, the cartoon industry was affected by two major events, World War II and the strike by Disney animators. During World War II, animation creators were mobilized and encouraged to produce contents that established the public’s confidence in support of efforts of the war (Langer 36). In addition, the strike by Disney animators led to many staff leaving the company to look for better employment opportunities.
Stop Motion and Special Effects
Although hand-drawn animation and stop-motion shared some similarities, the two genres did not relate during the golden age period. In 1933, Willis O’Brien established numerous stop motion techniques in animation which were popularly used 50 years later (Mackinnon 105). George Pal was an animator who utilized stop motion to produce several cartoons and live-action featured films with special effects. However, the technique limited the animators’ production capacity, thus, a need for a better technique.
Literature Review
In the golden age, cartoons were mostly known to be part of theatre programs and were averagely eight minutes long. Children watched animated features when they visited the new Walt Disneyland in the Disney studios. Cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny were known for their often appearances on comic books (Crafton 97). Currently, nearly all American children are privileged to have thousands of hours of cartoon exposure (Wells 23). Crafton (95) notes that some of the cartoons watched today were produced about fifty or sixty years ago. Numerous cartoon characters are recognized from the golden age animation period. Surprisingly, these characters became famous even before the development of television programs.
The emergence of television was a great achievement for animators as it made them more accessible. Television enables cartoons to be perceived more as a children’s medium although cartoons have always been associated as a source of children’s entertainment (Taberham 136). Conversely, the adult audience contributed greatly to the success of the snow white and the seven dwarfs and three little pigs’ cartoons. The cartoons in the Hollywood industry were developed by workers who had specialized in the field which contributed to pooling together different strengths. They learned on the job and copied a newly established tactic from one film to the other. Hollywood collaborated with its workers to achieve great success and bear fruits that are visible to date.
In silent films, the animators would create a fantasy for their audience using a blatant impossibility. For instance, in the film Felix the cat, the cat would pull out his tail and use it for any purpose such as a grappling hook or a spyglass. However, according to Taberham (117), the cartoons lacked a foundation or a complete storyline a fact that left the audience in suspense. The introduction of sound effects animations filled an empty gap in the films. In addition, the improvement of animations and drawings played a significant role because human beings’ attention is influenced more by vision than by sound. Cartoon makers continued to improve their work to an extent that they could animate characters by the end of the 1930s (Callaway 15). However, they warned their audience not to believe in the existence of those characters as some were weird-looking creatures. Most of these improvements took place in the Disney studios which acted as a leader for other animators and cartoonists. They managed to combine facts, animation, and fantasy in one film.
Cartoonists aimed at making animated films without destroying their audience interests. Manufacturers made cartoon animations from numerous and continuous drawings which was a challenging task. Since every change in motion required a new drawing, cartoonists required a long time to develop a full animation film (Callaway 18). There was a need to develop something that could hasten the speed of drawing and the cartoonists established more efficient ways. For example, the rip and splash system made it possible for a drawing to be used severally. The technic entailed tearing holes on a paper so that a moving part of a character was viewed on one side while the stationary part could be viewed through the hole. However, the achievement of faster production methods contributed to the loss of interest in many films.
Exploration of Primary and Secondary Sources
Felix the cat in Film Flam Films. Dir. Otto Messmer 1928
Felix the Cat is a character in comedy films used for children’s entertainment. The character was first created and used as silent production films by Otto Messmer and Pat Sullivan in 1919. The film featured Felix, a black cat with black fur, white eyes, and a big grin (Callaway 13). He was one of the most popular cartoon characters in the history of films and attracted a movie audience. The cartoon was featured in several cartoons and comic strips in 1923 and was mentioned in songs by artists such as Paul White and popular jazz bands. The merchandise also adored his image and made postcards, toys, and ceramics in his image.
However, the introduction of sound cartoons led to the character losing popularity in emerging films. Messmer and Sullivan were unwilling to change their character and thus many studios moved away from them (Callaway 13). Following the loss of fame, the two cartoonists decided to transition and produce sound cartoons of Felix bringing back his fame. Nonetheless, cartoon shorts of Felix failed and the production ended in 1932. The character was resurrected again in television films in 1953.
Felix the cat is a good example of the transition that took place during the golden age period of cartoon animation. Originally, the character had been featured in theatrical films which faded their glory after the introduction of sound cartoon animations (Furniss 6). Fortunately, the producers of the character decided to transition and improve the character’s appearance as change occurred. This transition saved the fame of the character and ensured that it remained relevant. Sammond, Nicholas Stowell. The uses of childhood: The making of Walt Disney and the generic American child, 1930–1960. University of California, San Diego, 1999.
As the animation industry was transitioning, Disney was at the lead of the transformation. Disneyland offers an ideal display that helps in understanding the evolution of the Disney cosmos. The land is subdivided into four portions, the Adventureland, representing the natural world; Fantasyland, which offers children’s imaginative world, the Frontierland which is the historical world and Tomorrowland which offers an imagination of technology and how it will transform the future (Sammond 300). From the initiation of Disney cosmos, it encapsulated the American culture and social life which could be perceived in two different tropes, a dynamic and static one that operated with each other in tension.
The launching of Disneyland was important to America as it could host the new evolution and offer a fast adaptation to modernization. The primary focus in the project was the natural child who can be perceived as the center of a nuclear family. Sammond (301) notes that Disney utilized theming, that is, the establishment and regulation of distinctions between culture, nature, and the evolving future of technology to unite in a landscape that is actual and symbolic. The company depended on the press to deliver this process same as other media (Wells 19). However, Disney took an extra step in marketing and campaigning itself to integrate with locals in social institutions such as schools where children would familiarize themselves with it (Lerner 121). This action ensured that Disney distinct itself from other media. Disney would address the social and cultural fears of the introduction of television in homes (Furniss 5). It would display itself as an absorbent of the negative effects of television programs.
Disney productions consisted of cartoon shorts and animated features of fairy tales. The company’s well-knowledge and appreciation of nature played a significant role in its popularity and Disney cosmos. To add to their production, Disney studios introduced mini-dramas where the primary characters were animals and its nature footage which was continually increasing (Sammond 303). It also concentrated on stories that addressed public relations where they featured intimate relationships between animals and humans. The company’s use of nature led to the American child having it as a structuring metaphor in their upbringing (Furniss 7). Disney used its productions to display a perfect natural world together with its connectedness to the technological and historical world.
In his book, Sammond records the improvement and advancement of the animation field by reviewing the story of Disney, a production company. The book highlights how Disney managed to lead the change by introducing new products in the market. Such products include animals’ mini-dramas, animation shorts, romantic animations, and public relations cartoons. Disney featured nature and created an imaginary world in American children’s minds. During the golden age period, animation became more real and the audience could easily relate to it due to the different adjustments.
Works Cited
Callaway, Anita. “Felix the Catalyst: An Antipodean Who Animated Modernism.” Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature 20.2 (2020): 1-14. Web.
Crafton, Donald. “The veiled genealogies of animation and cinema.” Animation 6.2 (2011): 93-110. Web.
Fischer, Karin. “How international education’s golden age lost its sheen.” The Chronicle of Higher Education 5.7 (2019): 56-70. Web.
Furniss, Maureen, ed. Animation: Art and industry. Indiana University Press, 2009.
Langer, Mark. “2. Polyphony and Heterogeneity in Early Fleischer Films: Comic Strips, Vaudeville, and the New York Style.” Funny Pictures. University of California Press, 2011. 29-50. Web.
Lerner, Neil. “Tunes for ‘Toons’: Music and the Hollywood Cartoon.” (2006): 121-124. Web.
Mackinnon, Carla. “Autobiography and Authenticity in Stop-Motion Animation.” The Crafty Animator. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2019. 99-126. Web.
Sammond, Nicholas Stowell. The uses of childhood: The making of Walt Disney and the generic American child, 1930–1960. University of California, San Diego, 1999.
Taberham, Paul. “A General Aesthetics of American Animation Sound Design.” Animation 13.2 (2018): 131-147.
Wells, Paul. “Smarter than the average art form.” Animation in the television era. In: Stabile CA, Harrison M, editors. Prime Time Animation: Television Animation and American Culture. London: Routledge (2003): 15-32. Web.