“say hello, gertie…”

What is Animation?

How would you define it?

What do you know? What would you change, if you could?

Today, Gertie the Dinosaur may seem outdated and prescriptive. But in 1914, it took an extreme experimental spirit and collaboration between early animation pioneers to change the face of time-based storytelling:

“Predating the widespread popularity of talkies, McCay’s interactions with Gertie are limited to the standard intertitles used in silent films. The film also predates cel animation, which allowed animators to save time and energy by layering the images on top of each other. McCay enlisted an art student, John A. Fitzsimmons, to assist him in the animation, and, together they redrew every detail of every frame of animation for the film on rice paper.

Though he didn’t have the convenience of cel animation at the time, McCay did pioneer the use of a technique that would later be called “key framing” — a technique that involves drawing two reference frames of animation, point A and point B, and then going back and drawing the frames that would go in between, creating a smooth, realistic sense of motion in even the most elaborate pieces of action. He also saved time through the use of cycling, or reusing frames of animation.” – https://viewerscommentary.com/2011/11/06/gertie-2/

Reenactment of Gertie the Dinosaur:

 

Flash forward nearly 100 years: