The Art of Hand-Drawn Animation: Disney’s Legacy and the Evolution of Animation

Before the advent of computers and digital technology, the animation studios relied on a laborious yet artful process to bring their stories to life. This article explores the fundamentals of hand-drawn animation, tracing its origins and the work of luminaries like Walt Disney, who mastered and popularized this art form.

The Principles of Animation

Animation operates on a principle known as persistence of vision. This concept, which has been known since ancient times, underlies how our brain perceives movement when seeing a series of still images quickly in succession. Each frame of film or animation is a photograph of a fraction of a second in time, and when these images are projected at regular speed, our minds fill in the gaps to create the illusion of smooth, continuous movement.

The Evolution of Animation

Origins and Early Standardization

Animation techniques, while made famous by Disney, have existed for centuries. The process was perfected in the early 20th century and remained a standard for animation for many years. In the silent era, films were shot at approximately 18 frames per second, meaning that for every second of animation, eighteen individual drawings were required. This required an enormous amount of work to create just one minute of film, involving thousands of drawings.

The Talkie Era and Beyond

As the movie industry moved into the talkie era (the period of synchronized sound in film), the frame rate increased to 24 frames per second to accommodate the soundtrack. However, animators soon discovered that the human brain can process as few as twelve images per second as smooth motion. Consequently, during the 1930s through the 1960s, animation was often shot "in twos," with each setup captured on two frames of film to maintain the illusion of fluid movement.

Techniques and Innovations in hand-drawn animation

Frame Recording and Drawing

One of the key techniques in hand-drawn animation is capturing the exact frames to be drawn. In the early days, animators would record the frames from live-action footage using a special camera that recorded keyframes, which were then used to guide the drawing of subsequent frames. This process involved careful planning and meticulous attention to detail.

Rotoscoping: A Story of Innovation

Rotoscoping, an innovative technique invented by Max Fleischer in the 1910s, involved projecting live-action footage onto a translucent surface and tracing each frame by hand. This method was initially used to create a smooth, lifelike quality in animated sequences. Initially, this was done by tracing every image, but to save time, studios began tracing every other image, resulting in a distinctive 'jerky' quality that became a hallmark of certain types of animation.

Rotoscoping became particularly popular during the color television era, as color versions of old black and white cartoons were often created using this method. The process involved projecting each frame of the original film onto a drawing surface and having draftsmen trace the images. The newly colored drawings were then exposed four times each, creating a distinct look that was widely accepted in Japan during the 1960s and 1970s.

Disney’s Role in Animation Evolution

Walt Disney played a pivotal role in popularizing and refining hand-drawn animation techniques. His studios introduced several innovations that helped to standardize and enhance the craft. Some of the key elements include:

Day and Night Routines: Disney’s animation studios had a strict day and night routine, with artists working during the day on thumbnails and clean-up, and inkers working during the night to finalize the drawings. This ensured a high level of precision and consistency in the artwork. Layouts: The concept of layouts, where an artist would design the visual elements of a scene, was also introduced by Disney. This helped to establish the overall look and feel of a scene, guiding the animators in their work.

The Future of Hand-drawn Animation

While digital technology has revolutionized the animation industry, hand-drawn animation continues to hold a special place in the hearts of animators and audiences alike. The skills and artistry involved in creating hand-drawn animations are highly valued, and many studios continue to use this technique to produce films that capture the charm and creativity of traditional storytelling.

Conclusion

Hand-drawn animation, a technique that predates computers and digital technology, has played a crucial role in the history of animation. From its early origins to the rise of giants like Walt Disney, the art of hand-drawn animation has evolved significantly. While modern technologies have transformed the industry, the principles and techniques of hand-drawn animation continue to influence and inspire the next generation of animators.