Blackton--Father of American Animation
Six years after creating "The Enchanted Drawing," Blackton made "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces," a film in which you see an artist's hand draw faces and figures that begin to move. Take a look at this film and see what kind of film techniques you recognize. How much has animated film changed? Although today we remember Blackton for creating the earliest cartoons, his main work was making dramatic films with actors. How do you think his other filmmaking influenced his animated films?
VIDEO CREDIT: Blackton, J. Stuart, producer and animator. "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces." Vitagraph, 1906. Origins of American Animation, Library of Congress.
