Earl Hurd and the Mystery Animated Short

In May 1924, animation pioneer Earl Hurd was gearing up to release a new 13-part series of animated shorts called "Pen and Ink Vaudeville." The latest edition of my cinema history column Animation Time Machine explores Hurd's early career, including his 1915 patent that effectively marked the invention of cel animation. Here's what Walt Disney … Continue reading Earl Hurd and the Mystery Animated Short

Can I Tempt You with a Felix the Cat Cookie?

You might think movie merchandising is a modern phenomenon. Well, it ain't! One hundred years ago, the animated feline known as Felix the Cat was taking Europe by storm, helped by a massive marketing campaign and all manner of tie-ins including, yes, Felix cookies. In the spring of 1924, The Film Daily published an article celebrating the … Continue reading Can I Tempt You with a Felix the Cat Cookie?

Walt Disney and Paul Terry Compete for Animation Fame in 1924

Which animator is more famous — Walt Disney or Paul Terry? Few people would dispute the answer today, but what if we journeyed 100 years into the past? The latest edition of my cinema history column Animation Time Machine celebrates the 1924 release of "Alice's Day at Sea," the first film ever to emerge from … Continue reading Walt Disney and Paul Terry Compete for Animation Fame in 1924

Wladyslaw Starewicz Brings Stop-Motion Magic to 1920s America

Wladyslaw Starewicz was a pioneer of stop-animation animation. Exactly one hundred years ago, in February 1924, his short film Frogland hit US theatres. What did American audiences make of this innovative movie featuring a pondful of animated frog puppets? Find out in the latest edition of my cinema history column Animation Time Machine, only at … Continue reading Wladyslaw Starewicz Brings Stop-Motion Magic to 1920s America

Animation Time Machine Visits January 1924

Celebrate the New Year with the latest news from the world of animation ... from a century in the past! Visit the Animation Magazine website now to read my latest Animation Time Machine column. Here's an extract to whet your appetite: The Animation Time Machine sped across the Atlantic to Europe, where it discovered a … Continue reading Animation Time Machine Visits January 1924

Animation Time Machine Visits December 1923

Want to read the news from the world of animation ... from 100 years ago? Visit the Animation Magazine website and read my latest Animation Time Machine column! Here's an extract to whet your appetite, with all the headlines from December 1923: It’s fair to assume that, through the final months of 1923, Walt and … Continue reading Animation Time Machine Visits December 1923