American Animated Short

Catalog description

Short films are the fundamental building blocks of the animation industry, as well as a respected art form. Shorts are also an effective way for animators to explore issues, make personal statements, and convey ideas. This course will follow the history of American animation through the short animated films that were produced from the early 1900s through the present. We will look at the early pioneers, the Golden Age of Hollywood shorts, the WWII propaganda shorts, the television era, independent filmmaking, and experimental animation. We’ll consider the work of Disney, Pixar, and people sitting in their basements with a stack of paper or a computer. We’ll follow technological innovation, storytelling, and shifts in styles and production over the years. And we’ll assess the impact of streaming and newer technologies on all aspects of short filmmaking.