A History of Animation in America--Film and Television 122N--Spring 2012
A survey of the art of animation in America from its
pre-cinema origins to recent films of Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Ghibli, et al.
Discussions will include the place of animation in pop culture, its impact on
ethnic stereotypes, the growth of the art form and how it reflects American
society.
Lecture: MW
1-4
Location: Bunche
1209B
Units: 5
Professor: Charles
Solomon (chazsolo@gmail.com)
Office Hours: TBA
TA's: Jessica Hokanson, Vivian Lee, Eric Leppo
(animationhistoryta@yahoo.com)
Course requirements:
1.
Regular attendance
2.
Viewing of animated films
3.
Final exam
Prerequisites: A
desire to learn about the history of animation and its effects on popular
culture.
Texts: There
is no required reading for the course. But students will be expected
to watch films that are not shown in their entirety in class and to see current
releases. The films may be rented from video stores, Netflix, etc. In
addition, the TA's will have a list of reliable books on various aspects of
animation to aid in research.
Average cost per student: $25-$50 for video rentals and
movie admissions.
Grading: Class
attendance/participation……………………………10%
Final
exam………………………………………………….90%
Attendance: Sign in sheets will passed around at the beginning of each class. If you are enrolled, but miss the first two classes you will be dropped to make room for the waitlisted students that did attend class. If you are dropped, but do intend to take the class please email the TAs and you will be put at the bottom of the PTE reception list.
Attendance: Sign in sheets will passed around at the beginning of each class. If you are enrolled, but miss the first two classes you will be dropped to make room for the waitlisted students that did attend class. If you are dropped, but do intend to take the class please email the TAs and you will be put at the bottom of the PTE reception list.
NB: Plagiarism is a serious offense. It is the presentation
of another author’s words or ideas as if they were your own. University
regulations require that any case of plagiarism be sent to the Dean of Students
for review. If you have any questions about documentation, quotations, and
related matters, please do not hesitate to ask me before submitting your work.
Week/Date Subject/screening:
April 2 Introduction:
The
origins of animation in pre-film toys and devices. The beginings of film
animation: the work of J. Stuart Blackton and Emile Cohl. Silent animation:
Winsor McCay, the earliest cartoons studios, and the triumph of the Felix the
Cat series. The division between animation as an art form and an industry.
April 4 The
Disney Era (1):
The
early work of Walt Disney and his studios: From the “Laugh-O-Grams” and “Alice”
comedies to “Steamboat Willie” and the first Mickey shorts.
April 4 The
Disney Era (2):
From
the “Silly Symphonies” to “Snow White”--an era of unpcedented artistic
experimentation and education.
April 9 The
Fleischer Studio:
From
the “Out of the Inkwell” shorts through “Betty Boop,” “Popeye” and “Gulliver’s
Travels.” An alternate vision of what cartoon can and should be.
April 11 The
Studio Cartoon in the 30's:
The
early work of Hugh Harman, Rudy Ising et al., from “Sinkin’ in the
Bathtub” to “I Haven’t Got a Hat”
and “A Wild Hare” at Warner Bros. Harman-Ising move to MGM and establish
another studio.
April 16 Minor
Studios:
The
cartoons of Walter Lantz, Ub Iwerks, Paul Terry and Van Beuren.
April 18 Disney:
The great features: “Pinocchio,”
“Fantasia,” “Dumbo” and “Bambi.”
April 23 Disney:
The war years. The Strike of 1941 and
its effects. Wartime production, including “Victory Through Air Power,” the
South American films and “Song of the South.”
April 25 Warners
Bros. after the war:
The
Golden Age of Jones, Freleng and McKimson.
April 30 MGM
after the war:
Tex
Avery at his best, Hanna-Barbera’s Oscar-winning “Tom and Jerry” series.
May 2 Other
studios after the war:
Terry,
Famous, Lantz, George Pal.
May 7 UPA:
A
graphic revolution in animation.
May 9 The
Disney Postwar years and Interregnum:
From
“Make Mine Music” and the Package Features through “The Fox and the Hound” and
“The Black Cauldron.”
May 14 Other
visions (1):
Alternatives
to studio films: The Hubleys and independent animation. The artistic focus of
animation shifts from the US to Zagrebfilm, the National Film Board of Canada
and other countries.
May 16 Disney
redux:
From
“The Great Mouse” through “The Lion King”; an arc of artistic and financial
success.
May 21 Other
visions (2) the changing feature:
Ralph Bakshi and "Fritz the
Cat, Bill Melendez’s "Peanuts" features, “Yellow Submarine;” Don
Bluth, Turner, Hyperion et al. attempt to challenge Disney’s domination of the
feature market.
May 23 The
Way We Are (1):
Recent
work from Disney, Dreamworks.
May 28 Memorial
Day Holiday
May 30 Pixar:
CG animation in excelsis.
June 4 The
Way We Are (2):
New works and new players,
including Blue Sky, Sony.
June 6 The
Way We are (3):
The most recent trends, including
the impact of anime.
June 13 FINAL EXAM: 11:30am-2:30pm
BRING BLUE BOOKS
