Animated films are sometimes called 'cartoons' because they were originally made by drawing image by image to create movement, giving the impression that the drawings come to life.
Towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, the first animated films were created by hand with a series of fixed drawings quickly sequenced together. These successive drawings then gave an impression of movement, somewhat like a flip-book that is quickly flipped through. Consequently, it was naturally called "animated drawings", because it literally animated illustrations on paper. This term appeared in France around the 1920s, with the first animated productions released to the public, at a time when digital or 3D techniques obviously did not exist yet. The expression has remained in use because it accurately described the technique used at that time to produce these early animated creations.
At its core, cartoons really come from drawings made by hand, frame by frame, on sheets or transparent celluloids called cels. To create the illusion of movement, animators drew many images that were almost similar but slightly different, and then they quickly displayed them in front of a camera. This brought to life drawn characters that seemed to move naturally thanks to the phenomenon of persistence of vision. Each second of a traditional cartoon generally represented 12 to 24 different drawings, so yes, it required patience and skill with a pencil. This craft technique, really close to classic drawing on paper, simply explains why this type of work began to be called animated drawings.
Originally, the term animated cartoon clearly referred to the technique of hand-drawn animation frame by frame. However, even today, with digital technologies and computer animation, we still casually refer to animated cartoons. Why? Simply because this term has remained deeply embedded in our oral and cultural habits. Pixar films, for example, although created with 3D computer-generated imagery and without any hand-drawn elements, are often informally called animated cartoons by the general public. This generic term has become a popular and practical habit, even when technically, it no longer corresponds to reality.
Cartoons often retain this connotation of handmade creations, with characters and backgrounds originally drawn on paper and then animated frame by frame. Today, we refer to animated films to encompass much more diverse techniques such as computer-generated 3D animation, stop-motion, or even the integration of real images with animated elements. In reality, a cartoon is just a particular form of animated film, primarily focused on traditional drawing. In contrast, animated films like those from Pixar or Dreamworks predominantly use digital 3D models, although, as you might guess, they also begin with preparatory drawings. Therefore, speaking of animated films today is broader, more modern, and technically more precise than limiting oneself to the term cartoons.
The term cartoons has shaped an entire generation, particularly thanks to television channels that broadcast cartoons aimed at children every Wednesday morning or on weekends. So much so that it has become a cultural reference, synonymous with childhood and nostalgia. Many adults still use this term generically today, even for new 3D animated films that are technically no longer made from drawings. This term also influences public perception: talking about cartoons immediately conjures something light, fun, often trivial. However, some contemporary directors are trying to break this stereotype by presenting animated films with more adult and profound themes. This media and cultural influence of the term still leads to an ongoing debate about how to name these works, which have become much broader and varied than the simple traditional cartoon.
The production of a single traditional hand-drawn animated film used to require several thousand hand-drawn images, with each second of animation needing between 12 and 24 frames.
In the 1930s, the technique of celluloid (also known as 'cell animation') revolutionized animation by allowing the layering of drawn characters over a static background, thereby simplifying the creation process.
Some modern animated films, although entirely created by computer, imitate the style of classic cartoons using sophisticated digital techniques (called 'toon shading'), preserving the traditional aesthetic despite technological changes.
The Japanese term 'anime' is directly derived from the English word 'animation,' but over the decades, its usage has evolved beyond the strict meaning of 'cartoon' to encompass any style of animation coming from Japan, regardless of its production technique.
Several criteria can influence the quality: the originality of the storyline, the technical and artistic mastery of the animation, the richness of the narrative universe, the quality of the voice acting and soundtracks, as well as the depth and overall emotional impact provided by the work.
Even though digital techniques and media now dominate the market, the term 'cartoon' remains ingrained in popular usage, referring to the historical origins of animation created from hand-drawn illustrations.
Traditional techniques include hand-drawn 2D animation. Today, animation techniques also encompass 3D digital animation (computer-generated imagery), stop-motion (using real objects filmed frame by frame), and hybrid techniques that combine multiple approaches.
The term 'animated cartoon' traditionally refers to animation created from a series of hand-drawn images, frame by frame. An 'animated film,' on the other hand, is a broader term that includes all animation techniques such as digital animation, computer-generated imagery, or stop-motion.
Animated films do not only target children: some films explore complex, mature, or philosophical themes intended for adults or a wider audience, as seen in works like 'Persepolis,' 'Waltz with Bashir,' or the films from Studio Ghibli, for example.
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