Ancient Animation

I read awhile ago that humans have been drawing motion ever since they learned how to paint. The caves of Lascaux in France show animals with multiple legs in different poses. Archaeologists speculate this was to express the illusion of movement.

 Pottery from ancient Greece depicted figures in different poses. Once piece of work has an athlete in different positions for a run. As you spin the vase, the burned after images make you see the movement.

I didn't post any pictures for fear of copyright issues. But you can google paintings of Lascaux or Greek Pottery for examples.

Them Germans liked cartoons too

Apparently Germany wanted what Disney and Warner Bros. had in their animation. This cartoon short was released sometime in 1944 after its film-adaptation took to storm in the german Kinos. The animation is stale compared to American companies, but it is still very interesting to see a cartoon done by the enemy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLXthdWdjGk