The art form is alive and kicking.
Following my family’s abrupt relocation from Beijing to Taipei amid the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, I eventually landed a professor position at Taipei National University of the Arts, starting this month.
My Spring 2021 course load includes a diverse slate of offerings: “Experimental Animation Workshop,” “Entertainment Business Seminar: Going Global,” “The History of Animation,” and “The Future of Animation: Interactive, Immersive, Intelligent.”
Of these classes, “The History of Animation” would seem to be the most pedantic, but has in fact proven to be the most inspirational. While blocking in representative slides for the various weekly topics, I was reminded of the depth, breadth, and infinite possibilities of the animation medium.
Though the following images barely scratch the surface of the entirety of animation history and the content of my course, I hope they serve as a reminder that the art of animation is alive, kicking... and evolving.
Before the Beginning
Early Cinematic Animation
Disney, Fleischer and Warner Bros.
Wartime Animation
The UPA Revolution
Early Television Animation
Experimental Animation
The Animation of Eastern Europe
The National Film Board of Canada
The Disney Renaissance
The Influence of Anime
Advertising with Animation
The Rise of Pixar & the Rebirth of Disney
Modern Series & Streaming
Games People Play
The Global Renaissance
Animation in Taiwan
Future Directions
Kevin is the author of AWN's Reality Bites blog, his musings on the art, technology and business of immersive media (AR, VR, MR) and AI. You can find Kevin's website at www.kevingeiger.com and he can be reached at holler@kevingeiger.com.
