ABSTRACT
In the following pages, a number of significant contributors to animation are listed in chronological order by year of birth. This chapter is not a history of animation; rather, it is an idiosyncratic selection based on my work as a teacher. Over the years, I have shown films by these animators to my students. My selection criteria are both subjective and objective. On a subjective level, I pick films that move me in some way-for their visual style, subject matter, soundtrack, or some other quality. On an objective level, I pick films based on the filmmaker’s historical significance, as an example of a specific technique, as a unique approach to filmmaking, or for general excellence. For each entry, I include the name and dates of the animator and a brief description of why I show that animator’s work to my students. This description is followed by a list of two or three films; the titles listed are important works by the animator, but in most cases there are more films available, so use my selections as a starting point for getting to know each artist’s work. There are many more wonderful animators than I am able to include in these few pages. For a more complete history of animation, read Cartoons, by Giannalberto Bendazzi. Other resources for seeing animation are listed in Chapter 9, where you will find lists of magazines, web sites, and festivals that present the work of animators both past and present.
