Is animation fine art? Animation often critiqued for being too involved in commercial world. Can be used to explore a variety of media, multi-dimensional. Appeals to wider audience, can be easier to engage common public.Historically, Animators were throttled by strict requirements for cinema. Reserved for gag, slapstick, cinema-derivative narratives.
John Stuart Blackton – A founding father of stop-motion animation
Founded Vitagraph studios – Became most prolific american film studio.
Oscar Fischinger – Made abstract musical animations in 40s, 50s. Explores spacial illusions, color theory, in 4D format. Would he have had more or less success as a purely abstract painter, instead of animator?
Robert Breer – “founding member of american avant-garde.” Combines abstract, representational, hand drawn rotoscoping, photos, etc.
Art and Influences 