How have cartoons for family entertainment in the United States evolved due to social and political changes from the beginning to the 80’s?

Abstract

Animation, depending on who defines it, may have begun with with prehistoric cave-dwellers who attempted to imitate movement by drawing multiple legs on animals on the walls of caves. In any event, animation didn’t make much progress until the Nineteenth Century, when complicated machines that simulated motion were developed. These complex devices gave way in the early Twentieth Century to animation that is closer to what we are familiar with today, which involved the drawing or photography of many images in that have slight changes in them, that when moved at a fast speed produce the illusion of movement. These methods finally gave way to computer animation, which is the primary means of producing animation today. Animated films were first used for entertainment, primarily for children, and were performed primarily in theaters. Animated films were quickly adapted to national emergencies, such as the two world wars and the Cold War. Propaganda and motivational films were important for increasing the country’s morale in these periods. Animated films were quickly adapted to the medium of television, and people today can define themselves by which Saturday morning cartoons that they grew up watching. Animation quickly adapted to the internet, and countless animated films can be accessed immediately on equally countless internet portals. Although animation became and still is widely used for advertising, political propaganda and educational purposes, it’s primary use was and is entertainment, especially for children, although cartoons targeted at adults are increasing in popularity. Cartoons have reflected the changes in society, although not always immediately. Evolution in attitudes towards and the rights of ethnic groups and genders were and still are being reflected in the ways these groups are portrayed in animated films. Animation was and is an integral part of our lives, whether we realize it or not, and how it may develop in the future remains to be seen.