Even though cel animation was invented in 1913 by cartoonists Earl Hurd and J. R. Bray, the innovation that cut a tremendous amount of time for constructing an animated cartoon really didn't take off until the introduction of Hurd's "Bobby Bump" series.
Previously to the pair's genius idea (they collaborated with the invention, took out the patent and became richly rewarded for their efforts), animation was a laborious project of drawing a multitude of panels, each one showing a slight movement of whomever or whatever moved. There had been slight modifications to that chore, but it wasn't until Bray and Hurd undertook the novel idea of drawing on translucent material, and stacking them up, that animated cartoons began to take off. Those panels showing movement would be replaced with the remainder continued to be pegged stationary to the table. For instance, if one person is moving in the animation, than just that one cel of the person had to be redrawn--and maybe just a portion, like an arm or leg, of that person had to be worked on. The innovation saved many hours for the artists as well as created more detailed backgrounds that didn't have to redrawn for every frame of film.
Walt Disney, as well as other animators at that time, paid Bray and Hurd for the use of their labor-saving technology until the patent expired in 1932.
Hurd, working with Bray Productions, gathered a team of artists to make his inspiration of a rascally boy causing all sorts of havoc come true. Rambunctious Bobby Bumps was partly influenced by the comic strip character Buster Brown, first drawn in 1902 by Richard Outcault.
One of the standouts in the series is 1917's "Bobby Bumps Starts For School." The seven-minute cartoon exhibits a day in the life of Bobby as he--really his mother--prepares (him) for school, Bobby's boredom sitting at a school desk, the teacher flipping over his grammatically and historically incorrect paper, and the adventures of both Bobby and his teacher over the school bell. We think today's kids have it tough carrying overloaded schoolbook backpacks, but Hurd shows us nothing has changed since 1917 when he draws poor Bobby carrying a pile of huge books belted onto his back.
Hurd eventually left Bray Productions to work his Bobby Bump character into the Paramount Pictures team before he gave up the adorable boy for good in 1925. He later worked for Disney, drawing up the Snow White design and Mickey Mouse animation.
Previously to the pair's genius idea (they collaborated with the invention, took out the patent and became richly rewarded for their efforts), animation was a laborious project of drawing a multitude of panels, each one showing a slight movement of whomever or whatever moved. There had been slight modifications to that chore, but it wasn't until Bray and Hurd undertook the novel idea of drawing on translucent material, and stacking them up, that animated cartoons began to take off. Those panels showing movement would be replaced with the remainder continued to be pegged stationary to the table. For instance, if one person is moving in the animation, than just that one cel of the person had to be redrawn--and maybe just a portion, like an arm or leg, of that person had to be worked on. The innovation saved many hours for the artists as well as created more detailed backgrounds that didn't have to redrawn for every frame of film.
Walt Disney, as well as other animators at that time, paid Bray and Hurd for the use of their labor-saving technology until the patent expired in 1932.
Hurd, working with Bray Productions, gathered a team of artists to make his inspiration of a rascally boy causing all sorts of havoc come true. Rambunctious Bobby Bumps was partly influenced by the comic strip character Buster Brown, first drawn in 1902 by Richard Outcault.
One of the standouts in the series is 1917's "Bobby Bumps Starts For School." The seven-minute cartoon exhibits a day in the life of Bobby as he--really his mother--prepares (him) for school, Bobby's boredom sitting at a school desk, the teacher flipping over his grammatically and historically incorrect paper, and the adventures of both Bobby and his teacher over the school bell. We think today's kids have it tough carrying overloaded schoolbook backpacks, but Hurd shows us nothing has changed since 1917 when he draws poor Bobby carrying a pile of huge books belted onto his back.
Hurd eventually left Bray Productions to work his Bobby Bump character into the Paramount Pictures team before he gave up the adorable boy for good in 1925. He later worked for Disney, drawing up the Snow White design and Mickey Mouse animation.