The Enchanted Drawing (1900)

A cartoonist defies reality when he draws objects that become three-dimensional after he lifts them off his sketch pad.

Director:

J. Stuart Blackton

Star:

J. Stuart Blackton

Cast

Credited cast:
J. Stuart Blackton	...	Chalk-Talk Artist

Storyline

An easel holds a sketch pad upon which Blackton draws a cartoonish face of a man. He makes the cartoon react by giving it wine, cigars, and a top hat. Objects magically go into the drawing--becoming part of the cartoon image, and out of the drawing--becoming physical objects again.

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Plot Keywords:

stop motion | silent | alcohol | glass | easel | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Comedy | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 1900 (USA)

Also Known As:

Az elvarázsolt rajz

Filming Locations:

Vitagraph Studios - 15th Street & Locust Avenue, Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edison Manufacturing Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

2 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both stop-motion and drawn animation techniques were used in this film.

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Connections

Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #3.1 (1990)

User Reviews

The Father of Animation

While one may think it is difficult to review a short that lasts only two minutes, no matter how much of a cinephile you are, the fact that you may witness the beginnings of animation in this art, is a reason enough to be "passionate" about the challenge.

The short uses precise (though somewhat obvious) camera cuts to give the illusion of drawings being taken off and returned to the canvas by the artist. This could be considered as an early use of special effects that combine two-dimensional drawings with real people and objects, a clear precedent of what we would later see in films like Roger Rabbit and Space Jam. In its time I'm sure it must have surprised audiences. It is not a minor detail, therefore, that one of the people responsible for this little gem is James Stuart Blackton, a major producer and director of that time, who is also considered as "The Father of Animation", and plays the drawer. I highlight his name, since he was a pioneer that worked with revolutionary techniques, and gave birth to one of the most important and popular genres of cinema (despite this work not being completely animated, like his "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces" from 1907, considered the first film almost entirely drawn that was shown in cinemas).

With a sense of humor present throughout the very brief footage, and a good use of special methods, one can't help but feel enchanted (no pun intended) to this little, but remarkable gem.