Although not the first animated film, as is sometimes thought, it was the first cartoon to feature a character with an appealing personality. Most cartoon characters of the early 20th century had their origins in newspaper comic strips. Other special features include canemakers 1978 documentary remembering winsor mccay, consisting mainly of an interview with john fitzsimmons, who worked as an assistant to mccay and bore the tedious task of drawing all the backgrounds for gertie the dinosaur. His gertie 1914 was the first american masterpiece of animated film. Mccay made a few more animated films, including a 1918 documentary on the sinking of the lusitania. A brief history of gertie the dinosaur although there is no art from gertie the dinosaur available on our website, we can often source pieces from the film that are available. It was not the first cinematic effort of comicstrip artist winsor mckay, whod previously produced little nemo and the story of the mosquito, and it was not made in 1909, though even by the standards of 1914, its actual release date, it was quite an astounding achievement. In addition to creating legendary comics like little nemo in slumberland, winsor mccay was a pioneer of animation. Mccay would introduce gertie to the audience as the worlds first trained dinosaur, even cracking a whip at her to make her perform. First off, let us establish what gertie the dinosaur was not.
Gertie was originally created for winsor mccays vaudeville act, and later this film was made, which took the cartoon and put in live action bookends to the cartoon. Winsor would stand on stage in front of a screen as a huge, gertie was projected behind him and the duo performed a trained animal circus act together. Winsor zenic mccay september 26, 1869 july 26, 1934 was an american cartoonist and animator, best known for the comic strip little nemo begun 1905 and. The cartoonist, winsor mccay, brings the dinosaurus back to life in the figure of his latest creation, gertie the dinosaur. Mccay bets mcmanus that he can make the dinosaur live again in a series of cartoons. This essay examines the use of space in a variety of winsor mccays animated films, from gertie the dinosaur to the pet. Gertie was in fact part of a live vaudeville show, in which mccay would interact with. Cartoonist winsor mccays gertie is widely considered to be the first cartoon character with a personality. Media in category gertie the dinosaur the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. Gertie the dinosaur is a animated short film made in 1914 by winsor mccay. The making and remaking of winsor mccays gertie 1914 david.
Mccay s other major creation is the animated film gertie the dinosaur 1914. In november of that year, gertie the dinosaur was released to theaters, and the whole country had the opportunity to be amazed at mccays inventiveness and craftsmanship. Mccays other major creation is the animated film gertie the dinosaur 1914. Why anybody would want to crack a whip at gertie, though, is anyones. Fall in love with the worlds first animated dinosaur. Gertie, the worlds first animated dinosaur, made her screen debut at chicagos palace theater on 8 february 1914, one hundred years ago today. While recent animation criticism, such as that of esther leslie and paul wells, has emphasized the links between the cartoon and the avant garde in the 1920s and 1930s, that commentary has largely excluded mccays work from consideration, in part because of its. W 1914 gertie the dinosaur winsor mccay dailymotion. Meet little nemo, a diminutive hero of comic narrative, but one of the greatest dream voyagers of the 20th century. Fitzsimmons who traced the backgrounds to create 10,000. It is the earliest animated film to feature a dinosaur.
Gertie the dinosaur is a 1914 short animated film by winsor mccay that inspired many generations of animators to bring their cartoons to life. His films joyous, hilarious and beautiful continue to delight and astonish audiences today. The setup to the cartoon, is that there is a bet on whether or not mccay can make a dinosaur come to life. Gertie the dinosaur 1914 1st keyframe animation cartoon winsor mccay. The film was also the first to be created using keyframe. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the amazing and beloved gertie the dinosaur in 2014 with winsor mccay. Fitzsimmons who traced the backgrounds to create 10,000 drawings, which they. The making and remaking of winsor mccays gertie 1914. Mccay first used the film before live audiences as an interactive part of his vaudeville act. They visit a natural history museum and the remains of a dinosaur. Included are new materials found since the previous publication of the book such as new comic strips of little nemo in slumberland, and new sketches of gertie the dinosaur. Is that something the human mind of today can even comprehend.
This is wiam gertie the dinosaur winsor mccay 1914 by rob angiello on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Gertie gertie the dinosaur, winsor mccays gertie 1914. Released as onereel film in 1914, though the character was created and seen in a short cartoon in mccays vaudeville act circa 1909. At the beginning of the show, a tuxedoed mccay would stand on stage with a whip and other props and. Gertie the dinosaur was originally a travelling vaudeville performance created by the famous political cartoonist, winsor mccay, in 1914. In winsor mccay his most famous animated film, gertie the dinosaur 1914. That distinction goes to emile cohl and his 76second long fantasmagorie 1908. But mckay, who was also the author of the popular weekly little nemo comic strips, made a contribution to cartoons that is arguably even more important. Mccay appeared on the vaudeville stage with an animated dinosaur. Winsor, dressed in his tuxedo, would use his whip to. Mccay s employer william randolph hearst curtailed mccay s vaudeville. Winsor mccay made other animations such as little nemo his.
Wiam gertie the dinosaur winsor mccay 1914 on vimeo. Only a few moments of footage survive of winsor mccays 1917 sequel to gertie the dinosaur. International dictionary of films and filmmakers dictionary. An influential figure for cartoonists and animators throughout the 20th century and beyond, winsor mccay 18691934 is perhaps best known for the creation of the little nemo in slumberland comic strip. The first masterpiece of animated cartoons was gertie, the extraordinary achievement of american comic strip legend winsor mccay. Have you ever spotted the towering dinosaur that stands on the side of echo lake at disneys hollywood studios. Winsor mccay had made two animated films before gertie. But the father of them all, and a man who deserves to be known as the father of american animation, is winsor mccay, whose creation gertie the dinosaur was the very first dinosaur to be on the big screen mccay was one of those enormously important innovators who create whole new art forms. Although not the first animated film, as is sometimes thought, it was the first. John mccay and john fitzsimmons are also listed as animators, and the animation is more detailed than the line figures in the previous film.
Gertie the dinosaur is a 1914 american animated short film by winsor mccay. She encounters a train and dreams of being the life of the party in her time. Gertie the dinosaur was arguably winsor mccays greatest achievement, and a watershed in the history of animation. Play games, watch videos, and support our kickstarter campaign for a feature film with a fun tshirt, plush toy, art print or other collectible from our gertie the dinostore. Winsor mccay brings a dinosaur to life in gertie 1914. Using only pen and ink and thousands of sheets of paperas well as his marvelous command of drawing and perspectivemccay brought his charming brontosaurus to life before enthralled audiences during the. Winsor mccays warped spaces screen oxford academic.
Official website of gertie the dinosaur the worlds first cartoon star. Gertie was the first featured character created specifically for the new medium. Pioneer cartoonist winsor mccay created the animated dinosaur as part of his vaudeville act. Although invented by others, both genres were developed into enduring popular art of the highest imagination through mccays innovative genius. Mccay turned his gertie the dinosaur into a onereel film which frames the animated sequence with a live. Lastly, there is a stills gallery, also compiled by canemaker. The complete little nemo by winsor mccay goodreads. Media in category gertie the dinosaur 1914 film the following 19 files are in this category, out of 19 total. Although not the first animated film, as is sometimes thought, it was the first cartoon to feature a. Wie schon bei winsor mccay, the famous cartoonist of the n. Fall in love with the worlds first animated dinosaur gertie the dino could hurl a mammoth into the air. This movie required winsor mccay and his assistant john a. Gertie the dinosaur winsor mccay cartooning pioneer 1914 welcome back to the wednesday version of the dungeon. Gertie the dinosaur, one of the earliest animations.
Gertie the dinosaur 1914 hd restoration winsor mccay. A triumph of personality animation that inspired a generation to enter the movie cartoon field. Gertie the dinosaur 1914 hd restoration winsor mccay duration. That little victory dance when she tossed the elephant into the river was highly amusing as well. Animated film gertie the dinosaur 1914 by american animator and cartoonist winsor mccay. Artist winsor mccay used full animation a new drawing for each individual frame of filmand while he himself did all the. By the early 1920s, he had turned his attention elsewhere. Fragments from gertie on tour gertie is a dinosaur who lives in present times. Gertie the dinosaur is a 1914 animated short film by american cartoonist and animator winsor mccay. Winsor mccays gertie, the wonderfully trained dinosaurus. Winsor mccay was the first master of animation and one of its greatest and most influential artists. It always catches my attention whenever im on that side of the park because i love californiacrazy architecture.