Portal:Animation

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Introduction
Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby still images are manipulated to create moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Animation has been recognized as an artistic medium, specifically within the entertainment industry. Many animations are either traditional animations or computer animations made with computer-generated imagery (CGI). Stop motion animation, in particular claymation, has continued to exist alongside these other forms.
Animation is contrasted with live action, although the two do not exist in isolation. Many moviemakers have produced films that are a hybrid of the two. As CGI increasingly approximates photographic imagery, filmmakers can easily composite 3D animations into their film rather than using practical effects for showy visual effects (VFX). (Full article...)
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"Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" is the ninth episode of the first season of the animated comedy television series South Park. The show's first Christmas special, it portrays the Jewish character Kyle feeling excluded from the town's Christmas celebrations and being comforted by Mr. Hankey, who can talk and sing. As Mr. Hankey does not come alive in the presence of other characters, they begin to think that Kyle is delusional. In another plot strand, the townspeople remove all symbols of Christmas from South Park to render the celebrations politically correct and inoffensive. When all the children start believing in him, Mr. Hankey finally reveals himself to everyone and scolds them for losing sight of the good things of Christmas and focusing on the bad. The townspeople apologize to Kyle, then sing Christmas songs and watch Mr. Hankey fly away with Santa Claus. Heavily influenced by the Peanuts Christmas special A Charlie Brown Christmas, "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" was the first South Park musical episode and the only episode in season one in which Kenny does not die. It is a satire of political correctness and religious sensitivity and has been described as one of the classic South Park episodes.
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Did you know (auto-generated) -

- ... that director Isao Takahata reportedly stayed overnight at a doss-house to ensure that the Japanese animated film Jarinko Chie accurately depicts the city of Osaka?
- ... that Princess Mononoke was the most expensively animated, most expensively promoted, and highest-grossing Japanese film of its time?
- ... that an anime programming block that originally aired on the American television channel TechTV was the inspiration for the co-founder of a Japanese animation studio?
- ... that the first lady of the Ivory Coast created an animated kids' show in 1989?
- ... that the live-action comedy series Community had a stop motion animated Christmas special?
- ... that Bruce Timm created most of the character designs for Batman: The Animated Series?
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Trey Parker (born Randolph Severn Parker III; October 19, 1969) is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of the television series South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Matt Stone. Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short titled Jesus vs. Frosty. His first success came from Cannibal! The Musical. From there he made another short titled Jesus vs. Santa, which led him and his college friend, Matt Stone, to create the animated television series South Park, which began airing on television in 1997. He has won 4 Emmy Awards for his role in South Park, winning for both "Outstanding Programming More Than One Hour" and "Outstanding Programming Less Than One Hour". He has co-written and co-directed the 2011 multi-Tony Award winning musical The Book of Mormon.
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The cast members of The Simpsons, an American animated sitcom that includes six main voice actors, and numerous regular cast and recurring guest stars. The principal cast consists of Dan Castellaneta (pictured), Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer. Tress MacNeille, Pamela Hayden, Maggie Roswell, Russi Taylor, Marcia Wallace, Marcia Mitzman Gaven and Karl Wiedergott have appeared as supporting cast. Repeat guest cast members include Albert Brooks, Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, Joe Mantegna and Kelsey Grammer. With one exception, episode credits list only the voice actors, and not the characters they voice. Both Fox and the production crew wanted to keep their identities secret during the early seasons and closed most of the recording sessions while refusing to publish photos of the recording artists. The network eventually revealed which roles each actor performed in the episode "Old Money", because the producers said the voice actors should receive credit for their work. With the exception of Shearer, every main cast member has won an Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. However, Shearer was nominated for the award in 2009 for his performance in the episode "The Burns and the Bees". Castellaneta has won four and Azaria has won three, while Kavner, Cartwright, Smith, Wallace, Grammer and guest star Jackie Mason have each won one.
More did you know...
- ...that John Powell's score for the animated film How to Train Your Dragon was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA award, and won an Annie Award and an IFMCA award in 2011?
- ...that the Young Justice episode "Independence Day" introduces a younger version of the DC Universe?
- ...that according to John J. Puccio of Movie Metropolis, the shorts included on Pixar Short Films Collection, Volume 1 are "among the finest cartoons ever made"?
Anniversaries for August 1
- Films released
- 1922 – The Four Musicians of Bremen (United States)
- 1922 – Felix Finds a Way (United States)
- 1923 – Felix in Fairyland (United States)
- 1924 – Alice the Peacemaker (United States)
- 1924 – Felix Goes West (United States)
- 1927 – Sealing Whacks (United States)
- 1935 – Garden Gaieties (United States)
- 1936 – Mickey's Circus (United States)
- 1936 – Porky the Rain-Maker (United States)
- 1941 – Truant Officer Donald (United States)
- 1942 – The Ducktators (United States)
- 1942 – Foney Fables (United States)
- 1947 – Crazy with the Heat (United States)
- 1951 – How to Catch a Cold (United States)
- 1953 – The New Neighbor (United States)
- 1958 – Paul Bunyan (United States)
- 1958 – Tot Watchers, last Tom and Jerry cartoon produced at the original MGM cartoon studio before it shut down in 1957. (United States)
- 1959 – Wild and Woolly Hare (United States)
- 1962 – The Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit (United States)
- 1964 – Señorella and the Glass Huarache (United States)
- 1992 – Ranma ½: Nihao, My Concubine (Japan)
- 1997 – Jungle Emperor Leo (Japan)
- 1998 – Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (Japan)
- 1998 – Slayers Gorgeous (Japan)
- Television series and specials
- 1949 – The first American animated television series Crusader Rabbit, begins airing in syndication.
- 2003 – My Life as a Teenage Robot, an American animated television series begins airing on Nickelodeon
- 2004 – Rugrats, an American animated television series finishes airing on Nickelodeon
- Births
- 1923 – Val Bettin, American voice actor
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