Golden age of American animation

The golden age of American animation was a period in the history of U.S. animation that began with the popularization of sound synchronized cartoons in 1928 and gradually ended in the 1960s when theatrical animated shorts started to lose popularity to the newer medium of television.^[1] Animated media from after the golden age, especially on television, were produced on cheaper budgets and with more limited techniques between the 1960s and 1980s.^[2]

The golden age's theatrical run peaked in the 1930s and 1940s, while the period is often divided into an era known as the silver age for the remaining work produced in the 1950s and 1960s. These works include the later theatrical animations produced by Walt Disney and Walter Lantz, the later theatrical cartoons of established studios Warner Bros. Cartoons and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Hanna-Barbera's earliest animated television series, and DePatie–Freleng's earliest theatrical work.^[3][4] Furthermore, the history of animation became very important as an artistic industry in the United States.^[1][5]

Many popular and famous animated cartoon characters emerged from this period, including Disney's Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto; Fleischer Studios' Popeye, Koko, Bimbo, Betty Boop and Superman; Warner Bros.' Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, Yosemite Sam, Tweety and Sylvester; MGM's Tom and Jerry and Droopy; Van Beuren Studios' Felix the Cat; Walter Lantz's Woody Woodpecker; Terrytoons' Mighty Mouse; UPA's Mr. Magoo; Jay Ward Productions' Rocky and Bullwinkle; and DePatie-Freleng's Pink Panther, among others.

Feature-length animation began during this period, most notably with Disney's "Walt-era" films,^[6][7] spanning from 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and 1940's Pinocchio to 1967's The Jungle Book and 1970's The Aristocats (last animated films produced before his death in 1966).^[8][3] During this period, several live-action films that included animation were made, such as Saludos Amigos (1942), Anchors Aweigh (1945), Song of the South (1946), Dangerous When Wet (1953), Mary Poppins (1964) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). These last two being the last theatrical films to receive Academy Awards for their animated special effects.^[9][10] In addition, stop motion animation and special effects were also developed, with films such as King Kong (1933), The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), Hansel and Gretel: An Opera Fantasy (1954), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and Jason and the Argonauts (1963).^[11]

Animation also began on television during this period with Crusader Rabbit, the first animated series broadcast in 1948.^[12] The rise of television animation is often considered to be a factor that hastened the golden age's end.^[2] However, various authors include Hanna-Barbera's earliest animated series through 1962 as part of the golden age, with shows like Ruff and Reddy (1957), Huckleberry Hound (1958), Quick Draw McGraw (1959), The Flintstones (1960), Yogi Bear (1961), Top Cat (1961), Wally Gator (1962) and The Jetsons (1962).^[13][14][15] Several of these animated series were the first to win Emmy Awards for their contribution to American television.^[16] Other Hanna-Barbera productions related to the golden age were Wacky Races (1968) and theatrical animations with Columbia Pictures, such as Loopy De Loop (1959) and the feature films released between 1964 and 1966.^[17]