14 Historical Facts About Animation You Probably Didn’t Know

Animations have been around for more than a century now. Today, with a little research on Google, we can easily compile an overview of the historical animations facts and determine where it all started.

Animations were created to invoke emotions and entertain the audience. They were designed to be a new and more effective medium of storytelling.

The facts about animation states that the early animators found a way to create animated movies without cameras or recording technology, which enabled them to create animations.

The first-ever animation was created by a French cartoonist Émile Cohl. He named it Fantasmagorie (1908). The one-minute and seventeen-second video laid the foundation of animations.

So, since we’re always covering the ultra-modern animations and their interesting facts all the time today, we’re going to do something different. This time, we’re going to list down the historical facts about animations.

How Old Are Animations Really?

People of ancient times were smart. No, really, they were ‘smart,’ specially the Egyptians. These people understood the facts about animation importance and started creating illusions of a motion picture.

Did you know that the above image belongs to a  5,200 years old pottery discovered in Iran that actually had a series of images that depicted a moving goat?

Additionally, take a look at the images below from an Egyptian mural showcasing a wrestling match through a series of images:

This pictorial representation of a wrestling match is taken from Beni Hasan’s 15th tomb, and it is thousands of years old. The point is that animations are way older than you can imagine. Nobody knew these interesting facts about animations until the truth was uncovered.

The Early Adaptors of Animation

Fast forward to the 19th century, many pioneers of the animation world started adapting animation technology to create films.

The most notable and influential example among these short-animated clips became “Gertie The Dinosaur (1914),” directed by Winsor McCay. This animated film also became the first-ever animated movie to be commercially profitable.

Here’s a preview of the movie;

We researched and extracted the most interesting animation facts that’ll make you reimagine some of the most iconic animated movies and their facts.

These facts about animation are more like the turning points in the history of the animation world and represent all the animations we have till now.

Moreover, animation has been the most profitable genre in cinema, with a 52% gross profit margin compared to action’s 48%. 

14 Interesting Facts About Animation

• The first-ever commercial film to be released with stereophonic sound was Fantasia.
• The creator of the film “Snow White,” Walt Disney, was given eight Oscars in 1938. One normal-sized, and the other seven were small sized. These Oscars represented the characters of the movie. The big Oscar that was Snow White and seven little Oscars that were the seven Dwarves.
• The original name of Tom and Jerry were decided to be Jasper and Jinx by the creators.
• The singers “Simon and Garfunkel” were recorded under the name “Tom & Jerry” when they performed together back in the late 1950s.
• Tangled stands as the most expensive animated movie globally, with a budget of $260 million over six years in production.
• Only four animators were working with Walt Disney when he created Steamboat Willie back in 1928.
• The film “Snow White” took three years to produce from 1934 to 1937.
• Walt Disney had to mortgage his home to finance the production of “Snow White,” an animated film that cost him $1.5 million.
• It took 32 animators, 1032 assistants, 107 inbetweeners, 10 layout artists, 25 BG artists, 65 special effects animators, and countless other staff for Snow White’s production.
• The animated movie “Three Little Pigs” cost $22,000 to produce in 1933.
• The scene in Shrek where Princess Fiona burps were written after a recording session in which Cameron Diaz burped after drinking Coca-Cola.
• The magic carpet ride that Aladdin made through the Cave of Wonders was made possible with computer-generated images (CGI).
• Beauty and the Beast was the first film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
• Toy Story was the first-ever completely CGI-based animated film.

Here are all the interesting animation facts that you never knew. Note that the above-listed animation facts belong to the most iconic animated movies of all time.

Without inspiration from Walt Disney, John Lasseter, Max Fleischer, and several others, the animation world would never have prospered as it did.

Moreover, there are several other questions that pop up in mind whenever an individual dive into the world of animations. So, here are some of the frequently asked questions and their precise answers.

How Animation Has Evolved Through Time

From ancient Egyptian murals to the groundbreaking world of CGI, animation has come a long way. What began as simple sketches and motion illusions has transformed into a powerful medium for storytelling, creativity, and emotional expression.

Facts about animation from Fantasmagorie to Toy Story — reflects how innovation and imagination have continuously shaped the art of animation. These historical facts remind us that animation isn’t just entertainment; it’s a living art form that evolves with technology and vision.

As animation continues to advance, one thing remains unchanged — its ability to connect people, spark wonder, and bring stories to life in ways words alone never could.

Wrapping Up

Animation has evolved from ancient storytelling on pottery and walls to modern CGI masterpieces that define today’s entertainment industry. Each era — from Fantasmagorie to Toy Story — marks a new chapter in creativity and technological innovation.

These fascinating facts about animation are more than just moving pictures; it’s a timeless art form that continues to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences across generations. As the industry advances, one thing remains constant — the magic of bringing imagination to life through motion.