When I was in college, we were shown this very early example of animation. Made in 1918, Winsor McCay wanted to show the horror of Lusitania’s sinking. I was talking with a friend about it and she’d never seen it so I hit the wonders of YouTube. Behold! I hadn’t seen this newsreel with making-of footage that goes with it.
Oh! I just love Winsor McCay. Someday I’m going to get one of those huge compendiums of Little Nemo, as expensive as they are. And I’m crazy about Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend! Not a lot of people find them very funny anymore, but my brother and I crack up over them.
I love the smoke in this movie. The expanding spheres are a clear predecessor of particles in 3d software programs, demonstrating that the same principles apply despite changing from one medium to another.
What a cowardly thing for the Germans to do! Anyway, that was some pretty advanced animation for that time. I especially liked the music.
They trotted this out in art school because it was so groundbreaking.