Gertie the Dinosaur (Winsor McCay)

Original Frame from the animation...

Gertie the dinosaur (1914) is an animated short film by Winsor Mccay, the famous cartoonist. The film depicts a dinosaur called Gertie who interacts with her 'master' by following commands such as lifting her foot and such. Originally made to be shown in front of a live audience with Winsor McCay interacting live with the film playing behind him - However it was later adapted with 'speech' frames to be shown in theatres without a live interaction there. This animation was also one of the firsts to use 'key frames'. 

Comic by Winsor Mccay

Winsor Mccay had a noticeable style, his earlier comic which featured a dinosaur is a very similar design to the Gertie. However the frames needed for this animation was well over what he was used to working by. Drawing out key frames by himself, he then handed them to inbetween animators to 'fill' out the film.

This animation would have been ground breaking when it was released, after all for a live entertainer to interact with an animation on screen was unheard of. I can't help but compare this animation technique to the one similar in 'Who framed Rodger rabbit', because the film works on a similar principle; where live action actors interact with animated characters. Gertie the dinosaur is a well animated piece, with a playful nature and good examples of the 'animation principles' such as squash and stretch and anticipation.