OVERVIEW
International Animation Day is celebrated every year on October 28th to honor the art, history and cultural impact of animation, which is a powerful medium that transcends languages and borders, allowing creators to tell stories through movement, color and imagination.
It was established in 2002 by ASIFA, the International Animated Film Association, to commemorate the first public performance of Émile Reynaud at the Théâtre Optique in Paris in 1892.
International Animation Day, lastly, encourages collaborations among animators, students and cultural institutions, to promote animation as both an artistic and communicative tool, through film screenings, workshops, exhibitions, and educational programs.
HISTORY – TIMELINE
FIVE FACTS ABOUT ANIMATION
FESTIVAL WARMED THE COLD WAR - During the Cold War, ASIFA organized film festivals in Eastern Europe to bridge the East and West through animation.
FESTIVAL BENEFITED FROM PRINT PROMOTION - ASIFA promoted festivals by publishing the first magazine exclusively about animation, written in French, English, and Russian.
THE FIRST WAS FOUNDED IN FRANCE - ASIFA's first international animation festival was in Annecy, France, in 1960, and is now the major international destination for more than 100,000 people in the animation industry.
CREATIVITY PAYS HOMAGE TO DESTRUCTION - The Hiroshima International Film Festival was founded in 1985 as ASIFA's way of commemorating the 40th anniversary of the bombing at the end of World War II.
ZAGREB LEADS TO HOLLYWOOD - Winners of the Grand Prix at Animafest Zagreb in Croatia automatically qualify for the Academy Award and the European Animation Award.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
- We can still watch cartoons as we get older;
- They let us enjoy a temporary escape from being a grown-up;
- Cartoons have always been great babysitters;
- They help kids with cognitive and language development, enhance their creativity, and promote laughter, which releases those good endorphins;
- As a sophisticated adult consumer of animation, you can experience work from other countries;
- Animation can provide a window into other cultures and customs, even while treating common human problems.
CONCLUSIONS
International Animation Day is a celebration of creativity, innovation and global storytelling. On October 28th we recognize the artists, technicians and visionaries who bring characters and worlds to life.
By supporting cartoons and its creators, we help preserve a medium that still inspires, educates and connects people across cultures and generations.
Source: nationaltoday.com
