The Savvy Marketplace

Cartoons have been a part of our culture and we have witnessed its evolution from the ancient civilization where Egyptians expressed their thoughts and draw pictures on the walls of pyramid that helped our historians to know how they lived and existed. Greeks painted it on their potteries and Japanese/Chinese on their scrolls.

It then evolved on the 18^th century where printing press reproduced political caricatures in black and white. Even Benjamin Franklin designed his famous “JOIN or DIE” snake. It was during the Revolutionary War that intended for colonies to unite and work together against the threat of the Indians.

It was during early 1900s when modern cartoons emerged. They are classified into five groups: illustrative, comic strips, gag strips, political, and animated. Illustrative cartoons are used to advertise and tell story. Comic and gag strips are usually found in newspapers and magazines; their intent is to produce laughter. Political cartoons are used as a medium to convey opinions from societal issue fanatics. Animation is the latest form of cartoons, where it involves movement like what we see now on television and movie screen.

Animated films progressed when Walt Disney started creating cartoon series of Oswald Rabbit, Steamboat Willie, Minnie & Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters. Full-length musical animated film was Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. The artists who created the animations cells for Snow White hand painted everything creating a look both beautiful and surreal. Then it gave birth to other animated cartoons.

There were other influential people in the cartoon industry like Chuck Jones, who contributed Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner, etc. Hanna-Barbara’s creations are Yogi Bear, The Jetsons, Tom & Jerry and famous cowardly dog, Scooby Doo.

The latest cartoon in the mainstream is the 3D animation and is created using a computer. This spawned when Disney and Pixar joined forces that led to success of Toy Story and other computer generated cartoons.

These continually influenced our lives and not only give entertainment but have bestowed us values and lessons expressed in the form of cartoons.