Disney

        It doesn't seem right to investigate the history of animation without acknowledging Disney; perhaps the most well known and most recognisable studio in the history of animation. I would imagine you are in the minority if your childhood didn't include a healthy diet of Disney films to tech you about life, love, separation and death. It seems odd that these last two themes should feature so prominently in many of Disney's feature length films (Bambi, most notably) and yet not impact upon the deep affection many people feel for them.

Many children are introduced to the harsh realities of death and separation from parents though Disney features.

         Since the advent of Pixar, and Disney's acquisition of that company in 2006, Disney's output in the traditional 2D style has somewhat diminished, but between the 1930s and 1990s the studio produced many, many films, a number of which have become immortalised as childhood classics.

        The Disney style and stories, which deal with strong themes of good versus evil, are most prominently aimed at young children and consequently contributed to the misconception that animation is a child's medium. So strong is this perception that the term 'dynamation' had to be applied to Ray Harryhausen's special effects features to convince discouraged adults that they were not seeing a children's animated feature.

        Undoubtedly, part of Disney's appeal can be accredited to the enduring stories. The vast majority of the studio's 2D animations are interpretations of classic fairy tales (Beauty & The Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid), timeless stories which don't age or date, and are certain to play a part in all future generations' childhoods. When such a solid bedrock is combined with well considered animation, beguiling characters and well realised environments you get a winning formula.