Tech Directions - January 2008 - (Page 10)

technology’s past Dennis Karwatka d.karwat@morehead-st.edu Walt Disney and His Multiplane Motion Picture Camera Walt Disney’s name will be forto his brother Roy (1893-1971). Disever linked to Mickey Mouse, other ney had a natural aptitude for cartoon characters sketching, which he and theme parks. began doing when But his successes in just five years old. technology helped After Red Cross launch his amazing service during World entertainment caWar I (he was too reer. Among Disney’s young for the armed most significant was forces), he began a his 1937 invention of shaky career as a the multiplane camcartoonist. Disney era for animated created and marmotion pictures. keted his first aniBorn in Chicago mated cartoon in in 1901, Walter Elias 1920. He employed a Disney spent most of cutout method that his youth near Kanused pins to join sas City, MO. The arms and legs to a Walt Disney youngest of five torso. He photochildren, he was particularly close graphed a frame, moved the arms or Library of Congress/©Disney Enterprises, Inc. legs a bit, made another photograph and so on. The method was called “stop motion” and other animators also used it. Disney sold his short films directly to owners of Kansas City theaters. There was no sound in those early black-and-white motion pictures. Disney was not especially successful in his early endeavors, and he decided to move to Hollywood in 1923 with his brother Roy. The two had a combined capital of only $290, but that was enough to produce their first animated cartoon for distribution. The new business took the form of an informal partnership. Walt supervised production of the cartoons, and Roy acted as the camera operator and bookkeeper. The Mickey Mouse character was introduced in the Disneys’ 1928 cartoon Steamboat Willie. It was the first cartoon to include synchroDennis Karwatka is professor emeritus, Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology, Morehead (KY) State University. Did you miss your December issue of techdirections? If so, you missed some great stuff like: F Here Comes the Sun—Designing Residential Solar Systems F Picture This—Pinhole Cameras Teach Science and Art F Poster Project Maps Out Design Process F Gifts for Geeks—Smart ideas for smart people The December issue is only online! Visit www.techdirections.com to check it out! 10 techdirections ◆ JANUARY 2008 http://www.techdirections.com http://www.techdirections.com

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Tech Directions - January 2008

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