tavm Review of The Enchanted Drawing

The Enchanted Drawing (1900)

The Enchanted Drawing still retains some charm nearly a century or so later

[7/10 · 12 June 2007]

J. Stuart Blackton is an unsung pioneer in the history of animation possibly because many of his short film projects had techniques that have been improved time and time again. Having said that, The Enchanted Drawing in which he draws a face with a cigar, a glass, and a wine bottle and proceeds to take many of those objects off the drawing in split-time seamless editing has an old-fashioned charm that still resonates some 107 years later. And the various expressions of the drawn man's face whenever any of these objects are taken from him must have truly enchanted audiences of the day. With this and Humorous Phases of Funny Faces, Blackton deserves some recognition for contributing to the art of animation.