Animation | History, Movies, Television, & Facts | Britannica
Animation is the art of making inanimate objects appear to move. History's first recorded animator is, arguably, Pygmalion of Greek and Roman mythology.
Aug 16, 2024
J. Stuart Blackton
The first film-based animation was made by <anchor>J. Stuart Blackton</anchor>, whose Humorous Phases of Funny Faces in 1906 launched a successful series of animated films for New York’s pioneering Vitagraph Company.
J. Stuart Blackton | Silent Film, Animation, Humorous Cartoons | Britannica
J. Stuart Blackton \| Silent Film, Animation, Humorous Cartoons \| Britannica

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[J. Stuart Blackton](https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-Stuart-Blackton)

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Introduction
[References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-Stuart-Blackton/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](/facts/J-Stuart-Blackton)

[Videos](https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-Stuart-Blackton/images-videos)

[![See J. Stuart Blackton's animated movie “Humorous Phases of Funny Faces”](https://cdn.britannica.com/63/99863-138-FB49249D/Humorous-Phases-of-Funny-Faces-film-animation.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](/video/99863/Humorous-Phases-of-Funny-Faces-film-animation)

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# J. Stuart Blackton

American film director



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- [America's Story from America's Library - Biography of J. Stuart Blackton](http://www.americaslibrary.gov/sh/animation/sh_animation_blcktn_1.html)
- [BFI Screenonline - Biography of J. Stuart Blackton](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/559607/)

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- [BFI Screenonline - Biography of J. Stuart Blackton](http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/559607/)

Also known as: James Stuart Blackton


Written and fact-checked by


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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.](/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419)

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Last Updated:

Aug 9, 2024
• [Article History](https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-Stuart-Blackton/additional-info#history)


Table of Contents


Quick Facts

In full: James Stuart Blackton_(Show more)_

Born: Jan. 5, 1875, [Sheffield](/place/Sheffield-England), Yorkshire, Eng._(Show more)_

Died:  Aug. 13, 1941, Hollywood (aged 66)_(Show more)_

[See all related content →](/facts/J-Stuart-Blackton)

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[![See J. Stuart Blackton's animated movie “Humorous Phases of Funny Faces”](https://cdn.britannica.com/63/99863-138-FB49249D/Humorous-Phases-of-Funny-Faces-film-animation.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](/video/99863/Humorous-Phases-of-Funny-Faces-film-animation)

See J. Stuart Blackton's animated movie “Humorous Phases of Funny Faces”_Humorous Phases of Funny Faces_, a short film featuring animation by J. Stuart Blackton.(more)

[See all videos for this article](/biography/J-Stuart-Blackton/images-videos)

**J. Stuart Blackton** (born Jan. 5, 1875, [Sheffield](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sheffield-England), Yorkshire, Eng.—died Aug. 13, 1941, Hollywood) was a British-born U.S. film director and producer who introduced [animation](https://www.britannica.com/art/animation) and other important film techniques that helped shape and stimulate the development of cinematic art.

While interviewing Thomas A. Edison in 1895, Blackton’s interest in films was so aroused that in the following year he and Albert E. Smith established [Vitagraph](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vitagraph-Company); in 1899 they were joined by William T. Rock. Their first film, _The Burglar on the Roof_ (1897), was followed by a long series of film successes that made Blackton a millionaire. He left Vitagraph for a while but returned to work for the company until it was sold in 1926 to [Warner Brothers](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Warner-Brothers).

_[(Read Martin Scorsese’s Britannica essay on film preservation.)](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Film-Preservation-A-Dire-Need-2119175)_

Blackton’s motion-picture [adaptations](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptations) of Shakespeare’s dramas were the first such produced in the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States). Many other of his films were centred on such well-known characters as [Sherlock Holmes](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sherlock-Holmes), [Oliver Twist](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oliver-Twist-fictional-character), Salome, Richelieu, Moses, and Saul and David. After losing his fortune in the economic depression of 1929, Blackton supported himself by exhibiting his old films at sideshows.

This article was most recently revised and updated by [Encyclopaedia Britannica](/contributor/encyclopaedia-britannica/12989892).