| Library Home | | | Hours and Info | | | WEBCAT | | | Databases | | | Internet Links | | | Guides | | | Tutorials |
Notes & Quotes
News from the AV Library
by Lisa Cacciola, AV Cataloger/Reference Librarian
The AV Library, in collaboration with Instructor of Fine Arts/Digital Instructor, Cheryl Gelover, has been adding to our collection documenting the early years of animation and motion picture history. Covering the late 19 th to early 20 th centuries, these recently acquired items contain compilations of well-known early works, as well as some rare and unusual pieces seldom seen before. They include both live action and animated films. Many of the animated films are ground-breaking experimental works in which the filmmakers/artists create sound and visual effects by physically manipulating the film itself. Here are some selections from our growing collection of videos and DVDs on early animation and film history.
Landmarks of Early Film. DVD 502
A compilation of the very earliest films from the first projections of moving images to the advent of the feature film (originally produced between 1886 and 1913), an area of film history often underseen, underappreciated and understudied. Includes such classics as A Trip to the Moon and The Great Train Robbery .
The Movies Begin: A Treasury of Early Cinema. DVD 526
A comprehensive collection of films documenting the first two decades of motion picture history. Beginning with the first "actualities" of the Lumiere brothers and continuing to D.W. Griffith's Biograph shorts, this set includes important works by such major figures as Georges Melies, Edwin S. Porter, Cecil Hepworth, Max Linder and Alice Guy Blanche. The volumes are organized into pivotal stages of technical and creative progress.
More Treasures from American Film Archives. DVD 602
This 3 DVD set contains 50 American films from the early years of motion pictures. Many of the films are black and white silent shorts. The films selected for this anthology have never before been available in the U.S. on any commercial video format. All come from various film archives, and have rarely been screened outside of museums and film festivals.
Felix ! DVD 519
This compilation consists of seven early Felix the Cat cartoons originally released between 1919 and 1930, including Felix's debut in "Feline Follies" (1919), as well as rare footage of Felix's creator, the animator Otto Messmer, at work.
French Animation Festival: Four Films by Emile Cohl. VIDEO TAPE 4178
A collection of short animated and animated/live action films made in France in the early 1900s, including four silent Emil Cohl films with added music sound tracks.
Norman McLaren. DVD 523
Norman McLaren was an innovative filmmaker who created unique animated films using a wide array of creative techniques, including painting directly onto film and experimenting with stop-action photography. He also drew soundtracks directly onto the film. This collection includes digital masters of a selection of his best work, and the documentary film, Creative Process , which explores McLaren's insights and methods of animation.
Winsor McCay: The Master Edition. DVD 521
A collection of animated short films, produced between 1911-1921, with added musical scores. Winsor McCay was a comic strip artist who turned to the medium of film to create some of the first animated cartoons ever produced. This edition contains new digital transfers of McCay's work, plus the documentary, Remembering Winsor McCay, by film historian John Canemaker as well as commentary by John Canemaker and a stills gallery from the Canemaker Collection.
Rhythms. VIDEO TAPE 4175
A selection of experimental films by the artist and filmmaker, Len Lye (1901-1980), who pioneered a number of innovative techniques, such as painting and scratching images directly onto film and experimenting with early color technologies.
