So today, let's start with a question.

The history of animation is one that is full of interesting inventions and unique processes.

Popular culture, though, tends to imagine animation as largely the effort of artists.

But animation could not exist without the efforts of engineers and inventors.

So here's today's question.

Back during the first boom of 3D in the 1950s,

the Disney studio created 3D animation,

that is, animation that was designed to be viewed through polarized,

or what was then called, Polaroid glasses,

to create a believable 3D effect.

Live action productions during this time used side-by-side cameras mounted on a unique rig system,

one camera taking in the image related to the left eye, the other taking in the image related to the right,

to create full 3D scenes. But the Disney 3D efforts in animation used only one camera.

Not only that, all of the images, the painted cells of foreground and midground action

along with the background image were stacked one on top of the other with no space in

between to create some natural depth between the layers.

It was just a standard table camera setup with all of the art pressed flat beneath a piece of glass.

Let's add in one more thing.

These cartoons were in color, as color was part of the signature presentation of Disney animation, but Disney only

used black and white film. Some of you likely know how this last bit was accomplished, but here's

the overall question. How did Disney create color 3D cartoons using only flat images stacked

close together with one camera and with

...