James Stuart Blackton (Better known as J. Stuart Blackton) was an Anglo-American film producer, cartoonist and conjurer, being most notable for making the first ever silent film that included animated sequences titled "The Enchanted Drawing" in 1900, and is because of that considered the father of American animation.
Born in Sheffield on the 5th of January 1875, his parents and him emigrated to the USA when the boy was still ten years old. Being talented at drawing, Blackton wrote and drew a regular illustrated feature on personalities when working for the "New York World. At the same time, Blackton was also making regular stage appearances as a cartoonist in the company of conjurer Albert Smith, performing what were known as "lighting sketches", he would do a drawing live on stage, very quickly, whilst speaking with the audience as he worked. As the drawing evolved, audiences would gasp in disbelief as he transforms a drawing of a young woman into an old lady right before their eyes.
In 1906, Blackton directed the short silent animated cartoon "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces", which has been generally regarded by film historians as the first animated film recorded on standard picture film (No, don't get confused, "The Enchanted Drawing" is the first ever silent film with animated sequences in it). Stop-motion as well as cutout animation was used, the film moving at 20 frames per second.
Being the first animated film, I am really quite impressed that Blackton was able to make his work so fluid, especially since the concepts of animation was still in such early development, AND on a chalkboard might I add (Yes I know stop motion was also used for some bits). Blackton really has a very entertaining style, that is clean, expressive and… cute. Being the world's first animated film, it turned out really well.
More information on the man.
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