(1892): Pauvre Pierrot, the oldest animation movie.

Join as a member to support this channel: While the Lumière brothers often receive credit for the birth of cinema in 1895, a lesser-known gem from 1892, “Pauvre Pierrot“ (Poor Pierrot), deserves recognition as a trailblazing achievement in animation and visual storytelling. Created by French inventor and artist Charles-Émile Reynaud, this short film predates traditional cinema, offering a fascinating glimpse into the earliest experiments with projected moving images. Reynaud didn’t just make a film; he created a whole system for its presentation. His invention, the Théâtre Optique (Optical Theater), was a complex apparatus that projected hand-painted images onto a screen, creating the illusion of movement. Each image was meticulously drawn on a transparent strip, then mounted onto a band with perforations. This band was then manipulated through the projector, allowing Reynaud to control the timing and flow of the story. “Pauvre Pierrot“ tells a simple yet engaging tale of a love triangle. Pierrot, a sad clown, is in love with Colombine. However, she is smitten with the mischievous Harlequin. When Pierrot comes to woo Colombine, Harlequin plays a trick, scaring Pierrot away and leaving him heartbroken. While the story might seem rudimentary by modern standards, it’s crucial to remember that this was a time before cinema had established narrative conventions. Reynaud’s film demonstrates a nascent understanding of how visuals could convey emotions, actions, and even comedic timing. The characters’ movements and expressions, though simple, effectively communicate their feelings and create a sense of narrative progression. Unlike later films that relied on photography, “Pauvre Pierrot“ was a testament to Reynaud’s artistic skill. Each of the 500 individual images that comprised the film was hand-painted with meticulous detail and vibrant colors. The result was a visually striking and charming piece that captivated audiences with its novelty and artistry. Sadly, Reynaud’s Théâtre Optique and his pioneering films, including “Pauvre Pierrot,“ were largely overshadowed by the rise of traditional cinema. His technique was labor-intensive and expensive, ultimately unable to compete with the mass-produced films that emerged in the early 20th century. Reynaud, heartbroken by this turn of events, destroyed most of his films and apparatus.