The first animated film

A recent study has revealed that ancient people were the pioneers of animated pictures, creating a form of entertainment for children as early as 2.6 million years ago. This discovery sheds light on the origins of animation and provides insight into the creativity and ingenuity of our prehistoric ancestors.

The ancient people achieved animation by carving pictures of animals on stones and placing them around fires. As the light bounced around, the animals appeared to come to life, shaking and shimmying in the flickering firelight. This early form of animation brought prehistoric carvings to life, with the animals jumping in and out of focus as if they were ready to party.

Imagine the joy and amusement it would have brought to prehistoric families as they sat around a fire, creating these animated carvings. Even some of the ancient wall paintings and carvings found in caves were inspired by the moving light and shadows of flames, further emphasizing the impact of firelight on early visual entertainment.

Researchers have taken this concept further by creating a movie that showcases the cool effect of animation on a 3D model of some horse engravings. Our brains are wired to perceive moving things and changing light, which is why these carvings held significance for our ancestors. In essence, cave people realized that by carving intricate designs on rocks and illuminating them with fire, they could create the illusion of movement.

Andy Needham and his team used modern scanning and virtual reality technology to study 50 flat carved rocks, known as plaquettes, made of limestone. These rocks, discovered in southern France in the 1800s and currently housed in a museum in London, are adorned with 77 realistic carvings of various animals, including horses, reindeer, and shamwa. These engravings were created by Homo sapiens over 12,000 to 16,000 years ago.

Upon closer examination, Needham discovered that many of these carved rocks had been affected by fire. Some were covered in white ash, while others showed signs of drying or fracturing due to heat. He also noticed pink bands of discoloration resulting from iron deposits in the stone. Interestingly, the animal engravings were often superimposed on top of each other, sometimes melded together or fitted around each other like a prehistoric animal jigsaw puzzle.

Instead of discarding older carvings and starting anew, ancient artists repurposed animal body parts to create new hybrids. For example, one of the rocks depicted both a horse and a wild cattle-like creature known as a bovid. The horse's abdomen and neck became the back and neck of the bovid, while the horse's head formed the bovid's ear. This creative approach to recycling showcases the artistic glory of the people who created these prehistoric artworks.

The prehistoric rocks from Montestric were likely used as prime-time entertainment for our ancestors. Multiple individuals participated in carving the animals, with people of varying skill levels showcasing their artistic abilities. This community activity suggests that families gathered around the "Paleolithic TV," carving rocks and cheering on their favorite animals. It was a collective effort that fostered a sense of togetherness and entertainment.

The engravings on these rocks, combined with the signs of exposure to heat, strongly suggest that they were designed to create the illusion of movement. Different animals in various poses brought the engravings to life, one after another, resembling a stone age version of Disney animation. This technique might have influenced some of the ancient cave paintings, such as those found in the breathtaking Chauvet cave in southeastern France, where animal portraits are overlaid on each other, and some appear to have been heated by fires underneath them. This suggests that our prehistoric ancestors may have been the first animators in the world.