An introductory study that seeks to explore the distinctive language of animation, its production processes, who makes it, under what conditions and with what purpose. Paul Wells challenges the prominence of live-action movie-making as the first form of cinema. Includes extensive analysis of individual animators and their operation within studios such as Disney and Dreamworks, and is completely up-to-date, featuring the current hit 'Shrek'. An introductory study that seeks to explore the distinctive language of animation, its production processes, who makes it, under what conditions and with what purpose. Animation arguably provides the greatest opportunity for distinctive moesls of 'auteurism' and revises generic categories. Paul Wells challenges the prominence of live-action movie-making as the first form of cinema. Includes extensive analysis of individual animators and their operation within studios such as Disney and Dreamworks. The book investigates the use of animation in genres from horror and science fiction to documentary and propoganda, and is completely up-to-date, featuring the current hit 'Shrek'.