International Animation Day

Categories:: Arts & Entertainment
Tags:: Appreciation Hobby Pop Culture
Where:: World
Date change rule:: Every October 28
Holiday emoji:: 🎬

International Animation Day celebrates the captivating art of moving pictures every October 28. This global observance honors the pioneers, artists, and studios who bring imaginative worlds to life. Dive into the history of animation, discover new animated works, and celebrate your favorite characters.

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Expected International Animation Day Deals

While official 2027 promotions are still under wraps, International Animation Day typically inspires a range of deals for fans and aspiring animators alike. Look for discounts on streaming service subscriptions from platforms like Disney+ and Crunchyroll, offering access to vast libraries of animated content. Software companies such as Adobe and Toon Boom Animation often provide special pricing on their animation tools and educational courses, making it easier for new talent to get started. Retailers like Hot Topic and BoxLunch are expected to feature sales on animated movie merchandise, collectibles, and apparel. Even local cinemas and art houses may host special screenings or retrospectives of classic animated films. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October 28 approaches.

Platform Guide for International Animation Day

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #InternationalAnimationDay. Share short clips of your favorite animated scenes or quick drawing tutorials.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #InternationalAnimationDay. Post fan art, behind-the-scenes glimpses of animation, or polls about classic cartoons.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #InternationalAnimationDay. Engage in discussions about animation history, industry news, and upcoming releases.

International Animation Day Hero

Émile Cohl

Émile Cohl, a French cartoonist and animator, is widely recognized as the 'Father of the Animated Cartoon.' In 1908, he created 'Fantasmagorie,' considered the first animated film, using sequential drawings on blackboards. His pioneering work laid the groundwork for future animation techniques and storytelling, establishing animation as a distinct art form.

History of International Animation Day

In 2002, the International Animated Film Association (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation) created this unofficial holiday to commemorate the day when animation had its first public appearance. That was October 28, 1892, at the Grévin Museum in Paris, when Charles-Émile Reynaud and his Théâtre Optique presented his first production, “Pantomimes Lumineuses.” It was a collection of three cartoons, ‘Pauvre Pierrot,’ ‘Un bon bock,’ and ‘Le Clown Et Ses Chiens.’

It was 1888 when Reynaud patented Théâtre Optique, a machine that produced images on a screen using 36 mirrors, two magic lanterns or supplementary lights that were the source of a stationary background, and a projector. The images were painted on a long band that would be wound up on two spools that had to be rotated by hand. Working the spools demanded some skill, so it was usually Reynaud’s hand.

Each of the three animations consisted of 500 to 600 individually painted images and ran for about 15 minutes. Reynaud acted as the projectionist and a piano player accompanied him. Actors on the side provided the dialogue. The show ran until 1900 and was seen by half a million people.

By then, animation had begun to evolve. The next step forward was ‘lumière style,’ which replaced hand-drawn images with photographs for a more realistic visual experience. Audiences embraced the more modern style and lost interest in the performances at the Grévin Museum. Reynaud had presented 12,800 shows.

Reynaud did not adapt to change, and he suffered the consequences. In 1913, disillusioned and ruined financially, he smashed the last Théâtre Optique machine with a hammer and threw most of his films into the Seine.

International Animation Day timeline

1908

The French are First

Émile Cohl, a French artist, creates the first animated film using what we now consider to be traditional animation methods.

1923

Brothers Begin to Build in Burbank

Walt and Roy O. Disney found the Walt Disney Company in Burbank, California.

1955

Clay Makes Way

"The Gumby Show," starring a green clay humanoid with a slanted head, premieres on NBS.

1995

Pixar Becomes a Player

Pixar releases "Toy Story," the world's first computer-animated feature film, which becomes the highest-grossing film of the year — earning $362 million worldwide.

International Animation Day FAQs

When is International Animation Day?

International Animation Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, October 28. It’s a global celebration of the art of animation, honoring its rich history and future innovations.

Who created the first animated film?

The first animated film is widely considered to be ‘Fantasmagorie,’ created by French artist Émile Cohl in 1908. His pioneering work involved drawing on a blackboard and filming each frame.

How many people work in the animation industry?

The global animation industry is a significant employer, with hundreds of thousands of professionals working in various roles, from concept artists to 3D modelers and directors. Exact figures vary by region and year, but it’s a continuously growing field.

What is the difference between animation and cartoons?

Animation is the broad artistic process of creating the illusion of motion through a sequence of static images, encompassing various styles like stop-motion, CGI, and traditional hand-drawn. Cartoons are a specific type of animated production, often characterized by simplified or exaggerated drawing styles and typically aimed at a younger audience, though many transcend this.

International Animation Day Activities

Watch cartoons
Relive your childhood by watching one of the classic animated films of whatever is your yesteryear: "Bambi" (1942), "Lady and the Tramp" (1955), "Aladdin" (1992), "Spirited Away" (2004), "Frozen" (2013), etc. Or gleefully repeat "Moose And Squirrel!" as you follow the adventures of “Rocky and Bullwinkle” on YouTube.
Try your own claymation
Using the camera on your smartphone and several tubs of Play-Doh you've just bought, see if you can recreate Gumby walking. It should be easy; he's practically a stick figure!
Visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Pay homage to the Simpsons, who got their Hollywood star in 2000. Since then, their show has become the longest-running scripted American TV show, on the air since 1989.

5 Facts About International Animation Day That Will Blow Your Mind

Festivals warmed the Cold War
During the Cold War, ASIFA organized film festivals in Eastern Europe to bridge the East and West through animation.
Festivals benefited from print promotion
ASIFA promoted festivals by publishing the first magazine exclusively about animation, written in French, English, and Russian.
The first was founded in France
ASIFA's first international animation festival was in Annecy, France, in 1960, and is now the major international destination for more than 100,000 people in the animation industry.
Creativity pays homage to destruction
The Hiroshima International Film Festival was founded in 1985 as ASIFA's way of commemorating the 40th anniversary of the bombing at the end of World War II.
Zagreb leads to Hollywood
Winners of the Grand Prix at Animafest Zagreb in Croatia automatically qualify for the Academy Award and the European Animation Award.

Why We Love International Animation Day

Cartoons are fun
We can still watch cartoons as we get older. They let us enjoy a temporary escape from being a grown-up.
Cartoons can be healthy
Cartoons have always been great babysitters. They help kids with cognitive and language development, enhance their creativity, and promote laughter, which releases those good endorphins.
Cartoons are cultural artifacts
As a sophisticated adult consumer of animation, you can experience work from other countries. Animation can provide a window into other cultures and customs, even while treating common human problems.