This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  The following biography is from the Shanghai Trading Company.
Born January 5, 1875 Sheffield, Yorkshire, Eng. Died August, 13,1941 Hollywood, CA, USA
Born
in Britain this artist was a originator of animation in the film
industry. Later he became a film director and producer establishing
other important film techniques, shaping and encouraging the
development of cinematic art.
He began his career as a cartoonist
for the New York Evening World. During that time as a producer of
films, he co-established the Vitagraph Company. A little over a year
earlier he interviewed with Thomas Edison as an actor, winning a part
drawing cartoons on paper for a short film of an artist drawing funny
faces shot at Edison's New Jersey Studio "Black Maria".
In
1926 he sold the Vitagraph company to Warner Brothers. His business dealings
helped Blackton amass a millionaire's fortune in the mid 1920s, but he
lost all in the economic depression of 1929 forcing Blackton to exhibit
his old films at side show's.
Blackton's art can be found in early animation and in full length feature films of the early 1900s.
Blacktons
works of art provide an important connection to the film animation
industry. The historical significance of Blackton's art is recognized
by the Library of Congress exhibit, "Origins of American Animation,
1900-1921." The earliest surviving American animated film was produced
by Blackton's Vitagragh Company.
Addendum:
Note from Norman Davies of Torrance, California:
This artist is listed in the Encyclopedia Britannica. It is very rare for an artist especially U.S. to be listed there. | |
This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  James Stuart Blackton was born January 5, 1875 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England and died August 13, 1941, Hollywood, California, USA.
This artist was an originator of animation in the film industry. Later he became a film director and producer, establishing other important film techniques, shaping and encouraging the development of cinematic art.
He began his career as a cartoonist for the New York Evening World. During that time he co-established the Vitagraph Company, in 1899 as a producer of films. A little over a year earlier he interviewed with Thomas Edison as an actor, winning a part drawing cartoons on paper for a short film of an artist drawing funny faces shot at Edison's, New Jersey Studio "Black Maria."
In 1926 he sold the company to Warner Brothers. His business dealings helped Blackton amassed a millionaire's fortune in the mid 1920s, but he lost all his money in the economic depression of 1929 forcing Blackton to exhibit his old films at sideshow's.
Blackton's art can be found in early animation and in full-length feature films of the early 1900s
Blackton's works of art provide an important connection to the film animation industry. The historical significance of Blackton's art is recognized by the Library of Congress Origins of American Animation, 1900-1921. The earliest surviving American animated film was produced by Blackton's Vitagragh Company.
Sources:
Britannica.com Inc.1999-2000
The Library of Congress Video Collection, Volume 3: Origins of American Animation, 1900-1921
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This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  A cartoonist and painter, James Blackton is referred to as the father
of film animation. He was born in Sheffield, England and immigrated to
the United States when he was a child. He began his cartooning career
in New York with the New York World newspaper.
He was an early pioneer
in animation and established with other partners the Vitagraph company
that made pioneering animated movies during the 1890s.
He also painted landscapes and seascapes.
Source:
Edan Hughes, Artists in California, 1786-1940
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