This course will look at American animation as an art form and an industry. We will explore the ways in which artistic, technical, historical, and cultural conditions have shaped the development of animation – and in turn, how animation has impacted viewers. Topics will include: trends in animation and their relation to contemporary popular culture, issues of art versus commerce in the creation of cartoons, race and gender in animation, the intersection of animation and politics, and shifts in style and technique throughout the years. We will look at the personalities in animation who have shaped the art form and continue to influence it, the rise in animation's popularity, and current-day applications of animated imagery. Case studies will include Pixar, Walt Disney, UPA, television cartoons, stop motion animation, and the movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.