Cartoon Entertainment

This Is What the Studio Looked Like When Your Favorite Cartoons Were Born

The last Golden Age cartoon was produced in 1969. Nobody working on it knew it was the last one. The animators showed up, did their work, went home. The next morning the studio announced it was closing. Some of those artists never worked in animation again. What they left behind — we’re still watching today.

In 1944 — 12,000 frames drawn by hand for a 7-minute cartoon. In 2024 — 12,000 frames rendered by a computer in 4 hours. Both methods work. Only one of them created the Golden Age

Classic cartoons were never made for children. They were made for adult movie theater audiences. The jokes, the references, the timing — all designed for adults. Children just happened to love them too. And still do 80 years later.

Modern animation budgets: $200,000 per minute. Golden Age animation budgets: $2,000 per minute. Quality then vs now — you decide. 👇