History MediaNotes / TheDarkAgeOfAnimation

The unfortunate successor to UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation, starting in the late 1950s and lasting until the early 1980s. LimitedAnimation was the rule, not the exception during this time. Its start coincided with the UsefulNotes/FallOfTheStudioSystem in Hollywood. The theatrical short slowly died off, and cartoons moved to television. Naturally, this era would leave a lasting impression on American culture, for better or for worse, as the [[AnimationAgeGhetto primary target audience for cartoons]] became children.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'': The Creator/HannaBarbera [[WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs cartoon series aired towards the end of this era]].

* [[Creator/{{Sanrio}} Sanrio Animation]]: Short-lived animation studio by Sanrio that made animated films based on Japanese literature [[note]] such as adapting two of Creator/TakashiYanase's book ''The Rose and Joe'' in 1977, and ''Chirin no Suzu'' in 1978 [[/note]], manga [[note]] [[Manga/{{Unico}} the Unico series]] [[/note]], and original content. The studio was active from 1977 till 1985 with a total of ten animated films. Their works were notable for [[SurpriseCreepy containing disturbing imagery]] and [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids depressing storylines]] while aimed at children. Compared to other animations studios during this period, Sanrio Animation's films contained [[SugarWiki/AwesomeArt high quality animation]] with characters being very expressive and [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic memorable music scores.]]

** ''[[Anime/TheRoseFlowerAndJoe Bara no Hana to Joe]]'' (''The Rose Flower and Joe'') (1977)

** ''[[Anime/UnicoBlackCloudAndWhiteFeather Unico: Black Cloud White Feather]]'' (1979): The titular character's animation debut.

->''"We ran into a stone wall because some citizens, [[MoralGuardians for the protection of the children of the world]], have decided cartoons are evil, that they're violent and full of mayhem. We showed [Creator/{{ABC}}] five of the old 'WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry[=s=]' and they laughed so hard, they had tears in their eyes. Then they said 'We can't use them. If we put those on, we'll get killed.'"''

Also, {{Anime}} was making its first impact in North America with such imports as ''Anime/AstroBoy'', ''Anime/SpeedRacer'', ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' (aka ''Star Blazers''), ''Manga/KimbaTheWhiteLion'', ''Anime/BattleOfThePlanets'' and, toward the tail end of the era, ''Anime/{{Voltron}}''. Not to mention the various kiddie series that populated basic and pay cable channels, such as ''Anime/{{Superbook}}'', ''Literature/TheLittlePrince'', and ''Manga/HoneyHoney''. While it often was crudely {{Bowdlerized}}, the form's distinctive look and content created a cult following that would eventually grow into much more, although production quality – following the tricks of the trade pioneered by Creator/OsamuTezuka – started and remained very low-budget and corner-cutting until the medium blossomed in the early 80's in tandem with Japan's rising economic fortunes. In Japan itself, animation as a medium began to slowly break out of its version of the Ghetto with Tezuka's Creator/MushiProductions' "Animerama" films plus 1971's ''Anime/LupinIIIPart1'', the first anime specifically for adults… which failed in its initial run but was later [[VindicatedByCable vindicated by reruns]] and served as a green-light for networks to air less-kiddy shows from the likes of Creator/GoNagai and Creator/LeijiMatsumoto. Many popular animated franchises (some still going to this day) got their start in this era, like ''Manga/SazaeSan'', ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}'', ''Anime/WorldMasterpieceTheater'', ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'', and the ''Anime/{{Gundam}}'' franchise.

** AnimeAndMangaOfThe1980s

** AnimeOfThe1960s

** ''Unico: Black Cloud White Feather'' (1979): The titular character's animation debut.

* ''WesternAnimation/MickeysChristmasCarol'', released theatrically alongside ''WesternAnimation/TheReecuersDownUnder''

The end of this period is usually believed to be the early 1980's, though the exact year is debated. Some say the dark age ended in 1981[[note]]when the Reagan administration began deregulating television and the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'' the last Disney project Don Bluth was involved in before leaving causing it to be delayed[[/note]], others say it was in 1983[[note]]when cartoons in America began to become more merchandise-driven, and the release of ''{{Anime/Dallos}}'', the first [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVA]] in Japan[[/note]], while others claim it happened as late as 1985[[note]]With the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron'', which was widely Disney's final dark age film, the release of ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears'', whose lavish production had put their tv competition to shame, as well as helping Disney to have a foothold on television animation, and the formation of Creator/StudioGhibli[[/note]], while for Disney, it can be as late as 1988[[note]]With the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'', the last film to use cel overlay[[/note]], and for Richard Williams, it can be as late as 1992[[note]]With the workprint release of ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' which wasn't well received banishing him from the project & then the film being reworked[[/note]].

** ''WesternAnimation/{{RobinHood|1973}}'' (1973): Finally, the first film Walt didn't green-light. The final film all the Nine Old Men saw completed.

** ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood|1973}}'' (1973): Finally, the first film Walt didn't green-light. The final film all the Nine Old Men saw completed.

** ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'' (1973): Finally, the first film Walt didn't green-light. The final film all the Nine Old Men saw completed.

* [[Creator/{{Sanrio}} Sanrio Animation]]: Short-lived animation studio by Sanrio that made animated films based on Japanese literature [[note]] such as adapting two of Creator/TakashiYanase's book ''The Rose and Joe'' in 1977, and ''Chirin no Suzu'' in 1978 [[/note]], manga [[note]] [[Manga/{{Unico}} the Unico series]] [[/note]], and original content. The studio was active from 1977 till 1985 with a total of ten animated films. The series were notable for [[SurpriseCreepy containing disturbing imagery]] and [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids depressing storylines]] while aimed at children. Compared to other animations studios during this period, Sanrio Animation's films contained [[SugarWiki/AwesomeArt high quality animation]] with characters being very expressive and [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic memorable music scores.]]

The end of this period is usually believed to be the early 1980's, though the exact year is debated. Some say the dark age ended in 1981[[note]]when the Reagan administration began deregulating television and the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'' the last Disney project Don Bluth was involved in before leaving causing it to be delayed[[/note]], others say it was in 1983[[note]]when cartoons in America began to become more merchandise-driven, and the release of ''{{Anime/Dallos}}'', the first [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVA]] in Japan[[/note]], while others claim it happened as late as 1985[[note]]With the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron'', which was widely Disney's final dark age film, the release of ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTheGummiBears'', whose lavish production had put their tv competition to shame, as well as helping Disney to have a foothold on television animation, and the formation of Creator/StudioGhibli[[/note]], while for Disney, it can be as late as 1988[[note]]With the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'', the last film to use cel overlay[[/note]], and for Richard Williams, it can be as late as 1992[[note]]With the workprint release of ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' which wasn't well received banishing him from the project & then the film being reworked[[/note]].

The end of this period is usually believed to be the early 1980's, though the exact year is debated. Some say the dark age ended in 1981[[note]]when the Reagan administration began deregulating television and the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'' the last Disney project Don Bluth was involved in before leaving causing it to be delayed[[/note]], others say it was in 1983[[note]]when cartoons in America began to become more merchandise-driven, and the release of ''{{Anime/Dallos}}'', the first [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVA]] in Japan[[/note]], while others claim it happened as late as 1985[[note]]With the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron'', which was widely Disney's final dark age film, and the formation of Creator/StudioGhibli[[/note]], while for Disney, it can be as late as 1988[[note]]With the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'', the last film to use cel overlay[[/note]], and for Richard Williams, it can be as late as 1992[[note]]With the workprint release of ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' which wasn't well received banishing him from the project & then the film being reworked[[/note]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Birdman}}'' (more notable for ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'', its [[UsefulNotes/TheMillenniumAgeOfAnimation Millennium Age]] spoof, than the actual show)

* ''[[WesternAnimation/JoeOrioloFelixTheCat Felix the Cat]]'': At the end of the 1950s, WesternAnimation/FelixTheCat managed to snag himself a decent TV series under the helm of former Creator/OttoMessmer alumni Joe Oriolo, and even introduced his iconic magic bag of tricks, even though his character was still using the flanderized portrayal similar to the ill-fated 1930s Van Beuren ''Felix'' revival.

* ''WesternAnimation/MickeysChristmasCarol'', released theatrically alongside ''WesternAnimation/TheReacuersDownUnder''

* ''WesternAnimation/AllegroNonTroppo'': Europe's ''Fantasia''

* ''WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks'': The 1980s series of ''Franchise/AlvinAndTheChipmunks''.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanPop'': A drama film by Creator/RalphBakshi that came out at the end of the Dark Age.

* Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon: This is known to some as Disney's "sketchy" or television period, referring to the style of animation these movies employed. Animated movies were made on the cheap, often recycling animation from older Disney classics. Creator/DonBluth got his start here as well, as anyone with a good eye for animation will be able to tell just by watching these. With the death of Walt Disney, the dark age of animation hit the company particularly hard. The Disney studios were nearly closed for good around this time, and wouldn't recover until the late 1980s.
** ''WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTramp'' (1955): first film released after Disney TV series premiered and last successful hand inked film on initial release

** ''WesternAnimation/TheSmallOne'' (1978): Shown in theaters with the re-release of ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}''.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'' (1986): Sort of as this film while a box office success had cheap animation and failed to make twice its budge upon initial release. This was only a success thanks to the small budget.
** ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'' (1988): Definitely the last film of Disney's Dark Age since it's the last to use cel overlay. This film also received mixed reviews from the critics and the last critical failure from the Disney Animated Cannon till Pocahontas.

* ''WesternAnimation/MickeysChristmasCarol''

* The Mini-Munsters (1973): An unsold tv pilot intended as an animated spinoff of the Munsters tv series.

* [[WesternAnimation/NoddysToylandAdventures Noddy]]: The franchise gained it's first animated adaptation in 1963 by Peter Lee and Arthur Humberstone titled [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnRMDFeKFIE "Noddy Goes To Toyland" (based on the book of the same name)]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'': [[/index]]Created by Creator/FrizFreleng, after he left the Creator/WarnerBros animation studios. It originated as the AnimatedCreditsOpening to the live-action movie ''[[Film/ThePinkPanther1963 The Pink Panther]]''; the credits then inspired the cartoon series. The series ran in theaters from 1964 to 1977.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePoint'' (1971): The first made for TV animated feature ever made.

* Q.T. Hush (1960)

* [[Creator/{{Sanrio}} Sanrio Animation]]: Short-lived animation studio by Sanrio that made animated films based on Japanese literature [[note]] such as adapting two of Creator/TakashiYanase's book ''The Rose and Joe'' in 1977, and ''Chirin no Suzu'' in 1978 [[/note]], manga [[note]] [[Manga/{{Unico}} the Unico series]] [[/note]], and original content. The studio was active from 1977 till 1985 with a total of 10 animated films. Their animated films were notable for [[SurpriseCreepy containing disturbing imagery]] and [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids depressing storylines]] while aimed at children. Compared to other animations studios during this period, Sanrio Animation's films contained [[SugarWiki/AwesomeArt high quality animation]] with characters being very expressive and [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic memorable music scores.]]

** Metamorphoses (a.k.a. Winds of Change) (1978)

* ''Shinbone Alley'' (1971): Animated feature adaptation of both the musical of the same name, as well as the ''Archy and Mehitabel'' stories the musical was adapted from.

* ''Simon In the Land of Chalk Drawings'' (1974)
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'': The Creator/HannaBarbera [[WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs cartoon series aired towards the end of this era.]]
** Predating the 1980s series was ''Les Schtroumpfs'' ([[Franchise/TheSmurfs the franchise's original french name]]) produced by TVA Dupuis and aired on RTB (Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française) in Belgium, France, The Netherlands, West Germany and Austria from 1961 to 1967. [[note]] Some episodes would later get selected as an animated film titled ''Les Aventures des Schtroumpfs'' (''The Adventures of the Smurfs'') that was released in 1965. Episodes of the series can currently be seen at the Belgian Comic Strip Center in Brussel, Belgium (Pierre Culliford/Peyo's birthplace). [[/note]]

** ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfsAndTheMagicFlute'' (1976), a feature-length film which was the first animated adaptation of [[ComicBook/TheSmurfs the original comic series]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' was produced during this period. By which we mean the [[DevelopmentHell entire thirty-year duration]] of the period, before its creator Creator/RichardWilliams lost control of the project after briefly obtaining funding to distribute it following the success of ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', one of the films that [[RogerRabbitEffect definitively ended]] The Dark Age Of Animation.

* ''WesternAnimation/TubbyTheTuba1975''

* ''WesternAnimation/WaitTillYourFatherGetsHome'': The UrExample of the animated dysfunctional family (think ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' if it were a cartoon series), which would later inspire all the FOX animated sitcoms about dysfunctional or quasi-dysfunctional families (''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow''). ''The Barkleys'' is another one based both on ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' and ''Series/TheHoneymooners''. Produced by [=DePatie=]-Freleng, it ran in 1972-73 and had only thirteen episodes.

* The animated sections of ''WesternAnimation/TheWaterBabies1978''.

* ''WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker'': His theatrical cartoons would keep going up till 1972, and he also had a hit TV series appearing during this era.

* ''[[Anime/TheKindlyLion Yasashii Lion]]'' (''The Kindly Lion'' or ''The Gentle Lion''): A Japanese animated short from 1970 by Mushi Production which adapted the Japanese children's book of the same name. Osamu Tezuka is an Executive Producer for this adaptation, while Takashi Yanase (author and illustrator of the original book) [[SelfAdaptation written the lyrics for every song in the film.]]

* ''Anime/SherlockHound''

WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes was still producing some decent and entertaining shorts late in TheFifties, as some of its most memorable shorts were from this decade. While the animation was increasingly limited following the studio's re-opening (after a six-month closure in the wake of the 3-D craze) in 1953, but the writing, along with the continued high-quality output emerging from the unit under the directorial wing of Creator/ChuckJones, managed to produce some timeless classics in spite of that. However, due to budget problems, Creator/WarnerBros forcibly shut down its animation studio for good in 1963 (though a brief revival was unsuccessfully attempted in the late 1960s). The characters would get a revival in the form of the smash hit anthology repackaging series ''[[WesternAnimation/TheBugsBunnyRoadRunnerShow The Bugs Bunny Show]]'', which [[VindicatedByCable reaired]] many of their old theatrical cartoons and, being exposed to younger audiences, ultimately helped to immortalize the characters as pop culture icons. In syndication, ''The Porky Pig Show'' did the same for many other shorts that weren't shown on its parent series. (And not just Warner Bros., either; if any motion picture company had a theatrical short to their name, animated or [[Film/TheThreeStooges not]], they would be on the bandwagon). With the onset of the 1980s, the surviving players of the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] were about to get back in the game in a big way.

Originally, LimitedAnimation was primarily an [[DoingItForTheArt artistic choice]] for filmmakers like Creator/ChuckJones, Robert Cannon, and John Hubley who were tired of {{Disneyfication}}. With the closures of UPA and Creator/{{MGM}}'s animation studios, it became primarily about saving [[ExploitedTrope time and money]].[[note]] Much like the debate over [[UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash Flash Animation quality today]].[[/note]] Creator/HannaBarbera – founded by the eponymous duo in response to MGM shuttering its animation unit and firing them – was very prominent during this time, thanks to how cheaply produced and rushed their television cartoons were. Given how these series [[SpeechCentricWork used dialogue over visuals]] to move the stories forward, they became what Jones would describe with justified derision as "illustrated radio". Still, they created not only successful kids fare in the 60s like ''WesternAnimation/YogiBear'', but prime time series like ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons'' and the influential AdventureSeries ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'', which created a whole new television animation genre. Unfortunately, the studio soon fell into a crippling creative rut with the SaturdayMorningCartoon timeslot, which led to them endlessly copying the concepts of their successful shows like ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' and long running shows like ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends''.

WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes was still producing some decent and entertaining shorts late in TheFifties, as some of its most memorable shorts were from this decade. Animation quality was down, but the writing, along with the direction of Creator/ChuckJones, managed to produce some timeless classics in spite of that. However, due to budget problems, Creator/WarnerBros forcibly shut down its animation studio for good in 1963 (though a brief revival was unsuccessfully attempted in the late 1960s). The characters would get a revival in the form of the smash hit anthology repackaging series ''[[WesternAnimation/TheBugsBunnyRoadRunnerShow The Bugs Bunny Show]]'', which [[VindicatedByCable reaired]] many of their old theatrical cartoons and, being exposed to younger audiences, ultimately helped to immortalize the characters as pop culture icons. In syndication, ''The Porky Pig Show'' did the same for many other shorts that weren't shown on its parent series. (And not just Warner Bros., either; if any motion picture company had a theatrical short to their name, animated or [[Film/TheThreeStooges not]], they would be on the bandwagon). The surviving players of the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden Age]] were about to get back in the game in a big way.

Animator Creator/RalphBakshi, who got his start in this era working in the twilight years of Creator/{{Terrytoons}} working on the ''Sad Cat'' shorts and the ''Mighty Heroes'' TV show, rose to prominence during this era thanks to his breakout hit ''WesternAnimation/FritzTheCat''. This film, along with ''Literature/WatershipDown'', challenged the idea that cartoons were solely [[AnimationAgeGhetto "kids' stuff"]], an idea that was becoming increasingly popular at the time due to the diminishing quality of the cartoons of that time period, as well as people becoming overly familiar with the Disney style of family oriented entertainment coming out.