Entertainment comes to us in many forms: movies, television shows, books, comics and video games, just to name a few. The entertainment industry has changed from what it once was and it continues to evolve, often guided by individual creators. Names like Walt Disney and George Lucas certainly come to mind. Also, with the upcoming Dark Crystal television series, we are also reminded of the contributions of Jim Henson. Let's look back at the legacies of some truly impressive innovators in the world of entertainment!
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Lasting Legacies Transcript
There are hundreds of people involved in making comic books, movies and television series. However, many entertainment franchises are shaped by a single individual's vision. Where would cartoons be without Walt Disney? Would puppeteering be the same without Jim Henson? Join us as we look at a handful of artists who made lasting contributions in their respective fields.
Jim Henson (1936-1990)
- Jim's puppets were sewn with a technique called the "Henson Stitch".
- Henson collaborated with designer Don Sahlin to create the "magic triangle". They would position the puppets' eyes and mouth in a way that made the puppets seem like they were looking at a particular spot.
- The Muppet Show is one of the most successful tv series of all time. It was shown in 106 different countries, and it reached over 235 million viewers.
- Henson revolutionized the world of puppeteering by using soft materials like fabric and foam to create more expressive characters.
Walt Disney (1901-1966)
- Disney was the first to create full cartoons with sound.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first entirely feature-length animated film.
- Disney's Toy Story was the first completely computer-generated feature film.
- Disney has won more Academy Awards and nominations than anyone else.
Stan Lee (1922-2018)
- He became the first auteur in the comic book industry.
- The introduction of "Stan's Soapbox" was unheard of in comics. He would discuss issues like civil rights, women's rights and other world issues.
- Stan Lee's How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way was first published in 1978 and has yet to go out of print.
George Lucas (1944-Present)
- Lucas's largely experimental films led to many innovations for the film industry. One such invention was the "dykstraflex", a computer-controlled motion camera.
- Star Wars was the first film to use 3D wireframe animation in a motion picture. (A good example of this is when the rebel pilots were watching a training video on how to take down the death star.)
- Lucasfilm also introduced go-motion, a method of stop-motion animation made to limit jerky movements.
J.K. Rowling (1965-Present)
- Rowling was the first billionaire author in the world.
- Rowling popularized young adult fiction and created a movie boom of adaptations of these books.
- The Harry Potter series was a driving force behind the New York Times making a children's book best seller list.
Do you have a favorite franchise? Were you impressed by any of these innovators' accomplishments? Do you have any other interesting facts about these entertainers? Let us know in the comments below. Who knows—you might get yourself out of a bind in your next trivia game! These creators have made so many memorable characters. You might want to check out our tv and movie character costumes if you just found your costume inspiration!
Infographic designed by Abby Bartels
