Every October 28th, the world gears up to celebrate one of the most imaginative art forms to ever hit the big screen: animation! It’s International Animation Day (IAD), a time to honor the animators, studios, and films that bring our wildest dreams—and sometimes the most bizarre of scenarios—to life.
But why this particular day? We owe it all to a Frenchman named Emile Reynaud, who, back in 1892, hosted the first public screening of animated images. His Théâtre Optique might not have the Pixar polish we know today, but it kicked off what would eventually become an explosion of creativity that spans from Mickey Mouse’s first whistle to the breathtaking beauty of Spirited Away.
Now, before anyone says, “But isn’t animation just for kids?”—let’s set the record straight. Animation has done more than entertain little ones on Saturday mornings. It’s inspired filmmakers, challenged cultural norms, and made complex storytelling accessible to everyone. Think about it—without animation, we wouldn’t have iconic scenes like Simba being hoisted above Pride Rock, or WALL-E making us care about a robot who says fewer words than your average text message.
Animation allows creators to build entire universes, bend the rules of physics, and give life to characters you’d never expect—like a talking sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. It’s proof that with a bit of imagination, anything is possible!
Some Fun Animation Facts to Wow Your Friends
International Animation Day is the perfect opportunity to share some of the most mind-bending animation facts with friends, family, or just to post online. Here are a few of our favorites that are certain to entertain:
- The first full-length animated film ever made is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which Disney released in 1937. It took nearly four years to complete and required over 750 artists to create its 250,000 drawings.
- The first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars? That honor goes to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
- The most expensive animated movie ever made? Believe it or not, it’s Tangled, which cost a cool $260 million to create. Those flowing locks of Rapunzel didn’t come cheap!
Ways to Celebrate International Animation Day
International Animation Day isn’t just about rewatching old Disney classics (although there’s no shame in that!). All over the globe, festivals, workshops, and screenings pop up to celebrate the incredible diversity of animated works. In some places, people gather to watch underground shorts that push the boundaries of the medium, while others tune into retrospectives honoring legends like Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli magic.
Looking to celebrate yourself? Here are some ideas:
- Host a movie marathon of your favorite animated films. Mix it up with a blend of nostalgic classics (The Lion King, anyone?) and modern masterpieces (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse deserves a rewatch!).
- Try your hand at making your own animation! These days, there are plenty of beginner-friendly apps that let you create short animated clips—no studio required.
- Check out local screenings or online festivals to discover up-and-coming animators and fresh perspectives.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendars 2024-2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
