Regular zoom vs. MultiPlane Camera developed by Walt Disney in 1937

Walt Disney invented the multiplane camera to produce state-of-the-art animation. This was first used in the 1937 short film The Old Mill, the camera added depth and richness to animation scenes. A clip from the The Old Mill which saw the first application of this camera.

Back then, creativity was the driving force at Disney. Now, greed is.

The MultiPlane Camera was pure genius - layers of animated cells could be moved independently to create an illusion of depth, movement and realism that still amazes me today. No amount of virtual backgrounds can top that magic!

Disney was such an innovator. How the mighty have fallen 😂

This is when Disney Studios was truly cutting edge

Interesting facts: The MultiPlane Camera made its debut in the production of Disney’s first full-length animated feature film, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937). This film became a milestone in the history of animation, thanks in part to the innovative use of the MultiPlane Camera.

They really have great vision and techniques. That is the reason they are successful till date.

This is genius. This is such a subtle effect in the movie that you would hardly notice. And it took an elaborate machine to accomplish. That’s dedication to quality and staying true to the vision.

Great innovation for the time. Now my phone does way better.

I remember as a kid back in the early 70s when in Spain on holiday we would get cartoons projected onto the wall of the hotel. They were such fun, simplistic and everyone loved them. Sometimes simplicity is the most rewarding factor of our lives.