When was 3D animation invented?

3D animation has a history that spans several decades, and its development has been a gradual evolution rather than the invention at a single point in time. However, one of the earliest significant milestones in 3D computer animation can be traced back to the 1970s:

1. Early 1970s: The roots of 3D computer graphics and animation can be found in the research conducted at various institutions, including the University of Utah and the New York Institute of Technology. Researchers such as Edwin Catmull, Ivan Sutherland, and others were pioneers in computer graphics and contributed to the development of early 3D rendering and animation techniques.
2. 1972: Ed Catmull, a computer scientist and one of the co-founders of Pixar, created a short film called “A Computer Animated Hand.” This film featured a 3D-rendered hand and was one of the earliest examples of computer-generated 3D animation.
3. 1973: The University of Utah’s Computer Science Department developed the computer-generated short film “Westworld,” which featured 3D-rendered graphics. This film is notable for being one of the earliest instances of 3D animation in a feature film.
4. 1982: Pixar, founded by Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith, produced the first 3D computer-animated short film titled “The Adventures of André & Wally B.” This marked a significant step forward in 3D animation technology.
5. 1986: Pixar’s “Luxo Jr.,” directed by John Lasseter, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. It featured groundbreaking 3D animation and marked a turning point in the industry.
6. 1995: Pixar’s “Toy Story” became the first feature-length film entirely created using 3D computer animation. It was a massive success and set the stage for the widespread adoption of 3D animation in the film industry.

While the 1970s and 1980s saw significant advancements in 3D computer graphics and animation, it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that 3D animation became a dominant force in the entertainment industry. Since then, 3D animation has continued to evolve and has become a standard in filmmaking, video games, television, and various other forms of media.