Génération spontanée (1909)

Génération spontanée (Comic Mutations in English) is an early stop-motion and 2D animation film released in 1909. This silent short film was directed by Émile Cohl. Émile Cohl (Emile Eugene Jean Louis Courtet, 1857-1938) was a French caricaturist of the largely-forgotten Incoherent Movement, cartoonist and animator. He is called ‘The Father of the Animated Cartoon’ and ‘The Oldest Parisian’.

The story in brief:

The storyline of the animated film is based on the old theory of "Spontaneous Generation" which said living things could generate from inanimate objects. An elderly doctor finds out the secret of spontaneous generation and creates a microscopic germ that grows into different people. These people transform into one another and other things in a mysterious way. For instance, flowers turn into a lady, an insect goes through multiple transformations to become a fierce doorkeeper. Another bug changes into a fish, then goes through a few more transitions and becomes a clam. Eventually, it becomes a fisherman. The doctor creates a stubborn collector, a lady with a broom and a brave police agent out of different elements in a similar fashion.

More info on Génération spontanée and Émile Cohl:

• Reviews and ratings of Génération spontanée – IMDb
• Biography of Émile Cohl – Wikipedia
• Director reviewed by Paghat the Ratgirl – Director: Emile Cohl

Animation Movies by Émile Cohl