Moving Shadows in the Dark

Abstract This chapter provides an introductory overview to the volume. It discusses ancient Greek and Roman engagements with the concept of animation and then surveys the history of the modern medium of animation with an eye toward representations of Greco Roman literature, history, and culture. After an assessment of the reasons why engagement with this material has been attractive to animators, including an analysis of the principle of metamorphosis that informs both animation and ancient mythology in particular, the chapter turns to case studies focused on the films of Ray Harryhausen and his special effects innovations, as well as the characterization of popular figures from Looney Tunes, such as Bugs Bunny and Wily E. Coyote, in Classical terms.