Early Forms:
* Precursors: Early cave paintings and hieroglyphics could be considered precursors to cartoons, as they used simple imagery to tell stories.
* Animated Cartoons: The earliest recorded animated film is "Fantasmagorie" by Émile Cohl in 1908. It featured stick-figure characters with exaggerated movements.
Later Developments:
* Walt Disney: While not the originator, Walt Disney played a crucial role in popularizing cartoons with iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and the development of Technicolor animation.
* Other Pioneers: Other early cartoonists like Winsor McCay (creator of "Little Nemo") and Max Fleischer (creator of Betty Boop) contributed significantly to the evolution of animation.
The Takeaway: The history of cartoons is a complex and evolving one. It's more accurate to acknowledge various pioneers who contributed to the development of this art form, rather than attributing it to a single creator.