The “modern animation” movement is characterized by specific features that have opened new artistic avenues within the field of animation. Identifying and analyzing these characteristics can lead to the development of innovative, locally grounded forms of animation across cinematic, television, and short film platforms. The central aim of this research is to examine these features through an exploration of their foundational roots in modernist thought. Core elements of modernism—such as a realist worldview, critical human-centered thinking, and an emphasis on individual agency—have profoundly influenced various art forms, including the visual and performing arts. Animation, which initially emerged under the influence of cinema and visual arts, evolved through engagement with these intellectual currents, eventually forming a significant artistic movement of its own. To understand the emergence of modernism and its artistic ramifications, this study first outlines key concepts underpinning modernist thought and then traces the development of a modern worldview in the arts. By examining the works of select artists and art movements, the research investigates the manifestation of modernist principles in cinema and subsequently in both cinematic and televised animation. The study concludes by extracting the defining features of “modern animation,” proposing them as a conceptual and artistic framework for the creation of new, culturally contextualized animations.



Keywords: modernism, modern art, cinema, animation, modern animation