Nominee for the 1989 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism, this volume presents a fascinating, more or less chronological account of warring studios, greedy producers, technical and stylistic innovations, soundtrack production, and the evolution of cartoon characters in motion pictures. Beginning with early attempts at creating the illusion of motion, Solomon covers the output of the Hollywood studios and the independents, including recent efforts such as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." He also examines the effect of television, the hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee, and World War II on the development of animation.