20世纪初，动画片也开始出现。在爱迪生实验室工作的英国移民布雷克顿用粉笔素描雪茄和瓶子，拍摄了被称为“把戏电影”(trick film)的《奇幻的图画》(The Enchanted Drawing)。1906年，他又制作了《滑稽脸的幽默相》(The Humorous phases of Funny Faces)。这部影片被公认是世界上第一部动画影片。1907年，他将动画技巧运用到影片《鬼店》 (Haunted Hotel)上，轰动一时。但当时人们并没有意识到动画片的艺术价值，布雷克顿的注意力也在这之后投到了其他方面，没有在动画业上继续发展。

The famous Madison Square Garden forms the background of this excellent picture. A number of very fine automobiles pass in this strip, coming close to the camera and show clear and life size. A very strange coincidence in the closing of the picture is two old ladies who drive by in a dilapidates looking buggy drawn by a long eared mule. This is a remarkable picture showing up-to-date means of transportation in New York City, and the incident of the mule and the two old ladies adds a sufficient amount of humor.