The first animated cartoon was produced in 1908 in France. In the 1930s-1960s, cartoons flourished and were commonly shown before movies. Walt Disney produced Steamboat Willie in 1928, introducing synchronized sound to cartoons. Disney later produced the first full-color cartoon, Flowers and Trees, in 1931. While animation is now often computer-generated, professionals consider hand-drawn films to be the true cartoons.

1. The History of Cartoons