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MoMA's 'It's Alive!' Traces 100 Years of Animation from Felix the Cat to MTV

exhibition · 2026-07-21

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York is showcasing 'It's Alive! A Century of Animation from the Collection,' which examines the development of animation over the last hundred years. Curated by Ron Magliozzi, the exhibition is organized into two galleries: one in black-and-white featuring characters such as Gertie the Dinosaur, and another in color highlighting postwar experimental pieces. Notable works include Jerome Hill's Oscar-winning 'The Sand Castle' and Jane Aaron's alphabet animations. The famous MTV 'I Want My MTV!' advertisement campaign is also included. To promote attentive viewing, Magliozzi presents 20 silent films, supported by an audio app. 'It's Alive!' commenced on August 1 at MoMA, fostering connections across generations.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'It's Alive! A Century of Animation from the Collection' opens at MoMA in New York on August 1.
  • Curated by MoMA curator Ron Magliozzi.
  • Covers 100 years of animation, from prewar characters to the digital age.
  • Features 13 different animation forms including stop-motion, cel, rotoscope, pinscreen, and pixilation.
  • Includes works by Winsor McCay, Jerome Hill, Jane Aaron, and MTV's 'I Want My MTV!' campaign.
  • 20 films are screened without sound, with an app for audio.
  • Highlights include Jerome Hill's 'The Sand Castle' and Jane Aaron's Sesame Street animations.
  • The show ends with the advent of digital, with many films shown in 35mm.
  • Magliozzi has worked at MoMA for nearly 50 years.
  • The exhibition aims to be a cross-generational bonding experience.

Entities

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Locations

  • New York
  • United States

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