1998 / Video / Independent web animation
Joe Cartoon Goes Online
Joe Shields built a home for sharp, strange cartoons before web video had a default platform.
The original is hosted off-site; this page provides context and a link to it.
What was this?
Short cartoons arrived with bold drawing, abrasive timing, and a proudly homemade presentation.
Why it spread
A standalone site gave people a compact URL to send when a cartoon felt too odd for television.
What happened
Short cartoons arrived with bold drawing, abrasive timing, and a proudly homemade presentation.
Where it came from
Joseph C. Shields began Joe Cartoon as an independent web-animation site in 1998; the official site still hosts the work.
Why it mattered
Joe Cartoon is a useful reminder that online animation had creator-run distribution long before a feed could supply it.
How it spread
A standalone site gave people a compact URL to send when a cartoon felt too odd for television.
Keep going
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