Today marks the 20th anniversary of my all-time favorite movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

But to me, it was more than a movie. It was an inspiration.

Since I was young, probably as far back as I can possibly remember, I have loved animation. Roger Rabbit came out on June 24th, 1988, and it inspired me to draw at a very early age. Because of this film, I aspired to be an animator, and has made me become the animation(and film) aficionado I am today. I owe virtually every hobby and interest I enjoy to this one single event - when I first saw this movie in theaters, 20 years ago today.

But Roger Rabbit was more than an enjoyable film and a homage to classic animation. It started the animation boom of the early 90's and paved the way for everything you see today. It reinvigorated interest in animation at a time when it seemed like commercial animation was little more than a dying artform.

'Roger Rabbit' was the film that brought together the 'new generation' of Disney animators - which ultimately led to the creation of all of the classic Disney films of the early 90s. The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King...and all of the subsequent films... all owe their very existences to this film.

Roger Rabbit also started a trend in animation for adults. Cartoons, after the 1950's - or more accurately, since the popularization of television, have always been thought of as for children. When Roger Rabbit came out, it popularized the idea that animation could also be for adults. Sure, there were many efforts at creating 'adult' animation before including 'Fritz the Cat' and 'Heavy Metal' among others. But it was 'Roger' that popularized the trend. Imagine a world without The Simpsons. Or Beavis and Butthead, or Ren & Stimpy, or Family Guy, or South Park.

Another thing Roger Rabbit did, was it started the 'anime' boom in the United States. Since 'animation' started becoming popular in the late 80's and early 90's, many companies started to bring over obscure Japanese animation from overseas. Such companies as Streamline Pictures and U.S. Manga Corps saw money to be made in these mature-themed cartoons, and brought over many OAVs and movies Such as Akira, Vampire Hunter D, and Dominion Tank Police. Anime started out with a small group of adult fans. Today, it has reached mainstream popularity among adults as well as teenagers and even children. Without 'Roger', anime may not have achieved such popularity in the West.

Who knows where computer animation might be without it.

It would take a much better writer than me to put this all into perspective. 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit''s influence is tremendous. The film acted as a catalyst for new animation. But it also acts as sort of a mecca or Woodstock for classic animation.

The 'animation boom' is long over, and the industry is currently in a rut. TV Animation has become redundant and lacking in any sophistication or originality. Disney hasn't had a classic film since, arguably, 'The Lion King' some 14 years ago. And hand-drawn animated movies have become harder to come by than Marven Acme's will. Pixar is the only shining light in these dark times.

Animation is currently looking for it's next big catalyst. But that day will one day come, eventually. All things go in fazes.

I think I'll watch the movie tonight. I've seen the movie over 100 times, easily. Even though I have every line and every scene memorized, I can still find new things to think about or appreciate with each subsequent viewing.

Thanks for the good times, Roger! Happy 20th.