The History of Typography - Animated Short

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.พ. 2025

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  • @AnujaAriyaratne
    @AnujaAriyaratne 9 ปีที่แล้ว +246

    Your stop motion skills have left me speechless.

  • @departmentchair6820
    @departmentchair6820 5 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    I teach typography and this video is straight to the point and very useful. I spend two weeks talking about History of Type and then I show your 5 minute video to my students and they say "Oh, I get it now." Thanks.

  • @kimeiga
    @kimeiga 9 ปีที่แล้ว +218

    The animation is so smooth for a stop motion film! It's probably due to the smooth sound effects that match the video nicely, giving the illusion of smoothness. What an excellent piece!

  • @tayfan2
    @tayfan2 10 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    "I like big fonts, of that I cannot lie. When see a skinny font it tends to hurt my eye" by Sir Write A Lot

  • @LowestofheDead
    @LowestofheDead 11 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The first printing press was made in 1041 by Bi Sheng.
    He weeps a single tear whenever you think that all typography is western-European.

  • @karenjlee
    @karenjlee 7 ปีที่แล้ว +142

    This was so amazing! My university class is using this as a reference to one of our lessons :) thanks so much for such a fun and informative piece!

    • @aashita224
      @aashita224 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      even our college uses it for in-class teaching and references

    • @nataliabennett8157
      @nataliabennett8157 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@aashita224 Ben should be getting paid for it, that's a bit frustrating to hand off the information to a screen whilst the teacher is actively just letting someone else inform the class. hm. My college teachers did this and i'd complain. The video itself is great, but give it as background research for personal time outside of class to look up - but teach the class don't chuck a video on and sit down.

    • @aashita224
      @aashita224 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@nataliabennett8157 That's true, they should teach rather than someone else doing it for them. But also I would say we get a break from the normal teaching. But maybe they can use video examples rather than just someone doing to explaining. We can't really complain anywhere so stuck with what we get. lol

    • @N3KLAZ
      @N3KLAZ 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      same

    • @leol6664
      @leol6664 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@aashita224 he does also get payed by youtube

  • @johannageisel5390
    @johannageisel5390 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    You may have put lots of work into that, but it was 100% worth it.
    This video will still be played in decades to come to give people a good overview about the classic typefaces.
    Thank you!

    • @benbf
      @benbf  6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks so much, Johanna. Much appreciated!

    • @HujiDealer-ik5rd
      @HujiDealer-ik5rd หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@benbf Dude! Its one of mankinds best known explanatory journey to typefaces. My whole class watched it on our introduction! I aspire to be like you

  • @OfficialDevTips
    @OfficialDevTips 11 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    This is AWESOME, thanks for making this, I'm going to share the crap out of it!

  • @CalligraphyMasters
    @CalligraphyMasters 8 ปีที่แล้ว +72

    Wow!! That's stunning!! Great video & great story!!! and damn 140 hours!!! Amazing!! How much would you charge for a project like this?

  • @bethmickley1527
    @bethmickley1527 10 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    And finally, Beth Mickley created Emotifont, where emotions are incorporated into the fonts giving a clear visual of the intent behind the message! It is revolutionizing the texting industry!

  • @meilirima9597
    @meilirima9597 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Ah, the amount of effort poured into it truly shows how lovely the final product is. Simple, effective and very attention keeping. Awesome job!

  • @ersaldyr
    @ersaldyr 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Years after years, this is still my favourite video on youtube

  • @toniconn9688
    @toniconn9688 9 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I am in awe of detail you kept in cutting out all those letters! What a great video! Thank you for all your hard work!

  • @iloveyoursweater637
    @iloveyoursweater637 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    i'm watching this in 2021 for online classes and it feels weird looking at these old comments.

    • @SEArANGER1262
      @SEArANGER1262 หลายเดือนก่อน

      and now i see your comment in 24' and yours feel old. almost 25' tho

  • @timtrevlig
    @timtrevlig 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    One of the most beautiful videos I've ever seen! Thank you so much.

  • @larilarit0
    @larilarit0 11 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I love typography, I love stop motion and I love things that are properly explained so,
    *I LOVE THIS* (:

  • @AbhimanyuShekhar
    @AbhimanyuShekhar 9 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    Very useful, finally I can pass my exam today.

  • @TsterPrsonm
    @TsterPrsonm 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Did anyone else watch this because of how satisfying it looks instead of wanting to learn the history of typography?

    • @titansoftype
      @titansoftype 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yes! So well done. I am also very interested in type design history :)

  • @gabrielink91
    @gabrielink91 11 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    The thumbs-downs are from Comic Sans users...

  • @mitirikpwesings
    @mitirikpwesings 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have a typography exam in 3 hours or so and this has been most entertaining as well as informative. Thank you!❤

    • @titansoftype
      @titansoftype 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      If you're still into typography, I have a podcast on the lives, careers, and minds of history's most influential type designers :) Would love to have you check it out!

  • @deborahharper3345
    @deborahharper3345 9 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This stop frame actually captures my students attention. And...they get it! Great work. Typography comes to life!

  • @k.a.i.gaming2218
    @k.a.i.gaming2218 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thankyou very much for this splendid film. I came here, my curiosity awakened, after marveling at all the typefaces on a poster for Black Metal festival here in Sweden.

  • @AngiePhillipsgraphicdesigner
    @AngiePhillipsgraphicdesigner 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Excellent video on typography - best Ive seen fun and interesting to watch - thanks

  • @Danish_07
    @Danish_07 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I liked this very much
    He has put a lot of effort in making this video .

  • @ecpjll
    @ecpjll 11 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    this was amazing and so damn helpful for my quiz later today :) Thank you! I appreciate the obvious hard work that went into this video. And I will be recommending it to fellow students and my instructors.

  • @stormzilla66
    @stormzilla66 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Extremely well done. I'm a teacher and have been looking for a video to help explain the importance of font. This video has somehow eluded me until now. I'm so glad to have found it. Great work!

  • @Clementine_Cat
    @Clementine_Cat 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wow! That video must have taken YEARS to make! Its amazing!

  • @The_NonConforming
    @The_NonConforming ปีที่แล้ว

    Amazing video. On a different note, i know this video is posted long before Joe Goldberg, but the resemblance of the voice and narration is mindblowing

  • @criticalcrash
    @criticalcrash 9 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    this was amazing, the amount of effort that went into this!

  • @ShreyaSingh-ze8xr
    @ShreyaSingh-ze8xr ปีที่แล้ว

    What a video! This video must have taken so many hours . Great work!

  • @pennyann9406
    @pennyann9406 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Absolutely amazing

  • @Rakhilya
    @Rakhilya 11 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    best video about fonts so far!! Thank you!

  • @JamesR624
    @JamesR624 10 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Hmm. Roman seems to be to typography what skeuomorphism is to user interface.
    In the same way, Futura seems to be to typography what "Metro", "Flat", and "Material Design" is to user interface.

    • @moondust2365
      @moondust2365 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Futura and Helvetica are (Early) Flat.
      Century Gothic is (Late) Flat.
      Roboto is Metro.
      Product Sans is Material.

  • @suzadias
    @suzadias 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you very much, Ben. It is a wonderful start to teaching typography to students.

  • @TheName7293
    @TheName7293 8 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    that was beautiful

  • @nanettevab2020
    @nanettevab2020 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you - so wonderful! Leaves me with a smile on my face...

  • @maxwoods6547
    @maxwoods6547 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thanks for the video! Really educational and entertaining.

  • @annabelle83
    @annabelle83 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Beautiful. Well done. This video made the Internet better.

  • @husnainanwaar1992
    @husnainanwaar1992 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    days of reading books condensed in to 5.0 minutes

  • @CHANNELMOVED2024
    @CHANNELMOVED2024 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This animation is magic!!!

  • @gracemhairi9855
    @gracemhairi9855 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thanks! This really helped with my graphics homework :)

  • @GingerBreadSed
    @GingerBreadSed 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for breaking all that terminology down! Helpful *and* beautiful

  • @theTylerMorale
    @theTylerMorale 10 ปีที่แล้ว +167

    Dang dude that's a lot of hours! What editing software did you use to put it all together?

    • @benbf
      @benbf  10 ปีที่แล้ว +67

      I used Final Cut Pro X, and yep, it sure was a lot of hours!

    • @theTylerMorale
      @theTylerMorale 10 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Nice! I need to learn that program.
      Well your video looks great!

    • @collsys3
      @collsys3 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ben Barrett-Forrest It's an stop motion video.

    • @SambitBiswas
      @SambitBiswas 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Ben Barrett-Forrest TOTALLY WOTH IT. and thank you!

    • @jamsng
      @jamsng 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Ben Barrett-Forrest OMG that is amazing!!!

  • @caroltypesetinek
    @caroltypesetinek 11 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very nice! I was a typesetter at the beginning of my career. Now I run into folks who can't imagine what that is! Thanks for passing on the history, and the reasons that each style gets designed and used. So often I see graphic design with so many fonts it looks like a ransom note. It's good to remember "type is meant to be read", and that good design is invisible, because it doesn't get in the way of the message. Really fun presentation!

  • @Chiisanii
    @Chiisanii 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    the exacto work in this tho.

  • @sweethater8558
    @sweethater8558 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is one of the greatest videos I've ever seen.

  • @HatchetHaro
    @HatchetHaro 10 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    My personal favourite is Agency FB. No reason. I just like it. That's it.

    • @BurningTaco7101
      @BurningTaco7101 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I also enjoy Agency, I feel its letters being closer really adds to it. My favorite is a font called "Dark Ages" that I found while surfing dafont.com

    • @thefuturepresident1877
      @thefuturepresident1877 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      HatchetHaro ok bye now

    • @johannageisel5390
      @johannageisel5390 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      My favourite is Andalus. It has this elegant, fantasy-ish appearance while still being very well legible.

  • @annadinnebier7013
    @annadinnebier7013 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Watched this on school. Amazing work. Absolutely epic

  • @johnkawakami8395
    @johnkawakami8395 10 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    This is great... but you left out the era of typewriters, and also typesetting metal type, and then photo type. Everyone knows metal type and linotype, but many don't know about photo typesetting and how it was a precursor to both laser printing and desktop publishing. The first computerized typesetting wasn't done on graphics terminals. It was done by computer-controlled photo-typesetters that would use fonts that were on rolls of film.

    • @anim9628
      @anim9628 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      this is great

    • @fabian5002
      @fabian5002 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      +John Kawakami Hi Jhon, I am so in love by the depth of your comment. Could you please tell me about books of the history of computerized typesetting in the first years? Thanks. This subject causes me SO MUCH curiosity!

    • @johnkawakami8395
      @johnkawakami8395 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAT_%28phototypesetter%29

    • @thefuturepresident1877
      @thefuturepresident1877 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      John Kawakami he worked hard in this he probs didn't have enough time

  • @loomonda18
    @loomonda18 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Amazing video!! Super informative, beautifully created and entertaining - fabulous job - thank you!!

  • @saltypretzels290
    @saltypretzels290 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    4:43 *Do you wanna have a bad time?

  • @TheMrMayo
    @TheMrMayo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Still awe inspiring after 8 years!

  • @judihopewell7148
    @judihopewell7148 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    As acalligrapher this is so helpful to explain the influence of one on the other calligraphy and type development. Thanks

  • @AlbertEinstein-um3vq
    @AlbertEinstein-um3vq 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow! Probably the best stop motion I never seen! You are a Boss and the subject you talk about is very interesting and very helpful to understand what typo means. Thank you!

  • @bhavnabatra1387
    @bhavnabatra1387 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    that was an amazingly edited, well-presented video, I really appreciate the hours and weeks spent in making this informative piece. It is completely worth it. Watching it once felt like disrespecting it. Watched it thrice already.

    • @amongdoomers9464
      @amongdoomers9464 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      But still this guy has only 4k subs .. 😒

  • @AynexMercado
    @AynexMercado 11 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I don't think they are astonished at the content but they are happy because it is a well made video that condenses a lot of important information in a short time. As a design teacher, I am showing this to my class ASAP.

  • @iristhehooman
    @iristhehooman 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That ending! I know what it takes to make these traditional stop motion videos... Looks simple but those transitions like 4:45... Seamless!

  • @ssbi18
    @ssbi18 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    This video was fun and informative with a spot of quirky humor - there is potential here for a series of videos on the all the other principles of design. I'd watch that!

  • @rosycspencer
    @rosycspencer 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ben, this is one of the best videos I have seen about the history of type. Great! job. Very entertaining.

  • @ashleyminano7218
    @ashleyminano7218 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    who knew font had a history! you learn something new everyday.

  • @konusdedi
    @konusdedi 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    So much effort and the result is just perfect. Thank you

  • @dhruvadeshpande9108
    @dhruvadeshpande9108 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is a brilliant film Sire. Hats off.

  • @restok1367
    @restok1367 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Everything from design, cutouts, to the voice over is perfect.
    Splendid!

  • @TinaGleisner
    @TinaGleisner 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    What a fun way to learn about fonts, and the history helps explain what is really quite confusing to those who are living & breathing graphic design

  • @nenetome
    @nenetome 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    THANKS! we were talking about this in my Illustrator class! This made me understand it better. Easy and effective.

  • @randomshit65
    @randomshit65 ปีที่แล้ว

    Being someone that has been doing graffiti for over 7 years I loved this fucking video. Super well put together man!!!!🙏🔥

  • @irakabuba
    @irakabuba 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is so cool! I loved the D rolling to its side lol. And the commas taking a dive like dolphins.

  • @riccardosenpai4843
    @riccardosenpai4843 ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome video, great for me to refresh the history. Beautiful stop motion also!

    • @titansoftype
      @titansoftype 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Agreed! If you're looking to dive even deeper, I have a podcast on the type design history.

  • @JackFChannel
    @JackFChannel 11 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This is one of the most beautiful TH-cam videos that I've ever seen. It all looks so effortless and it flows so well and I can't imagine the effort that went into the production of this video.

  • @kormitch
    @kormitch 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    just did a presentation about TYPO and I must say that your film is amazing
    it is simple and clear.

  • @moritamorales8487
    @moritamorales8487 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    It's a great video for students and a really nice way to talk about history of typography. I'm talking about guys who declare themselves as rightful professionals in the design matter that have never gone through this topic, based on what I read on the comments.

  • @normanlimbo7745
    @normanlimbo7745 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    wow this animation gives cool colors

  • @JohoFilms
    @JohoFilms 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    awesome job man. can tell so much work was involved

  • @thatkidfromjoeys
    @thatkidfromjoeys 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    This video made today feel a bit more worthwhile.

  • @robsepulveda8893
    @robsepulveda8893 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I can't believe you just explained what took me about 6 years to learn in about 5 minutes. Well done. Liked and shared!

  • @kopotty
    @kopotty 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    That is a lot of letters you got there. Much respect for cutting those out.

  • @iainnorth9909
    @iainnorth9909 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Brilliantly informative and beautifully executed 😊

  • @BrendaAvadian
    @BrendaAvadian 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cleverly executed and informative. Thanks Ben Barrett-Forrest for this.

  • @normanlimbo7745
    @normanlimbo7745 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    its so thin that i liked it so much

  • @andreacarpi2971
    @andreacarpi2971 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow I love they way you explain such an complex and huge concept in an easy way. Great

  • @bacul165
    @bacul165 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow that's a really impressive video, great content and great form. All the information i wanted, shown in a fun and clear way!

  • @doctordoolittle2800
    @doctordoolittle2800 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I also followed the link from Prof. Juan Cole's Informed Comment blog. Wonderful video. I learned a lot. Never knew the history. Thanks!

  • @DC9848
    @DC9848 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Liked, Shared and most of all, enjoyed this video a lot! Big thanks goes out to the makers.

  • @Aikon94
    @Aikon94 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This video is pure art.

  • @goldenecho76
    @goldenecho76 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love this. Oh, and side note...the "dud" actually may be easier for people with dyslexia to read. It's a dud now, but Comic Sans was really popular once, and if it is proven by more than anecdote to be dyslexia friendly, I'm hoping will be popular again (cause, making things easier to read is always a plus).

  • @duyen1444
    @duyen1444 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have to say "Wow", so inspirational. Thanks for your sharing!

  • @alessandro.felici
    @alessandro.felici 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I just begun to love typography working on a logo and now, after watching this I decided that this is my new passion!!

  • @ladysknightthefamiliar
    @ladysknightthefamiliar 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    this video is amazing I like the use of stop-motion animation using paper props, bravo great job, sir.

  • @sarahmarshall748
    @sarahmarshall748 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, thanks. Helps to understand fonts we use every day and to think about style consistency.

  • @aliciamoran4331
    @aliciamoran4331 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! This will not put my students to sleep, and is the perfect intro for my Typography class.

  • @cedricvolk
    @cedricvolk 11 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That was fabulous, Ben - really well done and informative. Kudos!

  • @MrDogfaced
    @MrDogfaced 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Beautiful stop-frame. Thanks for taking the time to do this sir!

  • @suntzu6122
    @suntzu6122 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Literally the exact vid I was hoping someone made. Thank you!

  • @jennipotts
    @jennipotts 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Creative/smooth transitions. Easy-to-digest narrative and definitions of typographic styles. Thank you!

  • @TheAtb85
    @TheAtb85 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    At 3:30 I got VERY scared and feared Comic Sans Serif would appear. :D
    Really liked this video. Informational and clear.

  • @dayekang5888
    @dayekang5888 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow. thanks for your hard work cutting down these letters, it really is inspiring!

  • @applycreate8543
    @applycreate8543 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    That was absolutely phenomenal! Awesome job!

  • @dttoob
    @dttoob 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    First class. Great animations and interesting content. I can't wait to share this with my class in September.

  • @georgemazzeo4180
    @georgemazzeo4180 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Terrific, Ben. My Graphic Design students will love it.

    • @titansoftype
      @titansoftype 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Loved it too! If needing some more quick ammunition on type design history, you should check out Titans of Type podcast :)

  • @LowestofheDead
    @LowestofheDead 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    That's true about fonts- I hadn't realized that. According to Wikipedia, Bi Sheng's clay tablets were hard-to-break and were soon replaced with metal. He used a "moving type" press but it was not mechanical like Gutenberg's.
    You're right that there are much fewer fonts in East Asian languages, because they have thousands of characters. However there's a lot of creativity and innovation in the history of typography in non-English languages which should get more attention, I think.