Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 4: Digital Era (1960s)
1965
Computer-Produced Movies by Kenneth C. Knowlton

The article in which Knowlton explains BEFLIX and his early computer animation techniques, which he developed at Bell Labs.
Knowlton writes in the article:
“An automatic, electronic microfilm recorder can plot points and draw lines many orders of magnitude faster than a human draftsman can. This machine and the electronic computer which controls it promise to facilitate the production of animated movies for a wide range educational and research purposes.”
Listen to Peter Bauman’s interview with A. Michael Noll (transcript), where he discusses Knowlton, BEFLIX and the early days at Bell Labs.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random, fact-checked September 2026.
Sources
People
Movements
computer animation
Filed under
- Ideas
- Computer Film
- Technologies
- BEFLIX, computer animation, computer art, microfilm recorder
- People
- Ken Knowlton
- Works
- Computer-Produced Movies
- Organisations
- Bell Labs
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Le Random editorials
Le Random podcast
- Timeline Ch 4—Digital Era Pt I (1960s) with Dr A Michael Noll — listen with transcript on Le Random (07 Sep 2023, 60 min). Linked in this moment’s text. Chapter 4’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 4—Digital Era Pt II (1960s) with Michael Spalter — listen with transcript on Le Random (21 Sep 2023, 77 min). Chapter 4’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify