The Structure of Gertie's Animation
The following is a comprehensive organization for the most commonly encountered version of Gertie. There are a number of small segments linked together and often repeated, so that individual drawings could be used dozens of times in the finished product. For the purposes of the Gertie Project, one-letter abbreviations (shown in BOLD) will be given to the brief segments in order to allow organization of parts. These segments seem to correlate to McCay's original organization of the parts.
The caption reads, "Come out Gertie, and make a pretty bow."
She looks out from inside the cave, jumps over a rock, walks to the foreground, and then eats a rock (A). She eats the top of a tree (A), and sways to and fro (A). The caption reads, "Aw, stop that!" and she continues to sway (A).
The caption reads, "Be a good girl and bow to the audience." Gertie bows several times (B). The caption reads, "Thanks! Now raise your right foot." Gertie sways (A) and then lifts her right foot (C). The caption then reads, "That's good! Now raise your left foot." Gertie sways (A), and looks at a sea serpent (D). The caption reads, "Never mind that sea serpent! Gertie, raise your left foot." Gertie turns away from the serpent (D), sways (A), and then snaps in the direction of McCay off camera (E). The caption reads, "You're a bad girl, shame on you!" Gertie then cries (F). The caption then reads, "Oh, don't cry. Here, catch this pumpkin." Gertie does so (G), and then chews (H). The caption asks, "Now will you raise your left foot?" Gertie nods (I) and immediately obliges (J). She then eats the trunk and roots of the tree (K). She again chews (L) and licks her lips (M).
Gertie stamps her feet (N) as she sees Jumbo the Mastodon entering (O). The caption reads, "Gertie, don't hurt Jumbo." Jumbo is seen facing Gertie and wagging her tail (P) [apparently having turned in the original film], and Jumbo then turns away and continues walking (O). Gertie then throws Jumbo into a lake (O) and begins to dance with Jumbo watching from the water (Q). The caption reads, "Gertie loves music. Play for her and she'll dance." Gertie then continues dancing (R) until Jumbo sprays her with water (S). Gertie then throws a rock and hits Jumbo, who disappears (S).
Gertie then lays down (S) and is seen breathing (S). She waves her tail (S) and scratches her face (S). She rises as a winged lizard flies overhead (S), and then she sways (T). The caption asks, "Did you see that four-winged lizard?" Gertie nods (U) and sways. The caption then asks, "Sure?" Gertie nods again (U) and sways (T). The caption reads, "Are you in the habit of seeing things?" Gertie shakes her head (V) and sways (T). The caption reads, "Are you fibbing to me?" Gertie again shakes her head (V) and sways (T).
The caption then asks, "Will you have a little drink?" Gertie nods (U) and sways (T). The caption reads, "There's a lake. Take a little drink if you want it." Gertie turns to the lake (W), looks over her right shoulder (W), scratches her nose (W), and proceeds to drain the whole lake (X) as McCay appears from the right side of the screen. The final caption reads, "Gertie will now show that she isn't afraid of me and take me for a ride." Gertie lifts McCay onto her back and walks off stage (X). In the vaudeville version of the film, Gertie's head reappears on the right side of the screen as she bows one last time to the audience (Y).
Additional Pages:
The History of Gertie
What is the Gertie Project?
Contributors to the Gertie Project
A Gertie Gallery
The Steps to Restoration
A Restored Clip from Gertie
Gertie Links
Contact Us