An Animation Timeline

This is obviously, and consciously, incomplete.  It is meant to give examples of the kinds of animation being produced, the animated characters being created, and a bit about some of the technological innovations during these decades rather than give a complete, comprehensive overview.  Check out the links for a more complete chronology, at least as far as Western animation goes.

1908: Emil Cohl produces Fantasmagorie, considered to be the first animated film

1910's
innovations: cel animation, rotocoping
US characters: Koko the Clown
US shorts: Gertie the Trained Dinosaur

1920's
innovations: synchronized sound, 2 emulsion color
US characters: Mickey Mouse, Felix the Cat, Krazy Kat
US shorts: Steamboat Willie, The Skeleton Dance

1930's
innovations: 3-strip technicolor, first feature length animation
US characters: Betty Boop, Popeye, Flip the Frog, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck
US shorts: Flowers and Trees, Gold Diggers of '49, The Old Mill, Merrie Melodies
US films: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

1940's
innovations: xerography
US characters: Tom & Jerry, Sylvester & Tweety, Rocky & Bullwinkle
US shorts: Superman, Coal Black an' de Sebben Dwarfs, WWII propaganda cartoons
US films: Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Song of the South
US television: The Adventures of Pow Wow

1950's
innovations: first computer animation, first animated film filmed in 70 mm widescreen
US characters: Speedy Gonzales, Yogi Bear
US shorts: What's Opera, Doc?, The Simple Things, Knighty Knight Bugs
US films: Cinderella, Alice and Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp
Japanese films: Hakujaden
US television: Gumby, The Alvin Show, The Huckleberry Hound Show,

1960's
US characters: Scooby Doo
US films: 101 Dalmatians, The Yellow Submarine, Fritz the Cat, The Jungle Book
US television: Scooby Doo, Underdog, The Yogi Bear Show, The Flintstones, Top Cat
Japanese television: Tetsuwan Atom, Jungle Taitei, Mach Go Go Go, Tetsujin 28,

1970's
US films: Aristocats, Robin Hood, The Rescuers, Watership Down, The Hobbit
Japanese films: Panda Kopanda, Uchuu Senkan Yamato, Saraba Uchuu Senkan Yamato
US television: Josie and the Pussycats, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Superfriends
Japanese television: Gatchaman, Candy Candy, Doraemon, Lupan Sansei, Yamato

1980's
characters: The Simpsons
US films: The Last Unicorn, The Little Mermaid, Transformers: The Movie, Heavy Metal
Japanese films: Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä, Akira, Hotaru no Haka, Yamato to Eternity
US television: The Simpsons, He-Man, G. I. Joe, Transformers, Jem, Smurfs
Japanese television: Creamy Mami, Dragonball, Go Lion, Macross, Ranma 1/2

1990's
innovations: first feature length computer animation
US shorts: Geri's Game
British shorts: The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave,
US films: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Toy Story,  The Iron Giant, Anastasia
Japanese films: Mononoke Hime, Kokaku Kidoutai, Jin-Roh, Perfect Blue, X
US television: Animaniacs, Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill, South Park, Aeon Flux
Japanese television: Sailor Moon, Cowboy Bebop, Shinseiki Evangelion, Pokemon, Lain

2000's
innovations: flash animation
flash shorts: Happy Tree Friends, The Meatrix,
US films: Titan A.E., The Emperor's New Groove, Shrek, Lilo and Stitch, Finding Nemo, 
Japanese films: Mononoke Hime, Kokaku Kidoutai, Spirited Away, Tokyo Godfathers
US television: SpongeBob Squarepants, Family Guy, Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Japanese television: Fruits Basket, Hamtaro, Hellsing, Inu-Yasha, Naruto, X