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I'm genuinely shocked that this animation technique from the 30s used by the Fleischer brothers never caught on. Hand drawn animation against a moving miniature backdrop creates such a cool 3D effect.
POPEYE THE SAILOR MEETS SINDBAD THE SAILOR (1936) dir. Dave Fleischer
POPEYE THE SAILOR MEETS SINDBAD THE SAILOR (1936) dir. Dave Fleischer
I’m seeing a lot of people mentioning Disney’s Multiplane Camera technique, which while very similar, is quite different from the Fleischer’s Rotograph (as seen in the video).
Disney’s Multiplane Camera uses layers of hand drawn images on glass plates moving at various speeds, at various distances to create realistic depth when moving across a landscape.
The Fleischer’s solution to this problem was to incorporate miniatures on rotating tables, creating even further depth in movement and lighting. This is known as the Stereoptical process, or a Rotograph. 
Here's another example of Fleischer's process in a Betty Boop short. The background set being an actually photographed minature is what gives the film a 3D feel.
Of course it also WAY more expensive, which is why it wasn't really used past the 1930s.
Of course it also WAY more expensive, which is why it wasn't really used past the 1930s.
More examples of this process in use can be found in the video from this tweet. The description also provides a lot more insight into the process itself.
This obviously isn’t to say that this method of animation problem solving is superior to Disney’s method, just different. They are both beautiful and far better than the alternative static shot with a moving camera.
