Charles-Emile Reynaud was an early pioneer in animation who invented the praxinoscope in 1876. He is responsible for the first projected animated cartoon called "Pauvre Pierrot" in 1892, which consisted of 500 individually painted images. Reynaud also developed the "Theatre Optique" system to project "Pauvre Pierrot" at the Musee Grevin, revolutionizing the art of animation. France recognized his important contributions with an honorable mention at the Paris Exposition of 1878.