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1st Module - Class 4

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13 views8 pages

1st Module - Class 4

Uploaded by

josephsebastian6812
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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History of Animation & Visual Effects

Module I - Class 4

Early Animation Devices - Part 2

Prepared by George John. H.O.D. Animation. SJCC


Zoetrope - 1834
The zoetrope was a spinning cylindrical version of the phenakistoscope that presented images in
sequential phases of motion. William George Horner, a British mathematician, devised the Zoetrope in
1834, originally calling it the Daedalum (Wheel of the Devil). Zoetrope means "Wheel of Life," with
"zoe" meaning "life" and "trope" meaning "wheel" in Greek. The zoetrope works on the principles of
persistence of vision.

Zoetrope is superior to the phenakistoscope as it does not require a mirror to see the animation.
Secondly, it allows several people to see the animation at the same time, whereas the phenakistoscope
only permitted one person at a time. The third difference is in the placement of the animation drawings.
In a zoetrope the animation drawings are illustrated on a paper strip, rather than being radially organised
like a phenakistoscope.

The main improvement of the Zoetrope over the Phenakistoscope was,

1. Zoetrope does not require the use of a mirror.


2. Zoetrope can be used by more than one person at the same time.
3. Instead of displaying the drawings radially like in a Phenakistoscope, the animation is drawn on a
paper strip.
Open-topped drum

How does it Work? Paper strip

The Zoetrope is a drum shaped device mounted on a spindle base on


which it rotates. In the zoetrope the paper strip with the animation
drawings are placed inside the open-topped drum. The drum is also
provided with multiple vertical viewing slits facing each picture which Vertical viewing slit
provided a mechanism for the eye to keep the spinning pictures from
blurring while in motion. The number of slits equals to the number of
drawings on the paper strip.

To watch the animation you should rotate the drum and look through
the passing slits. You will see each picture on the strip move as the
picture is suddenly replaced by the next in the sequence. The faster the
drum is rotated, the smoother the animation appears.

Spindle base
Video - How to Construct a Zoetrope?

Click to play. Internet connection is required


Praxinoscope - 1877
In 1877, the praxinoscope succeeded the zoetrope, replacing the latter’s narrow vertical slits with an inner circle of angled mirrors instead. These
angled mirrors helped provide a clearer and more vivid animation than peering at the moving illustrations through slits. The praxinoscope, like
the zoetrope, was an animation device that worked on the principles of persistence of vision. It was invented in France by Charles-Émile
Reynaud. The word "praxinoscope" translates roughly as "Action Viewer."

Inner circle of mirrors

Paper strip

Open-topped drum

Charles-Emile Reynaud
How does it Work?
Like the zoetrope, the praxinoscope uses a paper strip of
animation drawings that is placed on the inner surface
of a rotating, open-topped drum. The praxinoscope
improved on the zoetrope by replacing the vertical
viewing slits with an inner circle of mirrors, placed so
that the reflections of the pictures appeared more or less
stationary as the wheel turned. The number of mirrors is
equal to the number of pictures. As a result, someone
looking in the mirrors would see a rapid series of
pictures, creating the illusion of motion with a brighter
and less distorted picture than the zoetrope.
Théâtre Optique - 1889

In 1889, Charles-Émile Reynaud developed the Théâtre Optique,


an improved version of the praxinoscope capable of projecting
images on a screen from a longer roll of pictures. This allowed him
to show hand-drawn animated cartoons to larger audiences, but it
was soon eclipsed in popularity by the photographic film
projectors of the Lumière brothers.

International Animation Day (IAD) was proclaimed in 2002 by


the International Animated Film Association, France as the main
global event to celebrate the art of animation. This day, October
28th, commemorates the first public performance of Charles-Émile
Reynaud's Théâtre Optique at the Grevin Museum in Paris in 1892.

The first public performance in 1892. The image was back projected onto the screen.
Questions
Part A
1. Write a short note on Théâtre Optique.

Part B
2. What is the "Wheel of Life"?
3. What is a Praxinoscope?
4. What are the improvements of the Praxinoscope over the Zoetrope? Explain with neat diagram.

Part C
5. Write an essay on any five animation devices.

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