Zeotrope - An Early Animation Device

Question 1 : What is Animation?

         Animation is the process of displaying still images in a rapid sequence to create the illusion of movement. 

 

Question 2 : What is a movie?

            A movie is pictures in motion.

Question 3 : How does the picture you see on cinema screen move?

           The fact is that the pictures only appear to move. A movie film is a long strip of still pictures or frames that are projected on to a screen one after the other at a rate of 24 pictures a second. As each picture disappears from the screen, it persists in your eyes for a little longer and you continue to see it until the next picture appears. These pictures appears to merge together forming the illusion of motion in our brain. Since each picture is slightly different from the previous one, the image on the screen appears to move.

Zeotrope Experiment

         A Zeotrope is one of several animation devices that produce the illusion of motion by displaying a sequence by drawings and photographs showing progressive phases of motion. It consists of a cylinder with slits cut vertically. On the inner surface of the cylinder is a band with images each slightly different from each other. As the cylinder spins, the user looks through the slits at the pictures. This scanning of slits allows the user to see the pictures in motion.

Things required

Craft paper, packaging box, scissors, glue, scale, pencil and color pencils.

Step 1 : Take a big craft paper and cut a rectangle of length 65cm and breadth 15cm. The length is divided into 16 parts each of 4cm and 1cm for flap. The breadth measurements are : 1cm to 5cm slit length, 6cm to 12 cm images, 14cm to 15cm cuts/ flaps.

 

Step 2 : After making the measurements, here are some things to check.

1. There should be 16 frames (Zeotrope can be made with 12 frames but not less than that) 
2. There should be same number of slits as the number of frames. Each slit should be 4cm length and 3mm width.Cut out the slits with the help of a pen-knife.
3. In the picture section, draw sequential pictures of a bouncing ball, bending tree, rotating hour hand of a clock or anything. 

Step 3: Glue the side flap and stick it behind the first frame thus making a cylinder shape with the pictures on the inner surface of the cylinder.

Step 4 : Trace the cylinder circumference on to the hard cardboard/packaging box and cut out a circle with a small hole punctured in the center.

Step 5 : Cut the bottom edge of the cylinder with 8 or 16 cuts of 1cm each. Fold the flaps inwards and stick them one by one on to the hard cardboard base such that the hollow cylinder sits firmly on to the circular base. 

Step 6 : Insert a rod through the hole and fix two nuts on the inner and outer side of the Zeotrope so that it should be able to rotate freely but not fall off the rod. Rotate the zeotrope briskly and view a picture through the slit. The picture appears to move.

You can also place the Zeotrope onto a disc that rotates with the help of a toy car motor and automate the movie experience. Adjust the speed of the Zeotrope so that the motion of the picture is smooth and continuous.

Zeotrope Video