Camera-less Animation

Animation:
the technique of photographing successive drawings or positions of puppets or models to create an illusion of movement when the film is shown as a sequence.

Illusion is the key word.

This week we explored the world of animation without using a camera.
There are five different types of 'camera-less' animation that we explored.

The one which I decided to look at was the thaumatrope.
 A thaumatrope is a disc with strings attached either side and a picture on each face. The idea is when the strings are pulled the disc will move fast enough to blend the two pictures on either side.

It was made by John Ayrton Paris in 1825 and the name actually means 'turning marvel' or 'wonder turner'. 

The thaumatrope was the first of many optical toys. 

This is the one we decided to do.

If the disc is spun fast enough it should make the 'illusion' that jack is holding his pumpkin.

It was really quite simple to make. 

Here is a short clip showing how easy it is to make:

Did it work? 
Not very well! Thicker card will be used next time and the slits cut were not long enough preventing the disc from spinning fast enough.