Thaumotrope

Making "Camera-less" animation is a simple process and the most immediate way to begin to develop your own animation skills and style. The simplest device is the "thaumotrope," which is a very basic instrument that creates the illusion of movement.

Background Research

  • In 1828, Frenchman, Peter Roget, used his thaumatrope invention to demonstrate the fundamental principle of the human eye that makes animation and modern film possible... the persistance of vision.
  • The thaumatrope became very popular and is considered to be a favourite toy of the Victorian era. Check out this article from 1894.
  • A thaumatrope is simply a disc or card with a string or peg attached to both sides. An image is drawn on each side of the disc, and is selected in such a way that when the strings are twirled quickly between the fingers the two pictures appear to combine or become superimposed into a single image.
  • What is happening here? Persistence of vision is the eye's ability to retain an image  for roughly 1/20 of a second after the object is gone. In this  case, the eye continues to see the two images on either side of the thaumatrope shortly after each has disappeared.  Consequently, as it spins, the series of quick flashes is interpreted as one continuous image. Roget further describes how objects will appear to be moving if there is a brief interruption between the display of each image.

    For a more detailed discussion check out the these notes from Ms. McKay on Persistence of Vision and the Phi Phenomenon.

    Be sure to watch this video to see how persistence of vision makes motion pictures possible.
    • How You See It (1936)
      Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
      Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
    • Or view it here

 

For example: One side of the disc showed a bird, the other an empty cage. When the disc was twirled rapidly, the bird appeared to be inside the cage.

Assignment

Your task will to be create at least one original thaumatrope. Take this assignment seriously. This exercise serves as a building block for the more complex animations we'll be tackling later in the course and that require a little more technology.

Steps to creating your own thaumotrope:

  1. From a piece of stiff cards stock, cut a disk or circle.
     
  2. Punch two holes opposite one another near the edge of the circle.
     
  3. On one side of the disk, draw a simple shape such as a goldfish.
     
  4. On the other side of the disk, draw a related image, such as a fishbowl. Be sure that this second image is upside down in relation to the image on the other side.
     
  5. Thread short length of wool or string into each hole.
     
  6. Holding the string tight in each hand, twirl the disk rapidly back and forth between your fingers and thumbs.

    Alternatively, to spin the disc, one string is held in a hand, and the disc is rotated to wind the string. Then, both strings are held, and the disc is allowed to rotate. Gently stretching the strings will ensure that they continue to unwind  and rewind. This motion causes the disc to rotate, first  in one direction and then in the opposite. The faster the disc rotates, the greater the clarity of the illusion.
     
  7. In you did the optical illusion of the goldfish, you will discover that the goldfish will magically appear in the bowl when your thaumotrope is spinning.

Possible Examples:

  • Tree with bare branches on  one side, and on the other, its' leaves
  • Nest on one side, egg cracking open on the other
     

Evaluation:

  • Uniqueness and originality of the images you chose
  • The effort and creativity that went into the artwork
  • The effectiveness with which your thaumotrope achieves the intended results of combining the two images.