Zoetrope



Zoetrope


what is a Zoetrope?

A Zoetrope is a 19th-century optical toy consisting of a cylinder with a series of pictures on the inner surface that, when viewed through slits with the cylinder rotating, give an impression of continuous motion. A Zoetrope is a open cylinder with slits on the side of the open cylinder. The frame by frame drawings are inside the cylinder, so when the Zoetrope spins it will be able create a mini animation.
In a Zoetrope there’s an animation reel, strobe effect, Zoetrope wall and a base.

How does it work?
When you place a strip of drawings inside the zoetrope's drum, spin it and look through the slots, you will see the images come to life. Of course, they are not really alive. This illusion of motion depends on two things; persistence of vision and the phi phenomenon.

Who invented it and when?
The early Zoetrope was originally made in China by a man named Ding Huan in 180 AD.
The modern Zoetrope was invented in 1834 by William George Horner whose a mathematician.
The zoetrope was invented in 1834 by William Horner, who originally called it a Daedalum ("wheel of the Devil"). It was based on Plateau's phenakistoscope, but was more convenient since it did not require a viewing mirror and allowed more than one person to use it at the same time. William Horner used Plateau's phenakistoscope as inspiration, however, he was the official inventor of the Zoetrope which featured differently in slight ways compared to the phenaskistoscope. 

Ways in which it was better than the Phenaskistoscope:

  • It allows you to use it without using a mirror
  • It allows it to be used by more than one person at a time 
  • More convenient to use













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