Zoetrope

Below are examples of zoetrope animations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3khFGSN3XA&feature=youtu.be 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y126gBahxkE

Original titles:

-Melting POP © Alexandre DUBOSC

-Hawk zoetrope

Observations:

Assets used

-Unlike animation as we know it today zoetropes predate film animation and use a clever method of rotating multiple still images then impeding the viewers vision with an outer cylinder with slits, to create the illusion of movement. The examples I have picked out are very different in terms of assets and style but are fundamentally the same form of animation.  The first video is a 3D model of what looks to be a cake, in keeping with that theme all the animated details are either made of chocolate or are in some way food related, such as the popcorn and coffee. Even when animated the characters appear to be eating which further connects the aesthetical look to the subject of the animation. The second video is a lot less elaborate and is more traditional in terms of what a zoetrope is. The only assets used are the still images of a hawk, lighting and a rotating mechanism. The minimalistic black & white design matches the sombre movement of the hawk.

How it was shot

-The first video was shot quite dynamically, giving the viewer the opportunity to examine each feature of the model in detail. As the model didn’t have the same outer cylinder like traditional zoetropes, it is likely the animator made slight rotations and took photos with each movement thus making it a stop frame animation. Like the whiteboard animations before, it had consistent studio lighting and a still camera to make the animation look as smooth as possible. The second video was shot not as an animation, but someone viewing an animation. It gave a good look into how a zoetrope actually works, this is because the camera operator looks at it from an angle with and without the cylinder. Though this video was not a set up animation it does give a good perspective on how animation works.

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Aesthetics

-Effective for showing multiple movements at the same time

-As stated before the first video keeps the theme of food and relates the action of the animation with the overall aesthetic seamlessly. The bright colours also compliment the silly playful nature of the animation.

-The second is fittingly dark and quiet which matches the hawk and its movements well.  

Replicating zoetrope style

Equipment used

Choices made

-Like the first video I saw, I intended to create a 3D zoetrope animation. Unfortunately I was unable to make a fully functioning, rotating model because of time constraints, however I was able to effectively replicate how the animation style works using play dough. Rather than slowly moving the model like Claymation I crafted five separate models to individually take pictures of, this was done because it accurately mimics what a zoetrope does. Play dough was used because it is a relatively easy substance to mould.

-My animation was intended to focus more so on the process of replicating the zoetrope style rather than capturing a particular aesthetical look. Therefore the models crafted are quite simplistic in design. There was also a marker placed within the frame so I knew where to place the next sequential model, this is because otherwise the models might have awkwardly jumped around the frame rather than sit in place.

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Changes made to colour scheme and background

-As yellow play dough was all that was at my disposal, colour alteration wasn’t really an option. However my only intention was to capture a smooth animation therefore the colour of the play dough made little difference. For the background I used a white sheet of paper. This was to keep consistency and potentially capture the lighting better, though once again I was relying on the basic room lights.

Comparison

-There were a great many differences in the process of creating my animations in comparison to those I viewed before hand.

-I did not have the same equipment found in the first video such as a rotating model and appropriate lighting. Therefore my animations seem severally limited in comparison. The lack of good lighting makes the videos appear quite dark.

-My models didn’t take on a particular aesthetic however my second animation of the moving lips may well have been influenced by the first videos eating movements.

-I did not take dynamic shots as the first video had, once again this is because I did not have as many animated objects to feature though I could have shot the same objects from different angles.

-Sound was also incorporated into the first video which was synced and fit the actions of the animation. This wasn’t possible for mine as all my animations are put into a gif format.

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