What is Animation?

• Animation is the display of a sequence of images to create an illusion of movement.

The bouncing ball animation consists of these 6 frames.

This animation moves at 10 frames per second.

If you are shown ten or more pictures a second, your brain will merge the separate images into a series of moving images.

Animation Timeline

Part 1

Ancient times to 1877

Notes for Students

• This timeline will show some of the major animation inventions in history (not all of them though).

• You will need to pay attention and write down everything you see on each slide. You may want to DRAW a picture as it may help you remember what it is.

Ancient times• A 5,200 year old bowl found in Iran has 5

images of a goat painted along the sides.

• This could be one of the earliest forms of animation.

1826

• Thaumatrope

• A small optical toy with only two images.

1827

• First comic book created by Rodolphe Topffer from Switzerland. It comprised of 158 panels over 30 pages.

1831

• Phenakistocope• Created by Joseph Plateau of Belgium.• This disc has a series of pictures on it that

slightly change each time. When spun it creates movement.

1834

• Zoetrope by William Horner (Britian)

• This has little slots on the side that you look through to see the animation.

1877

• Praxinoscope• The outer layer has a series of pictures. The

inner layer is comprises of mirrors. When spun, it creates movement.

• For the Phenakistocope, Zoetrope, and Praxinoscope the faster you spin it, the more fluid the movement seems.