8 Pioneering Animation Tools That Changed History

Without these innovative techniques, modern animation would not even exist. We could be in the midst of the golden era of animation right now. More fantastic animated TV episodes and movies are coming out than ever before, and if you want to explore the extensive back catalogue of 2D characters animation design masters like Studio Ghibli and Walt Disney, streaming services have their whole archives available for your binge-watching enjoyment. You might say that we have a lot of options. Have you ever considered how we got here, though?

 

The History of Animation Devices

The development of animation is a fascinating trip that depends equally on how it might be made as it does on the subject matter of the 2D character animation online. It is an excellent illustration of how technology enables humans to be creative. The animations themselves evolve and grow more complex as animation tools do.

Here, we examine some of the most significant historical animation technologies. So, the next time you are watching your favourite animated film or television programme, simply pause for a moment to consider how we came to be where we are.

 

1. Magic Lantern (1659)

The development of 2D characters with animation is a fascinating trip that depends equally on how it might be made as it does on the subject matter of the animations. Animation is an excellent illustration of how technology enables humans to be creative. The animations themselves evolve and grow more complex as animation tools do. Here, we examine some of the most significant historical animation technologies. So, the next time you are watching your favourite animated film or television programme, simply pause for a moment to consider how we came to be where we are.

It makes use of a lens, a transparent plate (often glass) with a picture on it, and a light source (initially a candle). The artwork would be projected on a flat surface using a mirror to guide light through the glass slides. This is the first known instance of projected animation because a skilled projector could swiftly switch between consecutive slides to create the appearance of movement.

 

2. Thaumatrope (1825)

The term 'thaumatrope' means 'wonder turner' in roughly modern English. The gadget is a straightforward tiny disc with a distinct picture on each side. A cage on one side and a bird on the other, as well as a branch on one side and foliage on the other, were common pairings. A piece of thread is attached to either side of the disc, and when the user swiftly rotates the disc between these two pieces of string, an optical illusion known as persistence of vision causes the two pictures to appear to be one. Despite its little animation, many seemed to enjoy it.

The thaumatrope is generally acknowledged to have been created by the British surgeon John Ayrton Paris, however mathematician Charles Babbage asserted that it was created by the Irish physician William Henry Fitton. Whoever the inventor was, Paris is credited with popularising it via its commercial manufacturing in 1825.

 

3. Phenakistoscope (1832)

One of our favourite phenakistoscope tidbits is that it was created simultaneously by two distinct inventors. Belgian physicist Joseph Plateau began experimenting with optical illusion as a university student in the late 1820s, influenced by the work of English scientist Michael Faraday. A few years later, the results of his experiments would inspire him to develop the phenakistoscope.

A phenakistoscope operates in a relatively straightforward manner, yet the result is rather interesting. Slits are cut into the cardboard between each of the images that have been drawn onto a cardboard disc. The disc is then given a handle-equipped spindle that is inserted through the centre, allowing for simple manual rotation. The series of pictures are then positioned towards the mirror on the spindle's tip. The cardboard disc is then quickly spun by the user, and when the user looks through the slits, it seems as though the picture is looping.

 

4. Zoetrope  (1833/34)

The persistence of motion trick is used by the zoetrope, which is simply a cylindrical phenakistoscope, to provide the appearance of fluid motion. The zoetrope is essentially a drum with a sequence of pictures on a strip that is inserted within, as opposed to the phenakistoscope, which utilised flat discs. Similar to contemporary animation, the pictures consist of several frames that alter somewhat over time.

Numerous enhancements resulted from the format modification. First off, a zoetrope was more widely available since it did not require a mirror as a phenakistoscope did. Additionally, because it was a cylinder, several people could examine it at once. The strips inside the drum may also be switched out with ease.

 

5. Kineograph AKA The Flipbook (1868)

We adore the fact that the flipbook is formally referred to as a kineograph since it seems opulent and complex. Almost everyone has created a flipbook in class, and it's quite easy to use. To simulate motion, you just draw a series of pictures in a book and flick between the pages fast with your thumb. Funny enough, the name for flipbook in German is 'Daumenkino,' which means 'thumb cinema.'

There is no solid proof that the first flip book existed before tools like the phenakistoscope, even though no one truly knows when it was created. The kineograph was first used in 1868 when John Barnes Linnett applied for a patent covering it. Over time, the flip book underwent several changes and evolutions, such as when it was automated as the mutoscope. Flipbooks are frequently cited as an inspiration by early animators.

 

6. Praxinoscope (1877)

The praxinoscope is the following advancement in animation technology. The instrument, whose name is derived from ancient Greek and approximately translates to 'action viewer' in English, succeeded the zoetrope and was created in 1877 by the French inventor Charles-Emile Reynaud. It is comparable to the zoetrope in that it used the same motion mechanism and contains a strip of sequential images on the interior of a cylinder, but it made a new advancement that made it a far superior invention to the zoetrope.

The image reflected in the mirrors seemed to remain stationary while the outer drum with the strip of photos was spun quickly, but the quick sequence of images caused the stationary reflections to appear to be moving. The picture produced by the praxinoscope, as opposed to the zoetrope, was brighter and less distorted since mirrors were used instead of small slits.

 

7. Zoopraxiscope (1879)

The zoopraxiscope, created in 1879 by the father of photography Edweard Muybridge, is today recognised as a significant precursor to the movie projector. It's kind of amazing how Muybridge accomplished this feat, which involved some sort of "de-animation" before a "reanimation."

The zoopraxiscope, created in 1879 by the father of photography Edweard Muybridge, is today recognised as a significant precursor to the movie projector. It's kind of amazing how Muybridge accomplished this feat, which involved some sort of 'de-animation' before a 'reanimation.'

A revolving glass disc and a lamp made up the zoopraxiscope. The glass disc was then printed with the collection of animal photos he had gathered. Similar to a phenakistoscope, the illusion of motion is created while rotating glass discs in tandem with metal shutter discs.

 

8. Theatre Optique (1888)

Charles-Emile Reynaud significantly outdid himself in 1888 when he expanded upon his Praxinoscope creation and produced the Theatre Optique. The Theatre Optique employed a lengthy transparent roll of images that was wrapped between two spools, as opposed to the Praxinoscope, which only used a single series of images on the interior of a cylinder. Each roll of manually drawn animation, which could be up to 50 metres long and comprised between 300 and 700 individual frames, was painted by Reynaud himself. The pictures from these rolls were then projected onto a backdrop image after being coiled between two spools.

The 10- to 15-minute cartoon movies even included sound effects that were activated by silver tabs on the roll, which turned on an electromagnet and caused it to produce noises like a buzzer or drum. Along with live talking, the movies also featured specially composed music that was performed live on the piano. These are regarded as the first animated movies to be displayed in history and the birth of the genre.

 

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed learning about some of the most fascinating and significant 2D character animation technologies throughout history. For more information on the history of animation, be sure to read our other articles.