What is a Zoetrope?

 As part of our introduction to animation project, it was important we looked at all different styles and types of animation including both digital and traditional. Oner of our tasks was to create a Zoetrope animation to show a 360 degree turn of our character from the visual application project. But what is a Zoetrope? 

A zoetrope isa traditional form of animation technology first made in 1834 to show the idea off moving image. It is made from a cylinder with thin vertical slits that allow the view to pier through and when spun creates the illusion of the different sequenced images in side to move. The device was invented by mathematician William Horner, originally Horner created the Zoetrope with slits between the images, however, later ones now have slits above to create a more believable illusion. This was one of the first animation devices which shortly lead to other traditional styles including the praxinoscope and the flip book. 

Above shows a diagram of a zoetrope and how it works to create an illusion of the moving image. To create mine I must split my animation into twelve key frames and think about how each frame can be used to show the 360 degree head turn  to create smooth look that looks realistic and yet still shows my characters personality.