Introduction: Zoetrope!

A zoetrope is a 19th century optical toy. By rotating an animated sequence of frames through a cylinder a zoetrope creates the illusion of movement.  

SUPPIES:
-Black construction paper
-Ruler
-scissors
-tape (preferably black)
-pen
-glue
-unsharpened pencil


Step 1: STEP 1: DRAW/ PRINT

Step 1: Draw or print out the frames to your animation
-Make sure that the last frame of your sequence looks similar to the first frame of your sequence so they transition smoothly
REMEMBER! the longer your sequence is the larger your zoetrope will need to be.

Step 2: STEP 2: GLUE

Step 2: Lay out each frame of your sequence on a black strip of paper
-Leave about 1 cm space between each frame
-Make sure the strip has about as much space at the top and bottom of your frame as the length of the frame it’s self
-Glue the frames to the paper

Step 3: STEP 3: CUT

Step 3: Between each frame, cut out a small rectangle strip.
-This is what you look through when spinning the zoetrope

Step 4: STEP 4: FOLD

Step 4: When all frames are glued down, fold a tab at the bottom of the black paper about an inch thick.
-This’ll give you something to glue to your base

Step 5: STEP 5:CURL

Step 5: Curl the black paper into a circle so that the last frame is next to the first.

Step 6: STEP 6: BASE

Step 6: Cut out a cardboard circle. The circumference should be bigger or equal to the circumference of your black paper circle.
-This is the base of the zoetrope

Step 7: STEP 7: POKE

Step 7: Poke a hole in the center of the cardboard circle.
-The hole needs to be the right size for whatever you’re using as a handle. We used a pencil.

Step 8: STEP 8: TAPE AND SECURE

Step 8: Slide the handle through the hole and tape it up
-The handle should not wiggle around. You’re going to be spinning it really fast so you want it to be sturdy.


Step 9: STEP 9: ALMOST DONE!

Step 9: Glue the black paper circle to the top of the cardboard circle

Step 10: STEP 10: SPIN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3yarT_h2ws
Step 10: Spin it!
-Look through the cutouts in the black paper to see the sequence