Before the animated gif....

May 4, 2009 12:45 PM

From 1832 to 1834, the phenakistoscope was the way to get your moving picture fix. (previously)

Muybridge (previously...) is credited with these charming dancers. Two years later, the Zoetrope took over. You can make your own. Some very nice animated examples here.

posted by fcummins (6 comments total)

Those disks are gorgeous; thanks for the post!
posted by languagehat at 3:42 PM on May 4, 2009

This is really neat.
posted by sandraregina at 5:42 PM on May 4, 2009

i couldn't find a review of any of these films on the imdb, so i guess i have to write my own: not enough plot twists.
posted by sexyrobot at 8:47 PM on May 4, 2009

Pretty cool. Looks fairly simple to make too
posted by Petrot at 5:48 AM on May 5, 2009

A contemporary zootrope--in 3D--is Matt Collishaw's Shooting Stars.

NSFW if you look close and don't blink too much.
posted by subatomiczoo at 9:55 AM on May 7, 2009

Shooting Stars is wonderful! Thanks.
posted by fcummins at 1:47 PM on May 7, 2009