Unit 53 - Task 1

Discover, and research, a minimum of three traditional moving image techniques; find three people associated with these techniques (this could be an inventor, or someone who developed the idea)

Thaumatrope 

("Turning Marvel" or "Wonder Turner")

Thauma = Wondrous; trope = from the Greek word for ‘things that turn.'

A Thaumatrope is a disk, with a picture on either side, attached to two pieces of string. (How to Make a Thaumatrope)

• Twist one string, in order to coil it
• Hold a string in either hand
• Gently pull the strings, allowing them to unwind, and rewind
• The perpetual motion of the disk employs the principle of Persistence of Vision to create the illusion that the two images are superimposed, producing one still image, from two.

Examples of thaumatropes include:

• A bird on one side, and a cage on the other, becoming a bird in a cage.
• A tree with bare branches, and leaves, becoming a tree with branches full of leaves.

The invention of the thaumatrope was influenced by Sir John Herschel's observation that human eyesight combines the images from both sides of a spinning coin, pioneered by Dr William Henry Fitton, and later popularised by Dr John Ayrton Paris in 1825. It was a revolutionary invention, which introduced a wave of optical toys, to entertain the masses, and eventually helped to spark the ideas necessary to create modern cinema.

Persistence of Vision - The human eye has the ability to retain an image for 1/20 of a second, after the object has gone. Therefore, as long as the motion of the disk is constant, one image will be retained whilst the other is visible, and vice versa. This idea was first pondered by Aristotle, when he realised that the image of the sun remained, even after he looked away; it was then recognised by the Greek mathematician Euclid, and later questioned by people like Leonardo da Vinci, and Isaac Newton. In 1829, the principle became firmly established by Joseph Plateau.

Thaumatropes were predominantly marketed as a children's toy, and much of its advertising revolved around children, and their affinity for the product. However, it was also used by Dr Paris to demonstrate the idea of persistence of vision to the Royal College of Physicians, in London.

Phenakistoscope

("Spindle Viewer")

The Phenakistoscope consisted of two discs, mounted on a single axis, which spun together in the same direction. The first disc contained slots, which one could look through into a mirror, which produced the illusion of motion within a series of images drawn around the circumference of the second disc. (How to make a Phenakistoscope)

In 1832, the Phenakistoscope was invented twice - most notably by Belgian physicist Joseph Plateau and his family, but also independently by Austrian Simon von Stampfer. Stampfer named his invention the Stroboscope, presumably in reference to the device's reliance on Persistence of Vision, which is a stroboscopic effect. Plateau's inspiration came primarily from the work of Michael Faraday, and Peter Mark Roget.

When it went on the market, the device was given a multitude of other names, including the Phantasmoscope, and the Fantoscope.

Zoetrope

("Wheel of Life")

Zoo = Animal or Life; trope = comes from the Greek word for ‘things that turn.’

A Zoetrope is a cylindrical device that resembles a drum, with an open top, supported by a central axis. There are a series of images printed on the inside that, when viewed through slits whilst the cylinder is moving, produce the illusion of continuous motion. The speed of the Zoetrope is variable: the greater the speed of motion, the greater the 'frame rate,' therefore improving the animation, by making it seem smoother, and more fluid. (How to Make a Zoetrope)

The design was originally based on Plateau's Phenakistoscope, which was the 3rd major optical toy to become popularised during the inception of animation, and modern cinema. In 1834, William George Horner brandished the device with the moniker 'Daedalum," or "Wheel of the Devil." In 1836, however, it was renamed by French inventor Pierre Desvignes as the Zoetrope, which he considered to be a far less terrifying name. He preferred to liken the moving image to the idea of creating, or producing life, rather than it being something satanic, or to be afraid of.

Much like both the Thaumatrope, and the Phenakistoscope, the Zoetrope relies on the principle of Persistence of Vision. PoV is a stroboscopic effect, which works as a result of periods of darkness, inbetween each image; ergo, the slits in the Zoetrope simulate flashes of light, creating a strobe. This strobe effect was later useful in film projectors, which aimed to emulate it by using a shutter to interrupt the projector bulb, as the film passes through the gate.

In addition to PoV, the Zoetrope employs something known as the Phi Phenomenon. This is a result of the human brain trying to comprehend what it is actually seeing, and to make sense of things. It's almost the equivalent of subconsciously creating a motion tween between different images. This phenomenon is taken advantage of by skilled editors, in modern film-making, as often, people will not notice cuts in films, unless they're specifically paying attention - they can explore different shots, angles, and effects, but the experience will seem seamless to the viewer.

Sir John Frederick William Herschel

March 7th 1792 - May 11th 1871

• Son of William Herschel (the astronomer who discovered Uranus), and Mary Pitt (the daughter of a wealthy merchant)
• At the age of 8, he was sent to Eton college, however he was quickly removed, due to bullying from the other boys.
• He entered St John's College, Cambridge, in 1809
• Befriended George Peacock, and Charles Babbage (the inventor/pioneer of the modern computer); together, they founded the college's Analytical Society.

"It is interesting to think that it was in some ways due to Herschel's remarkable all-round abilities, that he failed to make an advance of the depth that he was clearly capable in any of the subjects that he studied. In all of them, he could have been the person that we remember today as the world leader of his time. Yet the fact that he contributed to so many areas meant that he had usually moved on to something else, when he might have been consolidating his work in a single area. Certainly his mathematical work, important as it was, never had the influence which he might have been able to achieve, had he continued to work in the area."

This quote about Herschel (which I found here), really stood out to me, because I found it relatable; it pretty accurately describes how I ended up in Bradford, studying this course, in the first place. There are too many things that I want to try, or do, and I don't have any specific area to call my own, which is preventing me from excelling to the level that I believe I am capable of. My intention is that this course will help me in one way or another, to either develop/discover a specialty, or just improve at everything enough to know where my true talents lie.

Dr William Henry Fitton

January 1780 - 13th May 1861

• Born in Dublin
• Studied at the Trinity College
• Leaned towards Geology
• Before 1807, he had determined barometrically the heights of the principal mountains of Ireland, had made excursions to Wales, and Cornwall to study their minerals and rocks, and had been arrested on suspicion as a rebel while engaged in collecting fossils in the neighbourhood of Dublin.

Choose a minimum of three of your favourite 2D animations, and explain why you like them. Choose images from each to visually give an idea of what the animations look like, and answer the following questions:

• What genre is the animation?
• What is the story about and why do you like it?
• Who is your favourite character, and why?
• What do you like about the animation? ie. Drawing Style, Colour, Lighting, etc.

The Emperor's New Groove

Genre:Disney, Family, Musical, Comedy, Adventure

Plot Synopsis:

• Corrupt Emperor (Kuzco) cares only about himself - plans t tear down a peasant village, to make room for his Summer home.
• Fires his advisor (Yzma), who then plots to kill him, as revenge
• Yzma accidentally confuses the poisons, and Kuzco is turned into a llama, rather than killed
• Yzma's assistant Kronk is ordered to finish the job, but he shows mercy, and chooses not to kill him
• Kronk accidentally loses Kuzco, who then ends up in the possession of Pacha, the chief of the peasant village that is under threat, as a result of Kuzco's plans.
• Pacha escorts Kuzco back to the palace, attempting to teach him the values of friendship, loyalty, compassion, selflessness, etc.
• Meanwhile, Yzma has seized the throne, and enlists Kronk to help her pursue Kuzco, and stop him from returning once, and for all.

Overall, this is a Disney movie, and thus there's not a great deal of complexity, as far as the plot is concerned; it does, however, boast the core traditional values, and depth that one would expect of such a film. There are a lot of obvious morals, and messages, regarding the importance of selflessness, and compassion. For example, the character of Emperor Kuzco progresses a lot throughout the movie: in the beginning he's extremely self-important, and believes that the world needs to revolve around him. His exposure to Pacha begins to soften his resolve, and he learns that sometimes it's important to think of others. We see this up until the bridge scene, which is a real turning point in the movie. Kuzco betrays Pacha's trust, and we learn that he had been feigning understanding and compassion the entire time, in a manipulative attempt to get his own way. However, events that transpire result in him saving Pacha's life, and consequently actually undergoing the emotional transformation that he appeared to have been going through in the first place.

I personally love this film because of its humour, and because of how memorable, and easily quotable it is. It's just one of those movies that you'll be able to watch time, and time again, and find yourself spouting out countless lines with just the right amount of precision, and dramatic pause. The characters are quirky, and lovable, and there are too many incredible scenes to name but a few favourites - however, some highlights include the map chase sequence; the piñata scene; and the waterfall scene. The voice acting is also incredible, and only serves to give the characters an added sense of depth, and personality - from Family Guy's Joe (Patrick Warburton), who voices the inimitable Kronk, to David Spade, who plays our anti-hero... the llama himself.

Favourite Character: Kronk