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Eadweard Muybridge and The Optical Toys
Eadweard Muybridge, Known for
Animation Discs
Film history buffs
know Muybridge for his discovery that motion can be photographically parceled
into component parts. He used this information in his construction of the Zoopraxiscope.
This combination of technologies was the
beginning of animation. By animating and projecting these carefully timed images he
demonstrated that when he resynthesized the various stages of motion, he could then create
the illusion of the original motion.
Muybridge's extensive research into
“motion studies” has been recognized as a vital stage in the evolution of
animation. These popular "philosophic toys" of the nineteenth century (the
Phenakistascope and the Zoetrope), became an important stepping stone to the invention
of celluloid motion pictures.
 A phenakistoscope disc in motion
This device took a disk that was mounted vertically on a handle and spun it. A series of
pictures, drawn to correspond with the frames of the animation, were placed around the inside of
the disc. People could spin the disc and see the disc's reflection in a mirror. As the disc
turned the images magically moved..
Optical Toys
The First Optical Toy is the Thaumatrope which was used to demonstrate the
principle of "Persistence of Vision" in 1824. It is a disk with an image on each side,
suspended by two strings. When the disk is spun on its strings, the images appear to
merge. Like if you are spinning a coin on edge on a counter you will seem to see both
sides at once.
The Second
Optical Toy is the
Phenakistascope
(also spelled phenakistiscope) (also called the
fantascope),
It is a disk with a series of radial
slots placed around its circumference to act as the slots in the Zoetrope. The viewer
holds the spinning disk up to a mirror and looks through the back side of the disc to see the
reflection of the moving images through the slits.
Eadweard Muybridge used a Phenakistoscope to first publically
exhibit his photographic motion studies in
1879.
The Third Optical Toy is the Zoetrope -also known as "the wheel of
life"-
The
zoetrope appeared in 1864. It is a device using the principle of the slit and series of
visible images and it was popular in the early and mid-1800s. This device was regarded more
as amusement than serious entertainment and thought of
more as a children's
toy. Muybridge adapted his stills to
fit the zoetrope.
Zoetropical Motion Explained
!
The images in the Zoetrope will rotate in the drum (or not)
depending on the number of images in relation to the number of
slots.
To be authentic, the Zoetrope should have 13 slots and this
determines how the floors will act as well (Four Animated Zoetrope Floors are included with
each Zoetrope).
How Zoetropical Motion
Works
If you have the same number of
images as slots the images will seem to move in place, but they
will not appear to rotate around the drum.
When there are fewer images than slots, the images will appear to
move in the opposite direction than the direction of the spinning
drum..
When there are more images than slots the image will seem to move
in the same direction as the rotating drum.
The number of slots is the median number. The greater the
difference between the images and slots, the more extreme the motion will appear. For example
in the authentic 13 slot Zoetrope, 11 images will move faster than 12 images, 13 will move in
place and 14 images will move slowly.
Muybridge
discs
Shown here are a few of the works of
Eadweard Muybridge. This galley shows you the disks that are
available to be perches through out store.
Now you can create your own Muybridge optical toy!
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Athletes - Boxing
The
original was made c1893 by Eadweard Muybridge.
Images on a disc which when spun gave the illusion of two men boxing.
Click on the image to view
a bigger size! 
Buy This Print Now! Only $9.97
Watermark will NOT
show up on the print
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Man on a
Horse
The original was
made c1893 by
Eadweard Muybridge.
Images on a disc which when spun gave the illusion of a horse galloping.
Click on the image to view a bigger
size!
Buy This Print Now! Only $9.97
Watermark will NOT show up on the
print |
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A horse back somersault
The original was made c1893 by Eadweard Muybridge.Images on a disc which when spun
gave the illusion of a man doing a somersault on horseback.
Click on the image to view a
bigger size!
Buy This Print Now! Only $9.97
Watermark will NOT show up on the
print |
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A couple
waltzing
The original was made c1893 by Muybridge, Eadweard
Images on a disc which when spun gave the illusion of a couple dancing.
Click on the image to view a bigger
size!
Buy This Print
Now! Only
$9.97 Watermark will NOT show up on the
print
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These are modern print reproductions printed on 12" x 18" paper.
They can then be mounted on any kind of foam core or hard
backing and made into your own
toy!
Remember:
You can't buy these reproduction prints
anywhere else on line!
Register to WIN a FREE Art Print!
No purchace nessesarry Monthly Winners!
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Eadweard
Muybridge
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Eadward
Muybridge
was an eccentric character. He went by at least 5 different names
which was not the oddest thing about Muybridge. He was often described
as flamboyant, odd and a
little bit hard to deal with. Muybridge called himself a "photographic
artist" and undoubtedly lived a life full of adventure, melodrama and huge
financial highs and lows. He was not a person you could pass on the street
without taking a second look. Onlookers were apt to see a man with intense,
deep-set eyes, wild white hair and a chronically tobacco-stained beard that
seemed to tumble down his chest. One contemporary of Muybridge stated that he
looked like “Walt Whitman ready to play King Lear."
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Don't miss out on this opportunity to get your
own discs from this great master!!
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