• Discover the Magic
• What is a Zoetrope?
• Workshop Modules
•   Module 1
•   Module 2
•   Module 3
•   Module 4
• Final presentation
• Feedback
• Upcoming workshop and useful links

At the four-day Zoetrop workshop in Kassel, everything revolved around the fascination of analogue moving image technology.

Seven participants – including a media educator, a vocational school teacher, an artist, an animation background painter, a psychotherapist, an insurance agent and a social worker – took part in the four-module workshop at the Media Project Centre – Open Channel Kassel to discover the creative power of analogue. They learnt how impressive loop animations can be created using simple means – without any digital effects.

In four consecutive modules, we learned how historical optical devices such as the zoetrope and praxinoscope work, how to create our own loop animations on paper strips or discs and how an analogue animated film can be created from drawings with stroboscope light and movement.

Thanks to the intuitive nature of the devices, even beginners quickly understood the core principles of animation. The workshop was ideal for artists, educators, and anyone curious about the roots of filmmaking – far away from screens and software.

A few clips of the results.

A Zoetrope is a 19th-century optical device that creates the illusion of motion from a sequence of still images. It consists of a spinning drum with slits and a series of drawings placed inside. As the drum rotates, the viewer sees the images in quick succession, resulting in the impression of continuous motion.

Other devices such as the Praxinoscope and Phenakistoscope use similar principles – and all of them are ideal for animation education, creative workshops, and artistic experimentation with motion.

How a zoetrope works

Module 1 – Strip Animation with the Zoetrope

Understanding Animation through Hands-on Exploration

The workshop began with traditional Zoetrope animation. Each participant created a simple hand-drawn sequence on a paper strip and tested it using a spinning drum with slits. This analog method made the mechanics of animation easy to grasp – frame by frame.

Module 2 – Building Your Own Zoetrope

Constructing a Working Zoetrope from Scratch

The participants designed and built their own zoetropes. They learned how the number of slots, the drawings and the size and rotational speed of the drum are related. The self-made optical device could be taken home after the workshop.

Module 3 – Disc Animation with Stroboscopic Light

Animating 2D & 3D Forms Using Flashing Light

The third day introduced animated discs and stroboscopic light. Participants experimented with lighting frequency, flash duration and brightness to bring their paper (or 3D) figures to life. These experiments expanded the creative possibilities and introduced the idea of motion through timed illumination.

Module 4 – Creating an Animated Film with Music

From Loop Animation to Final Short Film

On the final day, animations were captured using the stop-motion technique. Participants composed music with the Music Maker JAM app, then combined audio and visuals using a simple editing tool. The resulting short films highlighted the synergy between movement and rhythm – and were prepared for public presentation.

Final Presentation: Optical Animation in Motion and Music

The workshop concluded with a public showcase, featuring all animations played on real optical devices, accompanied by music created by the participants. The joy of analog animation was tangible – and the audience response showed just how impressive these handmade animated loops can be.