Zoetrope Animation Workshop in 4 Modules for Creatives and Teachers

• Discover the Magic
• What is a Zoetrope?
• Workshop Modules
•   Module 1
•   Module 2
•   Module 3
•   Module 4
• Final Presentation
• Participant Feedback
• Upcoming Workshops and Useful Links

Zoetrope Animation Workshop – a four-day creative course in Kassel – offered participants an inspiring hands-on experience with 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 animation techniques. They learnt how impressive loop animations can be created using simple means – without any digital effects.

Throughout the workshop’s four consecutive modules, participants explored how historical optical devices such as the zoetrope and praxinoscope function, created loop animations on paper strips and discs, and experimented with stroboscopic light to produce analogue animated films.

Thanks to the intuitive nature of the devices, even beginners quickly grasped the basic principles of animation. The workshop was designed for educators, artists, and curious minds interested in the origins of filmmaking – far from screens and software.

A few clips of the results.

A zoetrope is a 19th-century optical device that creates the illusion of motion by displaying a rapid sequence of still images. It consists of a spinning drum with slits and a series of drawings placed inside. As the drum rotates, viewers perceive continuous movement through the slits.

Other optical devices like the praxinoscope and phenakistoscope are based on similar principles – all ideal for use in animation education, creative workshops, and artistic motion experiments.

How a zoetrope works

Module 1 – Strip Animation in the Zoetrope Animation Workshop

Understanding Animation through Hands-On Exploration

The workshop began with a focus on classic zoetrope animation. Each participant created a hand-drawn image sequence on a paper strip and tested it using a spinning drum. This analogue technique made the frame-by-frame logic of animation easily accessible and visually clear.

Module 2 – Build Your Own Zoetrope in the Workshop

Constructing a Working Zoetrope from Scratch

The participants designed and built their own zoetropes. They explored how the number of slits, the images, and the speed of rotation work together. Each participant could take home their handmade optical animation device after the workshop.

Module 3 – Stroboscopic Animation Techniques in the Workshop

Animating 2D and 3D Forms with Timed Flashing Light

On the third day, the focus shifted to animated discs and stroboscopic light. Participants experimented with light frequency, flash duration, and intensity to animate drawings and small objects. These experiments expanded the creative potential of analogue animation using light and rhythm.

Module 4 – Stop-Motion & Music in the Zoetrope Animation Workshop

From Loop Animation to Final Short Film

On the final day, participants captured their animations using stop-motion techniques. They composed music using the Music Maker JAM app and edited visuals and sound into short films. This final creative process revealed the dynamic relationship between movement and music, preparing the animations for a public showcase.

Final Presentation of the Zoetrope Animation Workshop Results

The workshop concluded with a public presentation, showcasing all animations using real optical devices. Each loop was accompanied by custom-composed music by the participants. The enthusiasm of the audience proved how powerful and engaging these handmade, screen-free animations can be.