The Spinning History – A Zoetrope Animation Project

To celebrate the 800th anniversary of Straubing’s Neustadt district, I was commissioned by the Mayor of Straubing to realize a special project: The Spinning History – a creative animation initiative that was deliberately not conceived as a traditional animated film, but as anunusual live  performance. In collaboration with the Vocational High School of Straubing (FOSBOS, Department of Design), a several-month zoetrope workshop was held. The results were presented in a Spinning Animation Show – a hybrid of exhibition and live performance – accompanied by a cinematic soundtrack. The premiere took place on June 21, 2018, under the official title “The Spinning History”.

The workshop was conducted at the Vocational High School of Straubing (FOSBOS, Department of Design) in cooperation with the City Hall of Straubing. Over several months, 24 students created 80 short loop animations on key events from Straubing’s history – supported by five dedicated teachers. The animations were drawn on paper strips, cardboard discs, and plexiglass plates, and later presented during the Spinning Animation Show using zoetropes, praxinoscopes, and rotating discs under stroboscopic light. In this way, a city history through a zoetrope came to life, where static drawings were transformed into moving scenes with the simplest of means.

The workshop was based on a curated list of historically significant events, developed in collaboration with the city archivist. Students first translated these stories into sketches and storyboards and finally into animated sequences – using paper strips, cardboard discs, and plexiglass cylinders. A compact introductory course on the principles of animation accompanied the creative process and linked media history and city history with artistic expression.

The highlight of the project was a live performance – a format I call the Spinning Animation Show – under the title The Spinning History, presented at the venue Alter Schlachthof. In this immersive analog show, eight rotating record players, some equipped with zoetropes and praxinoscopes, brought the animations to life in sync with a composed sound collage. Each station was fitted with 360-degree loudspeakers and a multi-channel sound system, transforming the space into a “spinning” exhibition of city history.

One particularly memorable element of this creative history project was the animated birthday cake: a 65-centimeter-high Styrofoam pyramid on which several animations ran simultaneously. At the top, a plasticine figure of myself spun around – a humorous surprise by the students as a personal homage.

Despite the complex logistics, City History in a Zoetrope – The Spinning History was deliberately designed to be low-threshold and student-friendly. During the performance, the students themselves operated the devices, exchanged the animated paper strips and discs, and were supported by monitor displays – all with minimal technical effort. It became a successful example of how analog animation can be taught in a practical and inclusive way.

On June 21, 2018, The Spinning History was performed four times: two morning shows for school classes and two public performances in the afternoon and evening. Each performance attracted around 100 visitors. Mayor Markus Pannermayr officially opened the event and acknowledged its cultural importance for the city.

In 2025, I developed a 35-minute educational film based on the project, containing all 80 animation loops. With original music, contextual intertitles, and short voice-over explanations that briefly describe each historical event in one or two sentences, the film brings the experience of City History in a Zoetrope into the classroom. It will soon be used by the City of Straubing and local schools as multimedia teaching material for city history.

Excerpt of The Spinning History
(in German)

The Spinning History successfully combined artistic work, practical learning, and local history education. For many students, it was the first time they had participated in a long-term collaborative creative project. The final applause clearly reflected their pride and sense of ownership.

• Read more about my Zoetrope Workshop
• Discover my Animated-Film-Show
• Visit my Events & Blog for more impressions
• Browse past past animation workshops
• Explore past presentations
• Want to build your own zoetrope? Check out this zoetrope craft kit.