Spinning History – A Zoetrope History Project Bringing City History to Life

To celebrate the 800th anniversary of Straubing’s Neustadt district, I initiated a Zoetrope History Project – a creative and educational animation initiative that brought the city’s past to life through analog animation techniques. Rather than producing a traditional animated film, we transformed local history into a live performance using historical optical animation devices like zoetropes and praxinoscopes. This animated city history was presented under the fitting title: Spinning History.

In cooperation with the Technical and Vocational College Straubing (FOSBOS, Department of Design) and the Town Hall of Straubing, we carried out a months-long Zoetrope Workshop – an animation workshop for schools, focused entirely on analog animation with zoetropes. This hands-on Zoetrope History Project was integrated into the school curriculum and led by me. A total of 24 students created 80 short loop animations depicting key events from Straubing’s local history, supported by five dedicated teachers who actively contributed to the project’s success.

The foundation of the workshop was a curated list of historically significant events, developed in collaboration with the city archivist. Students translated these stories into sketches, storyboards, and eventually into animated sequences using paper strips, cardboard discs, and plexiglass cylinders. A compact introduction to animation principles supported their creative process, combining media history and city history with artistic expression.

The project’s highlight was a live animation performance – a format I call The Spinning Animation Show – titled The Spinning History and presented at the Alte Schlachthof venue. In this immersive analog show, eight rotating turntables– some equipped with zoetropes and praxinoscopes – brought the animations to life in sync with a specially composed soundtrack. Each station used 360-degree speakers and a multi-channel sound system, turning the space into a living, ‘spinning’ exhibition of the city’s past.

One of the most memorable elements of this creative history education project was the animated birthday cake: a 65 centimeter-high spinning pyramid made of styrofoam, displaying multiple animations simultaneously. A clay figure of myself twirled on top – a surprise tribute from the students that added humor and personal connection to the performance.

Though the Zoetrope History Project – Spinning History – involved complex logistics, it was intentionally designed to be both accessible and student-driven. During the live show, students operated the devices themselves and swapped the animated paper strips and discs, guided by monitor displays and minimal technical overhead – a great example of how analog animation workshops can be engaging and inclusive.

On June 18, 2018, the Spinning History performance was held four times: two morning shows for local school classes, and two public performances in the afternoon and evening. Each attracted approximately 100 attendees. Mayor Markus Pannermayr officially opened the event, underlining its cultural relevance for the city.

In 2025, I transformed the project into a 35-minute educational film featuring all 80 loop animations. With original music, contextual intertitles, and a narrated storyline, the film brings the experience of the Zoetrope History Project into the classroom. It will soon be used by the City of Straubing and local schools as multimedia teaching material for local history.

Excerpt of The Spinning History
(in German)

This Zoetrope History Project successfully merged artistic practice, hands-on learning, and local heritage education. For many students, it was their first experience with a long-term, collaborative creative project. The final applause and enthusiastic participation reflected their pride and ownership of the result.

• 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.