{"id":23121,"date":"2025-05-24T13:55:04","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T11:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stellmach.com\/?p=23121"},"modified":"2025-08-12T14:28:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T12:28:00","slug":"zoetrope-animation-workshop-at-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stellmach.com\/en\/blog-animation-workshops\/zoetrope-animation-workshop-at-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoetrope Animation Workshop at School with Short Film Screening"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css=”.vc_custom_1754068193378{margin-top: -16px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;}” z_index=””][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1754068119362{margin-bottom: 8px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-color: #eaeaea !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css=”.vc_custom_1648732309488{border-top-width: 0px !important;}” z_index=””][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1754297962977{margin-bottom: 16px !important;}”]On October 29, 2022,<\/strong> I led a zoetrope animation workshop<\/a> <\/strong>at a school<\/strong> with a group of creative and enthusiastic pupils<\/strong> from Gymnasium An der Stenner, a certified Europaschule<\/strong> in Iserlohn<\/strong>, North Rhine-Westphalia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The event combined hands-on animation practice<\/strong> using historical optical devices<\/strong> with a curated screening of my award-winning animated short films<\/strong>. During the session, students collaborated<\/strong> creatively, sharing their ideas<\/strong> and artistic approaches<\/strong> in an open<\/strong>, inspiring atmosphere<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Learning Animation with Historical Optical Devices” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1754066117122{margin-bottom: 8px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-color: #eaeaea !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1754297937729{margin-bottom: 8px !important;}”]In the first part of the zoetrope animation workshop<\/strong>, the students explored the origins of film<\/strong> by working with 19th-century optical toys<\/strong>: zoetropes<\/strong> <\/a>and praxinoscopes<\/a>.<\/strong> These early inventions were key to the development of motion pictures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Each participant created a 15-image animation loop<\/strong> on a paper strip<\/strong> and tested it with the devices. The simple yet fascinating functionality of the zoetropes made the basic principles of animation tangible<\/strong> and easy to grasp.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm”][vc_gallery interval=”0″ images=”23147,23163,23161,23153,23151,23155,23143,23145,23159,23157,23167″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1754485127784{margin-top: 4px !important;margin-bottom: -130px !important;}” direction_nav=”yes” control_nav=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1754125706569{margin-top: 8px !important;margin-bottom: 72px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Photos of the zoetrope-animation-workshop<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”0″ images=”23149,23165,23343,23341″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1754485140603{margin-top: 4px !important;margin-bottom: -130px !important;}” direction_nav=”yes” control_nav=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1754485163816{margin-top: 8px !important;margin-bottom: 72px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Final presention of the workshop results<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Creative Dynamics During the Workshop” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1754066253938{margin-bottom: 8px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-color: #eaeaea !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1754067842226{margin-bottom: 8px !important;}”]Throughout the day, I worked closely with all 17 pupils<\/strong>\u2014aged 11 to 19<\/strong>\u2014providing individual artistic guidance. Several teachers also joined in, enthusiastically developing their own animation strips<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The international group of students<\/strong> worked together in a lively<\/strong>, cooperative spirit<\/strong>. As soon as the first loops were tested in the zoetropes, excitement spread quickly<\/strong>. The students gathered around the devices, cheering each other on<\/strong> and exchanging ideas. Time flew by<\/strong> in this atmosphere of shared curiosity and creative flow<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

By the end of the four-hour session<\/strong>, everyone had completed a working animation strip<\/strong>\u2014and proudly presented it to curious parents<\/strong>, teachers<\/strong>, the school headmaster<\/strong>, and even members of the local press<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm”][vc_gallery interval=”0″ images=”23137,23141″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1754055715735{margin-top: 4px !important;margin-bottom: -130px !important;}” direction_nav=”yes” control_nav=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1754485186368{margin-top: 8px !important;margin-bottom: 72px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Photos of the Animated Film Show<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Animated Short Film Screening and Discussion” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1754067258802{margin-bottom: 8px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-color: #eaeaea !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1754307107058{margin-bottom: 8px !important;}”]In the afternoon<\/strong>, I invited participants and guests<\/strong> to a special screening of animated short films.<\/strong> I presented four of my artistic work<\/strong>, including the Oscar\u00ae<\/sup>-winning<\/strong> stop-motion film Quest<\/a> <\/strong>(1997), as well as The Last Leaf<\/a><\/strong>, The Sausage Run<\/a><\/strong> and Virtuoso Virtual<\/a>\u2014<\/strong>all of which are also part of my Animated Film Show<\/a><\/strong> program.<\/p>\n

The audience<\/strong>, both young and adult<\/strong>, followed the screening with great attention and responded with enthusiasm. Afterward, I offered insights into my creative process<\/strong> and answered thoughtful questions about the films<\/strong>, my work, and the Oscar journey. With their newly acquired technical <\/strong>and artistic knowledge<\/strong>, the workshop participants<\/strong> were now able to fully appreciate the creative effort behind professional animation<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Feedback and Press Coverage” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1754067565186{margin-bottom: 8px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-color: #eaeaea !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1754068494963{margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]At the end of the event, teachers and students reflected<\/strong> on the experience over snacks and drinks<\/strong>. The school received very positive feedback<\/strong>, and the local newspaper Iserlohner Kleinanzeiger<\/strong> published a report.<\/p>\n

Read the article from the newspaper (on the right) or follow the links to read guest feedback from Windisch<\/a><\/strong>, Mestekamper<\/strong><\/a>, Gies<\/strong><\/a> in German.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”24860″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” qode_css_animation=”” link=”https:\/\/stellmach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Trickfilm-Workshop-mit-Thomas-Stellmach-Artikel-Iserlohner-Kreisanzeiger-und-Zeitung-komprimiert.pdf”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1754055792923{margin-top: 8px !important;margin-bottom: 24px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

With the kind permission of ‘Iserlohner Kleinanzeiger’.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Curious? Here are Some Useful Links:” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1750369465590{margin-bottom: 8px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-color: #eaeaea !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1755001677427{margin-bottom: 8px !important;}”]<\/p>\n