The Phenakistoscope

The Phenakistoscope was an early animation device created by Plateau. This device was created just after the Zoetrope and its reception was much better recieved. This device like most stop motion devices uses the theory of persistence of vision in order to work. Persistence of vision was a theory of the optics and how eyes view images (see Joseph Plateau post for more info).

The Phenakistoscope worked very similar to the Zoetrope using a circular disk attached to a mount which allowed it to spin 360 degrees, spinning it at high speed would make the still images on the disk look as if they are moving. Slits were then cut into a disk that was positioned infront of the image disk and looked through. The images on the disk would then look as if they were moving. One disk varients of these were later created in which a mirror was required as the images were printed on the back of the single disk, though this made the device smaller and lighter, it did however limit usability. To the right is an example of a Phenakistoscope being reflected in a mirror.

This design was recieved much better than that of most animation devices of the time, this was because of its more condensed size and easily changed disks, infact it was as simple as lifting the disk off and replacing it with a new one. In addition another very important point to reference was the fact the Phenakistoscope was the first portable animation device, this meant they were much desirable than other early animation devices and made for good toys.

Comparing the Phenakistoscope to other animation devices is difficult, though they use the same techniques to animate, such as a rotating drum, and 'windows', they are actually rather different from an engineering standpoint. The Zoetrope is a upright device which the drum spins along the horizontal axis. This means it can be placed on a surface and looked straight through. Where as the Phenakistoscope is meant to be portable and as such rotates along the vertical axis. This means the Phenakistoscope was very popular and is very good for animation on the go, however it generally was of much lower quality in terms of materials and durability, which resulted in a easier to break device. Another major difference with these two animation devices often seen as being the same (but one a portable version) is the Phenakistoscope did not have a light source attached, this therefore ment you needed natural light in order to use it or a well lit room, whereas the Zoetrope (not all models) were underlit due to them not being portable, this meant they were usable in the dark, this was later picked up on and the Zoetrope was expanded to be one of the first 'night lights' used as a childrens 'bedtime' lamp. This was done by having the still images cut out and held in place rather than being stuck to the inside of the drum, when the underlit light then hit them a shadow would be cast on the ceiling, further improvement on positioning of these also lead to the projection being animated. This could have perhaps been some of the earliest froms of projectors.

Below is a short video of the Phenakistoscop being used.