Flipbooks: Notes and Examples
A flip book is a simple form of animation consisting of a series of drawings, or photographs, that when "flipped" through by the viewer appear to create the illusion of motion. A flip book is sometimes called a "flick" book or "flicker" book. When each page is viewed seperately, the characters or designs stand still. But when the viewer flips through the pages with their thumb, the characters and designs seem to come to life before their very eyes. As you have probably figured out already, the principle behind this magic is the "persistence of vision."
Each picture has a subtle difference from the previous. As the user flips through the book at a fast rate, the users eye catches the change and the brain interprets it as motion. If you go through the flip book slowly, the subtle changes in the image may be nearly unperceivable. The trick is to get the right frame rate.
Flipbooks were popularized in the early 1900's by the Crackerjack company that gave them away as in-box prizes. In the 1920's they were used to teach dance steps - an early form of the "educational movie".
Flipbooks have been an important tool for the teaching of animation and remain so today. The flip book is a simple way for you to learn to create the illusion of animation. It is the foundation of animation in motion pictures, computer generated gif animations, and flash animations. An idea for animation can be quickly tested using the flipbook technique. Flipbooks stories are never very long and usually have a single objective that can best be put across short animated movies. Flipbooks are a true form of micro-cinema.
Examples shown in class: http://lam-animation.webnode.com/notes/flip-book/
Each picture has a subtle difference from the previous. As the user flips through the book at a fast rate, the users eye catches the change and the brain interprets it as motion. If you go through the flip book slowly, the subtle changes in the image may be nearly unperceivable. The trick is to get the right frame rate.
Flipbooks were popularized in the early 1900's by the Crackerjack company that gave them away as in-box prizes. In the 1920's they were used to teach dance steps - an early form of the "educational movie".
Flipbooks have been an important tool for the teaching of animation and remain so today. The flip book is a simple way for you to learn to create the illusion of animation. It is the foundation of animation in motion pictures, computer generated gif animations, and flash animations. An idea for animation can be quickly tested using the flipbook technique. Flipbooks stories are never very long and usually have a single objective that can best be put across short animated movies. Flipbooks are a true form of micro-cinema.
Examples shown in class: http://lam-animation.webnode.com/notes/flip-book/
Some of Ms. McKay's Favourites:
Some of my favourite flipbooks are created by theflippist - Check out the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa3MpL0UCLuc08oj5kIATUg
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Exploration:
Creation of Flipbooks - Traditional Paper
- Think of an object or action you would like to animate.
Plan It Out (Exerted from: http://www.shmonster.com/creative_corner/Site/Flip_Book.html)
- For example, you can start with a simple stick figure walking across the page. Plan what each still picture will look like. Each such picture is called a "frame".
- Maybe you want the figure to stand on one side of the page in the first frame, then have one leg up and lean forward in the next frame, then stand again in a slightly different spot in the third frame. These three frames will look like the figure is taking one step. Perhaps when the figure reaches the other side, you can show it standing in one spot with an arm up in one frame, then holding the arm over to one side in the next frame, and then holding the arm over to the other side in the frame after that. This will look like the figure is waving.
- Other ideas could be birds, bats, butterflies, planes, frogs.
- Whatever you choose to do... you need to take time to plan it out.
- Think about how the motion will start, and how it will end.
- Keep in mind:
- Faster motion needs fewer drawings
- Slower motion requires more drawings
Digital Flipbook
Step 1: Use an online flipbook creator to create a simple flipbook.