One of the earliest forms of animation was the zoetrope why is this simple device considered to produce a form of animation?
The zoetrope is considered to produce a form of animation because it creates the illusion of motion. It is a cylindrical device with vertical slits on the sides and a strip of sequential images positioned on the inner surface. When the zoetrope is spun and observed through the slits, the viewer sees a rapid succession of images that appear to be in motion.
This illusion is achieved due to the persistence of vision, which is a phenomenon where the human eye retains an image for a brief moment even after it disappears. As the zoetrope spins, the viewer's eye retains the previously seen image while quickly capturing the next image through the slits. This rapid succession gives the impression that the images are fluidly moving.
While the zoetrope's animation is limited by its sequential nature, it laid the foundation for future animation techniques by demonstrating the principle of creating motion through consecutive images. It paved the way for more sophisticated forms of animation like movies, cartoons, and computer-generated imagery seen in modern-day animations.