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Focus on Animation

How to Make a Flipbook

History

It is difficult to date the appearance of the first flipbook. Artists probably began drawing image sequences to flip through in their notebooks a long time ago. All the same, the English printer John Barnes Linnet officially patented the invention in 1868.

Linnet described the flipbook as an important step forward in the production of optical illusions. From the time of its invention into the early 20th century, the flipbook was a popular children’s toy.

Materials

-A sheet of white paper

-A pencil

-A ruler

-Scissors

-A black fine-tipped marker

-A piece of stiff card

-A heavy-duty stapler and staples

-A photocopier

Construction

Step 1

a)Place a sheet of white paper on a table.Use your pencil and ruler to draw a rectangle measuring 27 cm x 18 cm.

b)Place your rectangle with the long side along the bottom. Divide it into three equal 9-cm sections.

c)Now place your rectangle so that the short side is on the bottom, and divide it into three equal 6-cm sections.

d)You should now have one large rectangle divided into nine identical smaller rectangles. BE CAREFUL! The division lines you have drawn must be very straight and your measurements exact.

Step 2

a)Make 3 photocopies of your paper so that you have 4 identical sheets.

b)Place each paper on the table with the short side on the bottom.

Step 3

a)Number each small rectangle from 1 to 36, writing the number in the upper left-hand corner.

b)Cut out all 36 rectangles.

Step 4

a)Place rectangle #36 on the table with the number in the upper left-hand corner.

b)Imagine a simple movement or gesture that an object, person or animal might make: for instance, the hands of a clock turning around the dial, or someone walking, or a bird flapping its wings… Think about how you can divide this movement into a sequence of 33 steps.

c)On the bottom halfof #36, make your first drawing: the first in the movement sequence of your object, animal or person. (Hint: If you’re using a pencil, be sure to trace over your finished drawing with the black marker so that it’s nice and visible.)

Step 5

a)Place rectangle #35 over #36. Line up the two pieces of paper, and be sure to keep the numbers in the upper left-hand corner. You should be able to see your first drawing through the paper.

b)Now make your second drawing—the second in the movement sequence—over your first. It’s really just a matter of tracing over the first drawing almost exactly, but making the moving bit (e.g. in the hands of the clock, the legs of the person or the wings of the bird) just a little different. Don’t forget to trace over your pencil lines with the black marker!

Step 6

Continue with nearly all of the other rectangles, up to and including rectangle #4. Remember that the only part of the drawing to change is the part that “moves.” Leave rectangles 1, 2 and 3 blank. This helps your eye retain the illusion of movement that’s created when you use your flipbook. You should now have a pile of rectangles with drawings on them, numbered from 1 (top of pile) to 36 (bottom of pile).

Step 7

a)Make sure all your rectangles are facing the same way and are lined up evenly.

b)On a piece of stiff card, cut out a rectangle measuring 9 cm x 6 cm. Put this rectangle on the bottom of your pile.

c)Now staple together all 37 rectangles (the 36 papers and the card), using at least two staples.

Step 8

a)Hold out your hand, with the palm facing the ceiling.

b)Lay your flipbook on your palm with the stapled end toward your fingers.

c)Using the thumb of your other hand, quickly flip through your pile, starting with #36…and you’ll see your drawings come to life!