Lesson 2: Traditional Flipbook Making – Review Lesson 2: Title LESSON 2: (Traditional Flipbook Making)
2 Objectives: Understand the concept of a traditional flipbook and its historical significance in animation. Identify the materials and tools required to create a traditional flipbook. Demonstrate the step-by-step process of creating a traditional flipbook, including drawing or animating each frame. Differentiate between traditional and digital flipbooks, including their features, advantages, and limitations. Pre-assessment 1. What is the main principle behind flipbook animation? a) Persistence of vision b) Stop-motion technique c) Computer-generated graphics d) Motion blur effect 2. Who is credited with pioneering flipbooks in the 1860s? a) John Barnes Linnett b) Walt Disney c) Andy Bailey d) Amy Pirkle 3. Why are flipbooks still popular today? a) They require advanced software and technical skills. b) They are a gateway to computer animation. c) They are only used by novice animators. d) They are not accessible to everyone. 4. What materials do you need to create a flipbook? a) Computer and software b) Thick stack of paper, pen or pencil, and a binder clip c) Specialized animation equipment d) Canvas and paintbrushes 5. How can flipbooks be used as a teaching tool? a) They can teach complex animation techniques. b) They are useful for teaching mathematics. c) They help students develop their drawing skills. d) They are primarily used for entertainment purposes. 6. What is an important consideration when choosing paper for a flipbook? a) The paper should be as thick as possible. b) The paper should have a glossy finish for better visibility. c) The paper should be thin but not too flimsy. d) The paper should be of any type, as long as it is white. 7. How should the pages of a flipbook be bound together? a) Using staples or glue b) Tying them with a string or ribbon c) Attaching them with rubber bands or a binder clip
3 d) Sewing them together with a needle and thread 8. What is the recommended size for a flipbook page? a) 10cm x 10cm b) 15cm x 20cm c) 7.5cm x 12cm d) A4 size (21cm x 29.7cm) 9. When drawing the frames of a flipbook, in what order should the images be placed? a) From front to back b) From left to right c) From back to front d) From right to left 10. How can a flipbook animation be shared on social media? a) By uploading the pages as separate images b) By recording a video of the flipbook in action c) By creating a GIF file of the animation d) By describing the animation in a text post Lesson Discussion An animation flipbook uses a series of static images, which progress gradually in position from one page to the next. These images then create the impression of movement when you flick through the pages in sequence. Flipbooks vary in complexity. You might have made one at school — drawing stick people on a textbook or pad of paper – or you might have seen amazing examples of flipbook animation online, such as the examples shown later in this guide. Either way, the essence of flipbooks remains the same. Like many forms of animation, they’re based around an optical illusion called persistence of vision. The human eye can only process 10-12 separate images per second. When images appear in quicker succession than that, the brain merges them into a continuous stream. How it all started Creator theflippest tells an autobiographical story of how they got started in the world of flipbook animations. Using highly impactful illustrations to immerse viewers in their backstory, theflippest manages to capture their journey perfectly, rendering each flip with style, brevity, humour and precision. Bringing Origami to Life This vibrant work by Amy Pirkle (AKA PerkolatorPressFlipbooks) showcases a beautiful illustration of how visually pleasing an origami-based flipbook can be. Its demonstration of how clearly defined shapes are effectively used when creating an object, in this case a fox, combines beautiful illustrations and a great story at the same time. Notebooks Reimagined This simple, yet effective flipbook shows that colours aren’t always 100% necessary to demonstrate how movement between individual images can have a big impact. Shanghai-based VISITORS show how transforming from one character to another, while keeping the vibrancy alive throughout, sometimes only needs humble pencil drawings to achieve an impressive effect The Meta Flipbook
4 Here, the flippest brings another subversive take to the genre — presenting a flipbook within a flipbook. The colors, both primary and secondary, blend together to create a composition that effectively draws the viewer into a sub-world within a world, all within the flipbook format. Flipbooks with extra props Creator Roger Wieland gains extra props for the usage of actual blades of grass in this lawnmower animation. As the figure mows the lawn in this full-colour flipbook, which captures each rotation of the mower to perfection, grass bursts from the pages as the animation nears its end. This extra effect shows how additional effects can go a long way to helping a flipbook stand out. How flipbooks changed animation. Persistence of vision was key to early animation devices like the Zoetrope. These cylindrical gizmos blew the bowler hats off Victorian audiences by presenting a rapid sequence of images from within a rotating drum. Flipbooks are a little different, however — they present images in linear sequence, rather than through a circular device. It was actually the Victorian printer John Barnes Linnett who pioneered flipbooks in the 1860s, and their potential for animation and filmmaking quickly became apparent. By the late nineteenth century, early motion picture devices like the Mutoscope had replaced the paper pages of a flipbook with photographic prints. With the advent of video, flipbook principles then laid the groundwork for traditional cel animation techniques. Animation teams from Steamboat Willie right through to Who Framed Roger Rabbit drew incremental sequences of linear images onto celluloid and projected them in rapid succession. They also used flipbooks to plan drawings and in-betweens. Today, hand-drawn animation techniques are largely out of favour in the TV and film industries, with computer animation more popular. Nonetheless, a subculture of back-to-basics animation enthusiasts have brought flipbooks out of the archives and back onto social media feeds. In the next section, we’ll talk about why they’re still popular. Why are flipbooks so popular? From Mutoscopes to Monsters, Inc, a lot’s changed since the early days of animation. Many techniques have faded into obscurity. So, why are flipbook animations still going strong? 1. They only need basic materials. Most animations require software, equipment and technical skills. In other words, you’ll need to know your frame rates from your keyframes. That’s before we’ve even got to drawing, modelling or creating characters of course.
5 With an animation flipbook, all you need is a thick stack of paper, a pen or pencil, and a great idea. 2. They’re a gateway to animation. Many animators cut their teeth with flipbook doodles. They’re a great way to bring characters to life, test scenes and hone your creative skills. You can start small too. Picture a car driving across the page, a child bouncing a ball, or a flower growing in the sun. From there, you can build more elaborate stories and concepts. 3. They’re easy to teach. A flipbook is an invaluable tool if you’re teaching students or beginners the basics of animation. It provides an accessible way to draw a character and tell a story. 4. They’re great for gifts. Flipbooks make the perfect creative gift. Why not tell the story of the first time you met your partner, or play out a long running in-joke with your best friend? 5. They’re accessible. You don’t need to be a natural artist to create a flipbook. In fact, rudimentary drawings can be just as effective as more lifelike, creative or intricate designs. What’s more, the pared-back equipment list means you can create one from wherever. 6. The pros do it too. Flipbooks aren’t just for novices. Pro artists, cartoonists and animators use them to demonstrate their craft, while some even create flipbooks to sell as art or souvenirs. Others use their flipbooks to build followers online. In fact, a number of artists and animators challenge themselves to create one in just an hour. The results can be spellbinding.
6 7. They’re YouTube-worthy and Insta-ready. Flipbook videos are huge. Pro artist Andy Bailey’s channel Andymation has 4.3 million YouTube subscribers and combines incredible flipbook and stop-motion videos with accessible how-tos. Instagram and TikTok are also loaded with creative flipbook ideas, ranging from tragic goldfish love stories to dancing stick people. The sky’s the limit when it comes to flipbook ideas. How to make a traditional flipbook Flipbooks are a great introduction to animation and a great was to flex your drawing skills! You can find all of the supplies for this in our makerspace if you visit, and we've also made this tutorial for you to use materials you probably have at home. This project can be done by students of all ages, and incorporates many skills including story telling, drawing, and using scissors that are great for young learners. Let's get started making a flipbook! Supplies For this project you'll need: Paper- Any kind of paper works. For this tutorial we're using letter sized paper. Pen or Pencil Rubber bands, binder clip, tape or glue- to bind the edge of your flip book. For this tutorial I used a binder clip. Use what you have at home! Ruler or straightedge Scissors Optional: markers- add some color to your flip book a computer or phone to research sprites a printer to print out a template Step by steps process of Creating Flipbook Step 1: Measure Out Your Template For this tutorial we'll be using letter sized paper, which is the size of paper you'll find in most American homes and offices. On the short side of our paper, we're going to use our ruler to mark at .5", 4.25" (halfway across the page), and 4.75". This will divide our page into two equally sized columns with a .5" border on the left for the binding. Flip the paper over and mark at 3.75", 4.25", and 8". Use your ruler to connect the the dots to create your guides. Next we'll mark along the long side of our paper on both sides at 2.75" intervals. Connect these dots to make your horizontal guides. You've now separated your page into 8 frames for drawing with a marked edge for your binding. For my flipbook I had 24 frames made from 3 sheets of paper, so you may need to repeat this step a few more times. If you have a printer, you can download this template to get started. Visit the link below to download the template. https://content.instructables.com/F39/9JQ3/K7ZALEWN/F399JQ3K7ZALEWN.pdf
7 Step 2: Design Your Sprites Now we get to the fun drawing part where you will design your sprites! You may have used sprites before with scratch tutorials to make a moving scene. Sprites are the individual components of the drawing that come together to form a moving scene. These are the individual drawings that when put together in your flipbook, will give the effect of motion when the pages are flipped. Here I am drawing a dog running, and I broke the motion into four different sprites, with the dog’s legs in different positions for the separate frames. Research animation sprites if you need inspiration or need to see how different animals and objects move. Step 3: Trace Your Frames Now that you have designed your sprites, you will trace them into your flipbook to create the frames of your animation. I am creating a dog running from the right to the left of the page, so I shifted each frame slightly to show movement. Repeat this step for each frame of your drawing. To make tracing easier, hold your paper up to the window so the light coming through helps you view what you are tracing. This step can also be done on a computer in a program like google draw or gravit, and then your pages printed out.
8 Step 4: Add Any More Details Now is the time to add more details! Give your flipbook more detail and visual interest! I added a collar to my dog and some grass in the background. Repeat this with each frame. Step 5: Cut Out Your Frames Using you scissors, cut out each frame. Make sure to leave the border on the left side of the frame for the binding. Stack all of your frames in order, and tap your pages down to the right side of the book so all of the pages are aligned. Step 6: Bind Your Book With your pages all assembled together, its time to bind your book. I used a binder clip for thing, but you can also use rubber bands or glue, too. See what you have around your house, and investigate which materials work best to bind your book. If you want to add a title page like I did, now is the time to add it. Step 7: Show Off Your Flipbook Your flipbook is now finished! Flip through the pages and show off your story! If you want to go further, you can add to your story by creating additional flipbooks with more scenes! We'd love to see what your making while we are all self isolating, so add pictures of your project to the comments or the STEAM at Drew facebook page!
9 Flipbooks are one of the simplest forms of animations — but there are a few things to remember if you want to get yours right. Here are some tips on how to nail your animated book drawing. 1. Gather all the materials you need. All you really need to get started is a pad of paper and a pen/pencil. If you’re using a sketchpad, look for: A size of around 7.5cm x 12cm. Smaller pages are easier to flip, as they encounter less wind resistance. Thin, good quality paper. You’ll need to be able to see through your paper and trace your next image. But don’t go too thin. Tracing paper, for example, will crumple. A solid backing. This will provide a firm base to lean on when you draw. It will also give your pad a crisp flipping action. Of course, you can also invest in a blank flipbook from art supply shops. These are rectangular pads, purpose built for flipbook animation. You can also bind paper with staples, clips or glue. Top tip: use an LED light pad as a backdrop for your flipbook. It will help you trace your images. 2. Get your story straight. Before you start, it’s important to know what you’re creating. Think about the characters, story and style of your flipbook. This will help create a more engaging, consistent animation. Top tip: You could consider sketching animation key poses. These are the basic spatial positions your character or object will follow. Use these as a reference point to map the movements between them. 3. Create your first drawing. Next, it’s time to start sketching. Draw your first image on the very last page of your flipbook. As flipbooks are best flipped from back to front, this will be your starting point. It’s to keep towards the right-hand side of the sheet. If you go too close to the spine/gutter of the page, you won’t see your images clearly. 4. Layer your next drawing. Now you’ve drawn your first image, it’s time to start building a sense of fluidity. To do this, lay your second-to-last sheet on top of your first illustration (remember — you’re working back to front here).
10 You should be able to see your earlier illustration through the page. Use this as a reference point for your next image. This frame should deviate very slightly from the first image, following the motion of your animation. 5. Continue your sequence. Next, continue layering your images. Make gradual progress from one frame to the next until you get a smooth, fluid movement. Keep drawing and adding images until you finish the sequence. The more pages you include, the smoother your animation. 6. Add the finishing touches. Once you’ve nailed your basic flipbook animation, you can go back and add scenery, characterisation and colour. The finished product can be as detailed or pared-back as you want. 7. Flip your book! Ready for the big reveal? Brace your book against your thumb, release the pressure and fan the pages in sequence. Hey presto – you’ve just created an animation! 8. Share your creation. Finally, share your flipbook with the world. You might just be handing it over as a gift, or showing it off to a friend in person. But if you’re looking to share on Instagram, TikTok or other social media channels, you’ll need to film it first. To do this, mount a camera in an aerial position above a desk or backdrop, and remember that you’ll need to fit the book and your hands underneath. Next, film your flipbook working its magic. Once you’re done, use editing software to cut down your video and edit out any missteps. Set it to music and upload it to your favourite platform. Did you know? Hand-drawn animation is a painstaking process. More than 600 animators and artists worked on Disney’s 1994 classic The Lion King.
11 Learning Activity 1 Traditional vs. Digital Flipbook Venn Diagram Instruction: Given the Venn diagram below compare and contrast the characteristics of traditional and digital flipbooks. Venn Diagram Traditional Flipbook Digital Flipbook
12 Summary of the Lesson This lesson introduces the concept of flipbook animation and its popularity in the modern era. Flipbooks use a series of static images to create the illusion of movement when flipped through in sequence. The persistence of vision optical illusion allows the brain to merge the images into a continuous stream. The lesson provides examples of impressive flipbook animations found online, showcasing different styles and techniques. The history of flipbooks is discussed, highlighting how they evolved from early animation devices like the Zoetrope and were pioneered by John Barnes Linnett in the 1860s. Flipbooks played a significant role in the development of motion picture devices and traditional cel animation techniques. The lesson then explores why flipbooks remain popular today. They require basic materials, making them accessible for beginners and teaching tools for animation. Flipbooks can be personalized as creative gifts and are used by professionals to showcase their skills. The rise of social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok has given flipbooks a wider audience, with artists and animators sharing their creations online. The lesson provides a step-by-step guide on how to make a traditional flipbook, including measuring out templates, designing sprites, tracing frames, adding details, cutting out frames, and binding the book. It also offers tips on how to create successful flipbook animations, such as gathering the right materials, planning the story and style, layering the drawings, and adding finishing touches. Finally, the lesson emphasizes the importance of sharing flipbook creations, whether as gifts, in-person demonstrations, or through filming and sharing on social media platforms.
13 Post-assessment Instructions: Choose the correct answer for each question based on the information provided in the lesson. 1. What is the optical illusion that flipbooks are based on called? a) Persistence of vision b) Motion perception c) Image persistence d) Visual illusion 2. Who is credited with pioneering flipbooks in the 1860s? a) John Barnes Linnett b) Andy Bailey c) Roger Wieland d) Amy Pirkle 3. What is a common material used to bind the pages of a flipbook together? a) Rubber bands b) Binder clips c) Glue d) All of the above 4. What is a sprite in flipbook animation? a) The individual drawings that form a moving scene b) The border used for binding the flipbook c) The first image in the sequence d) The pages that form the flipbook 5. Why are flipbooks popular as a teaching tool? a) They require advanced technical skills b) They are great for gifts c) They are accessible to all skill levels d) They can be created using computer animation software 6. What is a key pose in animation? a) The first image in a flipbook b) A basic spatial position used as a reference point c) The final image in a flipbook d) The individual components of a drawing 7. How should you position your first drawing in a flipbook? a) In the center of the page b) Towards the right-hand side of the page c) Towards the left-hand side of the page d) In the middle of the page 8. What should you do to create a sense of fluidity in a flipbook animation? a) Use thicker paper for the pages b) Add more pages to the flipbook c) Deviate slightly from the previous image in each frame
14 d) Use different colors for each image 9. What can you add to a flipbook after creating the basic animation? a) Scenery and characterization b) Additional pages for more frames c) Music and sound effects d) Different paper sizes for visual variety 10. How can you share a flipbook animation on social media? a) Film the flipbook and upload the video b) Scan each page and create a digital flipbook c) Take photos of each page and share them as a slideshow d) Write a detailed description of the flipbook's contents
15 Performance Task Title: Create your own Traditional/hand-drawn Flipbook Objective: Students will create a simple flipbook animation to explore the principles of animation and unleash their creativity. Materials: Letter-sized paper or small notepad Pencils or pens Ruler Scissors (optional) Binder clips, rubber bands, tape, or glue (to bind the flipbook) Optional: Markers or colored pencils for adding color to the animation Instructions: Create a 30-second traditional flipbook using the materials provided above (paper, pencils, and binder clips) with a theme of Christmas. Use the tips and techniques you have learned to showcase the Christmas spirit and bring the holiday joy to life through your flipbook. Rubrics Note: This rubric is intended to provide a general framework for evaluating a traditional flipbook with a Christmas theme. Feel free to adapt it according to your specific requirements and expectations Criteria Excellent (25-20) Good (20-15) Fair (15-10) Needs Improvement (10-5) Points Theme Effectively captures the essence of Christmas and conveys the holiday spirit in a creative and engaging manner. Showcases the theme of Christmas and partially captures the holiday spirit, but some elements could be further developed. Loosely represents the theme of Christmas, but lacks coherence and fails to evoke the holiday spirit. does not effectively convey the theme of Christmas and does not capture the holiday spirit. 25 Creativi ty and Executio n Demonstrates exceptional creativity and originality in its design and execution. Demonstrates creativity and originality in its design and execution. Shows some creativity in its design and execution, but there are areas where improvement is needed. Lacks creativity and originality in its design and execution. 25 Technic al Skills Exhibits excellent technical skills in the use of frame sequencing, smooth transitions, and effective use of space. Demonstrates good technical skills in frame sequencing, transitions, and use of space. Shows basic technical skills, but there are noticeable issues with frame sequencing, transitions, or use of space. Lacks technical skills in frame sequencing, transitions, and use of space. 25 Impact and Christm as Spirit Has a strong emotional impact, effectively evoking the Christmas spirit and leaving the viewer with a sense of joy and warmth. Has some emotional impact and partially evokes the Christmas spirit. Has limited emotional impact and fails to evoke the Christmas spirit. Lacks emotional impact and fails to evoke the Christmas spirit. 100pt
16 Answer Keys Pre-assessment Answers: 1. a) Persistence of vision 2. a) John Barnes Linnett 3. b) They are a gateway to computer animation. 4. b) Thick stack of paper, pen or pencil, and a binder clip 5. c) They help students develop their drawing skills. 6. c) The paper should be thin but not too flimsy. 7. c) Attaching them with rubber bands or a binder clip 8. c) 7.5cm x 12cm 9. c) From back to front 10. b) By recording a video of the flipbook in action Post-Assessment 1. a) Persistence of vision 2. a) John Barnes Linnett 3. d) All of the above 4. a) The individual drawings that form a moving scene 5. c) They are accessible to all skill levels 6. b) A basic spatial position used as a reference point 7. b) Towards the right-hand side of the page 8. c) Deviate slightly from the previous image in each frame 9. a) Scenery and characterization 10. a) Film the flipbook and upload the video
17 REFERENCES Flipbook Animation | Introduction to Animated Flipbooks | Adobe. (n.d.). https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/animation/discover/flipbook-animation.html Instructables. (2020). Let’s Make a Flipbook. Instructables. https://www.instructables.com/LetsMake-a-Flipbook/ STEAM @ Drew. (2020, March 20). Cut Your Flipbook [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9p3sIZcCzE