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Discover Science World Resources: Get Animated with Illusion-Themed Activities

Animation involves the blending of art, science and technology. The process of animation involves illustrating, storyboarding and filming—among other processes. But did you know that animating static images involves the optical illusion of motion?

The basis behind all animation is the idea of persistance of vision, which is how our brains perceive moving static images as images in motion. Scientists attribute this feature to how the visual cortex of our brain processes the visual information we receive (colour, depth, form, etc.) via our retinas.

Research and historical evidence show that we begin to perceive motion and lose awareness of the spaces between the static images when they are shown at a rate as low as 10 frames per second. Cool, huh?

Discover optical illusions for yourself!

  • Learn how images are formed from the combination of information received by rods and cones on the retina in this fun puzzle/relay game
  • Investigate how the structure and placement of our eyes creates depth perception in this random dot stereogram demonstration
  • Explore how we appear to see colours from a spinning black and white disk
  • Investigate how our brains blend separate images by making a thaumatrope
  • Turn a series of static images into motion by making a stroboscope

For the full unit, check out Illusions.

Check out this great TED-ED lesson idea on Animation Basics. 

Make sure to visit the Animation exhibition, opening Saturday, February 7. Check out more hands-on, teacher-tested activities at Science World Resources

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Buddy the T-Rex

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Geodessy

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Western Dinosaur

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.