Family Dinner Project- May – Thaumatrope Theatre
Wes Anderson, American, 1969
In March 2018, Anderson returned to the realm of stop-motion animation with Isle of Dogs. Based on the story of a 12-year-old boy who seeks to protect his city’s canines from a vengeful mayor, the film featured a star-studded cast that included Bryan Cranston and other longtime collaborators, like Murray.
Isle of Dogs debuted to an estimated $1.57 million over 27 theaters across six North American cities, the biggest opening of the director’s career, and later nabbed an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
biography excerpts taken from biography.com/filmmaker/wes-anderson
History of the Thaumatrope
An optical toy consisting of a disc of cardboard with different images on each side that can be rapidly revolved through use of two twisted strings. As the disc spins the images appear to merge, an effect similar to that experienced when a coin is spun. The Thaumatrope was produced as a toy by John Ayrton Paris in London in 1826, and is sometimes also referred to as the Faraday Wheel after the British scientist Michael Faraday who investigated the principle of persistence of vision upon which the illusion is based. Optical toys of this sort were popular during the Victorian era and are considered important precursors to the development of the early cinema. (oxford reference)






To begin your project, we must first gather materials.
- paper
- coloring utencils
- cereal box
- stick
- glue
- scissors
Now that we have our supplies, it’s time to assemble.
- Use a round object to trace two circles on your cereal box cardboard and 2 circles on your paper. You will end up with four identical circles.
- Think of the images you want to draw. With a thaumatrope, you place two images opposite each other that once spun will merge together. Once famous example of a thaumatrope is an empty cage on one side and a bird on the other, once spun the bird is placed in the cage. For our example we did an empty fish bowl and a fish.
- Draw your images on the paper circles.
- Glue each paper circle to its own cardboard circle.
- Glue, or hot glue, the two circles to the stick making sure the images are lined up opposite of the other. Let it dry before you begin playing with it.
- Spin the stick in between your hands and watch how the images merge together. How neat!
Last step…
- Share! Post your projects on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #qacfamilydinnerproject for your chance to win a $40 gift certificate to use towards classes and workshops at the Art Center! Winner will be drawn June 30!
*SAFETY NOTE: All children under 15 should be accompanied by an adult. Be sure that you read all product directions before use and follow all safety directions listed. When use of hazardous fumes, example: spray paint, use outside or in a well-ventilated space.
**SAFETY PRO-TIP: When using hot glue, if hot glue gets onto your skin DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PULL IT OFF WHILE THE GLUE IS STILL HOT, this will only spread the glue and cause more harm. DO Run area under cool water until glue has cooled or the glue pops off. There will still be a burn, but the injury will be limited. Use burn cream if necessary. Seek medical attention when needed.