Zoetrope strips: galloping horse, bouncing ball, blank strip

A zoetrope is a slotted paper drum. When a strip of drawings is set inside and the drum spins, the frames seem to move. These nine pictures give three strips of twelve frames: a galloping horse in silhouette, a ball bouncing on the ground, and a blank strip for children to draw their own animation. Each comes in black ink, flat colour and pencil sketch. Type another animation, such as a running dog, and the twelve frames stay the same.

• an animation lesson for a class
• a toy for a child to draw in
• a science display on motion
• a gift with a hand-drawn animation

Frequently asked questions

What do the nine pictures show?

Printable zoetrope strips in three animations, each in black ink, flat colour and pencil sketch.

How many frames does each strip have?

Twelve, in a long row, with frame divisions and solid cut lines along the long edges.

How do I use the strip?

Cut the strip out, set it inside a slotted drum, and spin the drum while you look through the slots.

Can I draw my own animation?

Yes. The blank strip has twelve empty frames, each with a faint ground line and centre mark to draw in.

About toile

This page is a showcase and a starting point: nine samples already rendered, three readings of the pack crossed with three styles, each shown at the size and ratio it was made for. Take any of them further on the wall with a few words, or ask for all nine again under your own direction; a sign-in keeps what you make, and it is free while Toile is new. The recipe behind each sample — the subject, the style, the palette, the framing — travels with the image rather than staying private to the render: it is in the alt text of every sample and in the page's own structured data, so a search engine reads the same handles a person would.