Flip Book Animation: Absolute Joy

Do you know what a flip book is? I am sure you do! A flip book is a book containing a series of images that seem to come to life when the pages are flipped with speed. Each picture is a small variation of the previous one and the pages are usually flipped from back to front. This kind of animation is one of the earliest types and was first discovered in the latter half of the 19th century. You would be surprised to know that even though it requires a lot of time, effort and talent, you don’t need to be a student of one of the top 20 animation colleges in India to try it out at home.

Young children find flip book animation extremely alluring. I bought one for my little cousin, and he made me flip the book over at least 20 times in a row. As I said earlier, you don’t need to pursue multimedia courses to do it yourself. I have briefly mentioned the procedure of making your own flip book at home. Read ahead:

1.    Lots of paper

You would need a big stack of thin paper to create the desired illusion. Notebooks, notepads, post-it notes would do. More frames per second would result in a more realistic effect.

2.    Subject

You could take help from the internet, or draw anything that interests you. Since it involves a lot of drawing, it is advised to choose an uncomplicated subject.

3.    Start from the back

Your first drawing should be on the last page, second on the penultimate page, and so on. Try avoiding the use of indelible ink if you are a beginner. Drawing with a pencil leaves scope for changes. The idea of starting from the back and using thin sheets has a reason. You would be able to trace your last drawing through the thin sheet when you start from the back.

4.    Gradual changes

Keep making slight changes to each image. Being able to look through the previous image would help you draw the next one with a small change. Keep repeating the process till you run out of paper.

5.    Adjustments

When you are done, try flipping the book from the back. If you are not content with some images, don’t hesitate to make slight adjustments. But do keep in mind that one adjustment would lead to another. Be very careful!

6.    Try it out

After all adjustments, proudly show the end result to your friends, family, and acquaintances. Best of luck!