Crystal Zoetrope: New visual medium for displaying 3D animation

Abstract

Initially an optical toy from the pre-cinema era, the Zoetrope was turned into a three-dimensional (3D) animation display. `Crystal Zoetrope' is a new visual medium involving a glass disc with numerous engraved objects that displays a sophisticated 3D animation. It can be built in small sizes and even be embedded in everyday objects or environments. This new visual medium made it possible to produce the 3D animation `Sea of Stars' that portrays the life cycle of planets in the universe. The project result was exhibited at SIGGRAPH 2009 Emerging Technologies, where many spectators appreciated this small-particle animation of stars in space.