The magic of motion: a brief history of zoetropes

First cropping up in the 1800s (long before the age of screens and CGI), the zoetrope captivated imaginations and brought still images to life. The name "zoetrope" literally means "wheel of life," and that’s exactly what it was, a little drum with viewing slits and a series of hand-drawn frames inside. Spin the drum, peek through the slits, and voilà… motion, without a single electronic gadget in sight!

Fast forward to the digital age, and this charming bit of optical wizardry still manages to turn heads. The core concept of the zoetrope (creating motion from still images) has inspired everything from early cinema to modern-day animation. And today, it's found a quirky new home in a medium close to every music lover’s heart: vinyl records.

At Zoetrope Vinyls, we’ve taken this time-tested principle and given it a spin (literally), with custom vinyl records that feature mesmerising zoetrope animations right on the surface. Just place one of our records on your turntable, and as the music starts to play you’ll see a dazzling display of motion come to life before your eyes. It's a perfect blend of old-school ingenuity and modern-day artistry, playfully bringing music and animation together.

So next time you’re grooving to your favourite track, remember, you’re also watching a bit of history in action.

An original zoetrope from the 1800s.

One of our zoetrope designs adapted for vinyl record.

How to view your zoetrope vinyls

Got your zoetrope vinyl? Let’s bring that artwork to life! Whether using your phone or a strobe light, here's how to get the best view:

Viewing through your camera/phone

  1. Spin the vinyl at the speed specified for your design (33, 45, or 78 RPM).

  2. Use as much light as possible to sharpen the image (daylight is king, but bringing lamps over also works very well) .

  3. Point your camera at the spinning vinyl and the animation will appear on screen. If it’s not working, make sure your phone is recording at 30fps.

Tip: If you are struggling to get your camera to stick to 30fps, try downloading the ‘ilumiscope’ app (for iPhone).

Viewing with a strobe light (or strobe light app)

Want to watch the animation with your own eyes? No problem! All you need is a strobe light or a strobe app.

  1. Set your strobe light (or app) to 30Hz.

  2. Shine the strobe at the spinning record to see the animation with your own eyes. Dim the room lights for a clearer view.

Tip: We recommend ‘Strobe Light Tachometer’ (for iPhone) & Strobily (for android).

Tips & troubleshooting

Here are a few extra tips to help make sure your zoetrope vinyl looks as sharp and smooth as possible:

More Light: Bright, direct light is key. Daylight is king, but if that’s not possible, then any extra lamps can make a huge difference in clarity.
If you’re using a strobe light then you’ll want a darker room, but the brighter the strobe light the better.

Fine-Tune the Focus: Before you press play, lock in the focus on your camera. This helps keep the animation sharp as the record spins.

Check the Speed: If things look too fast (or too slow), double-check that your turntable is set to the correct RPM. Try switching between 33 and 45 to see what works best.


If you have any questions, just reach out to us at hello@zoetropevinyls.com.
We’re here to help make sure your zoetrope experience is as magical as the music itself!