Rotoscope

Absolut Panushka, Jan-Apr 1997.

Rotoscope

Rotoscoping is the technique of re-drawing live-action images on paper in order to capture natural motion in one’s illustrations. A live-action movement is filmed. This piece of film is then projected onto a drawing surface, frame by frame. Animators then use the projected images as guides for their artwork. Once they have completed this artwork, they shoot the drawings, capturing the motion they desired from the original live-action film.

Rotoscoping is often used in commercials and music videos. Its most famous use may be the animation of one of the skeletons in the 1932 Betty Boop cartoon Minnie the Moocher, which featured the famous dancer Cab Calloway as a guide for the skeleton dance.

Moritz, William. “History of Experimental Animation.” Website. Absolut Panushka, curated by Christine Panushka. (Jan-Apr 1997).