Flashlight Orchestra, Further Explanation

This small toy flashlight was part of the inspiration of this project.


I took it apart and found that it used a pretty simple set up and thought that maybe the cell could be a series of images instead of just one.


After some further research I found this old animation machine. Though much larger, it uses a similar design, where a large glass disk is spun and a Gleisser tube flashes light though the transparencies to create a weak projection.


So will all of this fit into a flashlight? I don't know! But I'm going to start taking apart some larger toy flashlights soon like this one to find out.

Flashlight Orchestra

Currently in the midst of brainstorming a new installation / product / animation idea. Here is an official proposal I wrote up:

Inspired by cave paintings, flashlights, early animation devices and visual music, I'd like to create a space where an audience can interactively create visuals to accompany a live musical performance. I will design a hand cranked animation flashlight that essentially allows one to project a simple animation cycle. 15-20 people will be given these flashlights and invited into a fort made out of paper or blankets. While a live group of musicians plays campfire jingles the audience will be invited to project their animated flashlights onto the fort walls. Each flashlight will contain a different animated sequence. The audience can choose how the animated sequences interact and hopefully spontaneous and unique stories will develop with each performance.

Proposed design for the flashlight:


Drawing of the proposed fort set-up: