US2091144A - Method for producing animated pictures - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, 1937.

R. McS. FREIL METHOD FOR PRODUCING ANIMATED PICTURES Filed June 13, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENZLOR. W -4 aha W i? ATTQRNEY.

Aug. 24, 1937. R. McS. FREIL METHOD FOR PRODUCING ANIMATED PICTURES Filed June 13, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 24, 1937. R. McS. FREIL METHOD FOR PRODUCING ANIMATED PICTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 13, 1935 INVENTOR.

* ATTORNEY.

Aug. 24, 1937. R. McS. FREIL 2,091,144

METHOD FOR PRODUCING ANIMATED PICTURES Filed June 13, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

f BY ,maflh Patented Aug. 24, 1937 PATENT OFFICE METHOD FOR PRODUCING ANDIATED PICTURES Raymond McShea Freil, Yonkers, N. Y., assignor to Justin X. McCarthy, Yonkers, N. Y.

Application June 13, 1935, Serial No. 26,359

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved method for the production of animated pictures, such as animated cartoons used in producing motion pictures, or used by insertion in motion pictures.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a method by means of which an animated picture may be made in a very much shorter length of time and with much less labor than is required by any known process.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 shows several sheets bearing an animated object in successive positions Fig. 2 shows several sheets bearing the head only of an animated figure;

Fig. 3 shows a sheet bearing the head in detail and the rest of the body in outline;

Fig. 4 shows a sheet bearing an animated figure located in proper registration in front of a background scene;

Fig. 5 shows a sheet bearing an animated figure after being perforated;

Fig. 6 shows the step of locating the animated figure in proper position on a sheet of transparent tration board.

In order that a complete understanding of my invention may be had, I will first describe the method now in common use for producing a scene'in an animated picture.

An artist first draws a picture showing the background for the particular scene here under consideration. It the animated picture is to be in black and white or half tone, this picture will be made with pen and ink. If, on the other hand, the cartoon is to be in colors, the picture will be painted in any suitable manner in colors. The picture of the background, whether in black and white or in colors, is drawn on a sheet of opaque paper which is provided with any suitable regis- Fig. 11 is a top view of another form of registration means adjacent the border thereof, such as spaced holes, through which may be placed registration pins which definitely fix the position of the picture on a suitable supporting surface. Thereaiter, an artist known in the profession as an animator or an animator artist, draws a number of sketches showing any moving object, such as a person, an animal or the like, which it may be desired to show in action in the cartoon. To do this he places a sheet of paper provided with registration holes on the registration pins of an animation board. This latter consists of a drawing board in which is set a piece of glass under which is placed a light in order that lines placed on one sheet of paper may be seen through several sheets. After taking guide lines from the background scene in order to plot the path of movement of the object across the scene, as called for by the scenario,

the animator sketches the object in the first 'position in which it appears in this scene. He then places another sheet of animation paper on. the board over the one already there and sketches the object in another position somewhat removed from the first position. In doing this he to reach for the book and in the position in which v he has just grasped the book. If the man is walking across the scene, the animator draws a number of sketches, each on a separate sheet of paper, showing the extreme positions of the v2 ious parts of the mans body for each of the several steps, jumps or so forth required to carry him across the scene. After the animator has completed the sketches showing the animated objects in all the extreme positions which they may occupy during the scene, these sketches are given to an artist known as an animators assistant or an-inbetweener". It is the duty of this assistant to make additional sketches showing the positions of the animated object between the extreme positions sketched by the animator. The number of in-between sketches depends upon the speed with which it is desired to showthe object mov- The sketches made by the animator and the assistant are numbered consecutively and given to an artist known as a tracer. The tracer places each sketch on the registration pins of a tracing board and places thereover a sheet of celluloid or other transparent material, which is also provided with registration holes. The tracer then traces each of the many sketches in ink on a separate sheet of celluloid. Sixteen sketches for each foot of standard moving picture film must be made and traced. This is a difiicult operation, inasmuch as celluloid or other known suitabletransparent material does not take ink readily. After the ink has been allowed to dry, each celluloid sheet is turned over on the reverse side and an artist fills in the outline of the animated object with opaque paint. If a black and white or half tone cartoon is to be produced, the paint used is black and white; otherwise the'desired colors are painted on the reverse side of the celluloid. In any event, the entire outline of the object must be filled in with oqaque paint so that when the object is photographed over the background, the latter will not show through the object.

After the complete series of the animated object on the celluloid sheets has been produced, the sheet containing the background is placed over registration pins on a board mounted in fixed relation to a moving picture camera. Thereafter, the celluloid sheets are placed one by one over the background, which shows through the celluloid at all places except where the animated object is located. As each sheet is placed over the background; a photograph is taken by themoving picture camera. When all of the celluloid sheets have been photographed over the background in this manner, a strip of moving picture film has been obtained, consisting of a picture sequence, each picture of which shows the animated object in a slightly different position. This film, when developed, printed and run through a projection apparatus at the usualrate of speed, will throw a picture on a screen, This picture will show the background as stationary and the animated objects as moving over the background.

In using the method above described, it is apparent that a tremendous number of man-hours is required for the making of the thousands of sketches and tracings required for a complete animated picture. As above stated, a standard moving picture film has sixteen pictures to the foot and the animated cartoons now being produced run from seven hundred to a thousand feet or more. This means that at least between 11,200 and 16,000 sketches and tracings must be made by hand. This is on the basis that only one aminated object appears in any one picture. Actually, it is necessary to show many moving objects in most of the pictures and each requires a separate sketch and tracing. The result is each animated cartoon as produced today requires from 50,000 to an almost limitless number of individually made sketches and tracings.

In accordance with my invention, as distinguished from the process above described, the

. animator artist draws pictures of the animated object in the extreme positions for any particular cycle of movement, and in-between positions of the object may be drawn by either himselfapt to be the casewhere the extremes are made by the animator and the in-between positions by one or more assistants. These pictures are drawn with pen and ink for a black and white or half tone cartoon, and in colors for a colored cartoon. They may be drawn in any size desired, that is, if detail is desired, they may be drawn on a much larger scale than could be eventuall used. Thereafter, these few sketches are reproduced by any suitable process, such as photo-engraving,

lithography or any color printing method and in the reproduction the size may be reduced. These reproductions are printed on sheets of paper preferably considerably smaller than regulation animation paper. In Fig. 1 there is shown a number of these sheets 40 on which have been reproduced an animated figure in successive positions, namely, a man in the act of walking. If the scenario calls for the object to be moving toward or away from the camera, that is, in perspective, reproductions in different sizes may be made. If one part of the animated object is to be shown in greater detail than the rest, as is usually-the case when a person is illustrated, the head being shown in much more detail than the rest of the body, the animator may make eight or ten views of the head in detail, taken from different angles, and these may be reproduced as above described. Such reproductions are shown on sheets 40a in Fig. 2. Later the rest of the body may be sketched in on these reproductions in the proper sequence of positions. Also, such changeable features as the eyes and mouth may be left blank on the originals and sketched in the desired positions on the reproductions. This'work may be done much more rapidly than would be the case if the animator or his assistant had to draw the head in detail for each sketch.

If desired, the reproductions may consist of one part of the object, such as the head of a person, drawn in some detail and reproduced on one side of the paper, and an outline giving merely the proportions of the rest of the object, printed on the reverse side, as shown on sheet 40b in 3. This outline will not show through the paper sufliciently to be photographed, but. can be seen by the artist completing the sketch when placed on an illuminated animation board and will aid him greatly when completing the sketch on the front side of the paper by giving him the correct proportions. Instead of printing the outline on the reverse side of the reproductions, it may be printed on the front side in a color which will not photograph, such as light blue.

After the reproductions of the drawings showing the animated object in whole or in part have been obtained, a strip of paper I having registration holes therein is placed on the pins 42 of a registration board 43, the picture 44 of the background preferably being already on the board, and the reproduction showing the object in the first position it assumes in that scene is placed thereon in proper location with respect to the background. The strip of paper is wide enough to, overlap the edge of the sheet bearing the reproduction, as shown 2.1145, but does not overlap sumciently to cover any part of the animated object. It is usually convenient to use animation paper for this purpose and to tear it into strips of suflicient width to overlap slightly the sheet bearing the reproduction. This sheet, which has been properly located with respect to the background is now attached, as by pasting, to the strip and hence a permanent means of registration is obtained. If the reproduction is said object in its first position, and in this posi-- tion is attached to the second strip. This procedure is repeated until a series of reproductions attache'd to strips is obtained showing the animated object in all positions which it occupies in the scene.

If the nature of the action is such that the animated object repeatedly goes through a cycle of movement, as is the case with a person walking where a number of steps or strides are similar, only a few drawings showing one complete cycle, in this case a step or stride, need be made. These are then reproduced so as to provide a number of copies of each. In order to show a person walking across the'scene, the reproduc- 85 tions showing a complete step are secured to strips,. as above described, to show the first step and then similar reproductions may be employed to show subsequent steps.

If the cartoon is in color, thereproductionsmay be in color and the additional sketching on. each reproduction is of course done in color., HOW-.

ever, ifthe elaborate coloring obtainable by color r printing is not required, good results may be had by drawing the object in simple outline, making reproductions, and then placing the desired colorson each reproduction used. If one color' predominates, the object may be reproduced in simple outline by photo-engraving or the like on paper of that color-and the repro- 40 ductions touched up with water colors or colored ink. a s

When a series of reproductions showing the complete action of a scene have beenv secured to strips having registration holes, as above described, the paper on which each sketch appears is acted upon by any suitable instrumentalitypr agency around the outline of the object so that the portion of the paper containing the outlinemay be readily freed, partially or entirely from the rest of the sheet. A convenient way is to perforate .the sheet around the outline. in any desired manner, as is shown in Fig. 5. Thereafter, adhesive material, such asrubber cement, is spread on the back of that portion of the sheet bearing the animated object. As is shown n Fig. 6,.a sheet of celluloid 46 is placed on rEgiS-' tration pins 42 and the strip ll attached to the perforated sheet 40 is also placed on the pins, whereby the animated figure is properly located. 00 The sheet is pressed against the celluloid and the portion of the sheet containing the adhesive material sticks to the celluloid and the rest of the sheet may be removed by-completely sep- "aratlng it from the portion containing-the ani- :5 mated figure by tearing along the perforated line. The animated object has thus-been transferred to the "celluloid without the necessity of tracing it thereon and it is not necessary to place opaque paint behind the animated figure inasmuch as the paper on'which the object is drawn or printed is opaque .and prevents the background from showing through when the two are photographed in super-imposed position.

The sheetsof celluloid 46' having the animated figures in successive positions secured thereto are now placed successively on an animation board over the background scene II, as is shown in Fig. 7, and'are photographed one by one in front of the background. The resulting picture sequence shows the animated object apparently moving in front of the background;

' If the picture of the animated object is completely, instead of partially, separated from the rest of the sheet before being secured to the celluloid, the strip ll is placed on the registration 1 pins 42 over, the celluloid ll, the remainder of the sheet being attached thereto. The cut out picture, after having the adhesive applied thereto, is placed on the celluloid exactly in the opening in the sheet and adheres to the celluloid in this proper position.

'Ihe celluloid used in both the old process and in my novel process as above described, is expensive and it is usually desirable to use the same sheet over and over again. This may be done in the ordinary process by washing the ink -and paint therefrom after one cartoon has been completed, so that the celluloid may be used in the production of another cartoon. However, in tracing the picture on the celluloid, the pen is apt to produce scratches which will show up when the celluloid is used again. with my process, on the other hand, the paper secured to the celluloid may be readily removed by rubbing with one hand and no scratches or other undesirable effects remain on the celluloid.

In accordance with the above process, more reproductions than are required for the production of one cartoon may be made and these may be saved. After several different cartoons involving the same characters have been made and extra. reproductions saved therefrom, it is possible by proper selection of these reproductions from the cartoons already made, to produce a new cartoon with but few, if any, new drawings required.

Thus, after several cartoons have been made by desired to make up a cartoon using the same. characters as employed in several cartoons already made, the proper dies 'may be selected and used to cut out the corresponding animated objects. .In this way the animated objects may be separated from the sheets much quicker than by perforating or other methods.

It will be apparent that, if desired, all the animated sketches may be made by hand by an animator and an in-betweener, as was described above in connection with the process heretofore used, and these sketches then secured in proper location on a sheet of celluloid in the manner disclosed above. In other words, the step of making printed reproductions is omitted and replaced by handwork. However, there is still a great saving effected, in time and labor, over the old method, as the steps of tracing each sketch onto celluloid and later opaquing the celluloid tracing are eliminated.

Instead ofproviding the sheets of celluloid with registration holes to receive the registration pins in order to locate the celluloid with the animated figures secured thereto in relation to the background, an arrangement such asis shown in Figs. 8 through 10 may be employed. In these figures reference character ll designates a board provided with mistration pins ll. Pins 3! constitute the iron poles of electrode magnets 32 located beneath the board. These magnets may be energized by an electric circuit 33 provided with a switch 34.

The sheet of celluloid 35, instead of being provided with registration holes, is provided with clips or the like 36 made of magnetic material. These clips are provided with recesses 31 and the clips are so spaced apart along the edge of the celluloid that the recesses 3'! register with the pins 31. Obviously, instead of having two separate clips, one long one provided with a pair of recesses could be employed. The clips may be secured to the celluloid sheet by being bent over the edge thereof, as is shown particularly in Fig. 10.

' In operation the sheet 38 upon which is drawn or painted the background scene, and which sheet is provided with the usual registration holes, is

9 placed on the board with the pins 3| extending through these holes. This sheet remains in position during the filming of all the pictures of this particular scene. The switch 34 is closed and the magnets energized and the first celluloid sheet is placed in position, as shown in Fig. 8, and the magnetic action retains it in place. A picture is taken. Switch 34 is then opened and the celluloid sheet may be readily removed and the next one placed in position, where it is held by the closing of the switch. Thus, the many sheetsof celluloid may be rapidly placed in position over the background and removed therefrom. With the improved apparatus .above described this operation may be executed much more rapidly than is possible if the sheets of celluloid are provided with holes which fit over the registration pins. In order to obtain proper registration, there must be a rather close fit between the holes and the pins and hence the sheets cannot be removed and replaced rapidly. Moreover, if care is not taken in removing the celluloid sheets with registration holes, the celluloid is apt to become torn and hence that sheet is spoiled and cannot be used over again. With the apparatus herein disclosed,

' all of these difficulties are overcome in a simple and cheap manner.

As shown in the drawings, the registration pins- 3I are round while the recesses 31 are in the form of triangular notches. Obviously, the pins could be triangular so as to exactly fit the notches, or these recesses could be semi-circular;-

Instead of cementing or otherwise securing the animated figures to pieces of celluloid, paste or glue which has been mixed with powdered iron or other magnetic material may be applied to the back of the figure and allowed to dry. The background is placed on the registration pins of a supporting member behind which is located one or more strong electro-magnets. When the strip secured to the sheet with the figure partially separated therefrom as by perforations, is placed on the pins. thus properly locating the figure with respect to the background, the electro-magnet attracts the particlesof powdered iron glued to the back of the figure and holds it securely in place directly against the picture of the background. Thereafter, the rest of the sheet may be completely removed from the animated figure, the latter being held in place by the magnetic attraction, aided, possibly, by the hand of the operator during the separation. The background with the animated figure superimposed thereon may be photographed while the latter is still held in place by the magnet. The magnetic circuit is then interrupted and the figure-removed and the next one of the sequence put in place in the same manner. In this way the celluloid is done away with completely.

In the event that several animated figures appear in the same scene, it oftens happens that one or more figures may remain stationary for a time while others are moving about. Under these conditions, it is desirable to leave the drawing of the temporarily stationary figures on the background while the several drawings of the moving figures are being photographed. In order that one or more of several drawings magnetically held against the background may be'removed without releasing others, I provide a board as shown in Fig. 11. Reference character I designates a board provided with registration pins ll. Behind the board are a plurality of electro-magnets I2 to 23, each connected in a separate circuit controlled by individual switches l2a to 2311 respectively. Thus if it is desired to remove a drawing of an animated object from the lower left hand corner, switch 12a is opened and the other switches left closed. Hence, figures on other parts of the board are not released.

Thus it is apparent that my improved process effects a great saving in the amount of work required in the production of an animated picture, both in the drawing of the animated objects and in fixing these drawings in place on a background scene. Obviously, either of these improved steps may be used alone with proportionate savings, but to obtain the full benefit they should be used together. Moreover, my process and apparatus make it possible to do away with the use of transparent sheets entirely, while at the same time increasing the speed at which the animated objects can be placed on and removed from the background scene, whether transparent sheets are used or not.

By the term opaque as applied to paper or material in the specification and claims is meant paper or material having light transmitting qualities such that when placed, for instance,

over a background scene and illuminated from in front the latter will not show through sufficiently to be photographed, but when placed on an illuminated animation board willtransmit sufiicient light to permit the drawing on one-piece of paper to be seen through a superimposed piece or pieces.

While I have described more or less specific examples of how my process may be carried out, and more or less specific embodiments of my improved apparatus, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of explanation and illustration only, and that such modifications as will be apparent to one skilled in the art fall within the scope of my invention, which is to be limited only by the appended claims viewed in the light of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. That improvement in the art of making animated plctures which consists in drawing relatively few pictures of the more detailed portions of an animated object in different positions, printing a relative large number of permanent duplicates of said pictures 'on sheets of opaque material, completing the picture of the animated object on each duplicate so that the completed pictures show the animated object in successive positions, and photographing the completed duplicates in different successive locations with respect to the field of the camera one'by one onia strip-of film to produce a picture sequence, said different locations being such that. said picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired animation of said object.

2. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which consists in drawing rela- 6 tively few pictures of the more immobile portions of an animated object in diilferent positions, printing a relatively large number of permanent duplicates of said pictures on sheets of opaque material, completing the picture of the object on I. each duplicate so that the completed pictures show the animated object in successive positions, and photographing the completed duplicates in difierent successive locations with respect to the field of the camera one by one on a strip of film 15 to produce a picture sequence, said diiferent locations being such that said picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired animation of said object.

3. That improvement in the art of making ani- 20 mated pictures which consists in drawing a sufficient number of substantially complete pictures of an animated object in different positions to show a completecycle of a repeated movement, printing a relatively large number of permanent 25 duplicates of said pictures on sheets of opaque material, locating said duplicates successively in proper relative relation to a fiat surface carrying an image of a background scene fixed with respect to the field of a camera, and photographing 3 said background scene with the duplicates one by one in the different successive locations with respect to the background scene and to the field of the camera to produce a picture sequence on a strip of film, said proper different locations being such that said picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired repeated movement.

4. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which includes producing pictures on sheets of opaque paper of an animatedobject 40 in different positions, successively positioning'the picture sheets in proper registration with respect to a fiat surface carrying an image of a background scene, securing each picture sheetwhile so positioned to a member provided with means 46 for removably maintaining said sheet in said proper registration with said background scene, removing each picture sheet from said registration, at least partially separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet of paper on which 50 it was produced, replacing each picture sheet in said proper registration by means of said ,member, securing the picture portion of each picture sheet separately in place in said proper registration in front of said background scene, removing said member and the remainder of said picture sheet, photographing said pictures one by one in front of said scene to produce a picture sequence, said proper registration being such that said picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respect to said background scene, and removing each picture from in front of said scene after it is photo. graphed. 1

5. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which includes producing pictures on sheets of opaque paper of an animated object in difierent positions, successively positioning the picture sheets in proper registration with respect to a flat surface carrying an image of a background scene, securing each picture sheet while so positioned to a member provided with means for removably maintaining said sheet in said proper registration with said background scene, removing each picture sheet from said registration, at least partially separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet of paper on which it was produced, placing each picture sheet in said proper registration by means oi said member on a separate sheet of transparent material formed with similar means of registration, afiixing the picture portion of each picture sheet in background scene, photographing said pictures 1 one by one on said scene to produce a picture sequence, said proper registration being such that said picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respect to said background scene, and removing each sheet of transparent material from in front of said scene after it is photographed.

6. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which includes producing pictures on sheets of opaque paperof an animated object in diiierent positions, successively positioning the picture sheets in proper registration with respect to a flat surface carrying an image of a background scene, securing each picture sheet while so positioned to a member provided with means for removably maintaining said sheet in said proper registration with said background scene, removing each picture sheet from said reg- .istration, partially separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet of paper on which it was produced, replacing each picture sheet in said proper registration by means of said member, securing the picture portion of each picture sheet separately in place in said proper registration in front of said background scene, completely separating said picture portion from the remainder of the sheet, removing said member and said remainder of the sheet, photographing said pictures one by one in front of said scene to produce a picture sequence, said'proper registration being such that said picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respect to said background scene, and removing each picture from in front of said scene after it is photographed.

7. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which includes producing pictures on sheets of opaque paper of an animated object in different positions, successively positioning the picture sheets in proper registration with respect to a flat surface carrying an image of a background scene, securing each picture sheet while so positioned to a member provided with means for removably maintaining said sheet in said proper registration with said background scene, removing each picture sheet from said registration, partially separating each picture from the sheet of paper on which it was produced, applying adhesive material to the picture portion of each sheet, placing each sheet bearing a picture partially separated therefrom in place in said proper registration by means of said member on a sheet of transparent material formed with similar means of registration, completely separating each picture portion from the remainder of the sheet of paper so as to leave only the picture adhering to the transparent material, removing said member and the remainder of said picture sheet, placing each sheet of transparent material in proper registration by means of said similar means over said background scene, photographing said pictures one by one on said scene to produce a picture sequence, said proper registration for each picture being such that said picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respect to said background scene, and removing each sheet of a transparent material from in front of said scene after it is photographed.

8. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which includes producing pictures on sheets of opaque paper of an animated object 10 in different positions, successively positioning the picture sheets in proper registration with respect to a flat surface carrying an image of a background. scene, securing each picture sheet while so positioned to a member provided with 15 means for 'removably maintaining said sheet in said proper registration with said background scene, removing each picture sheet from said reglstration, at least partially separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet of paper on which it was produced, applying a mixture of adhesive material and magnetic material to the picture portion of each picture sheet, permitting said mixture to dry, locating each picture separately in place in said proper registration by means of 25 said member in front of said background scene, maintaining said picture in place by magnetic action, removing said member and the remainder of said picture sheet, photographing said pictures one by one in front of said scene to produce a 30 picture sequence, said proper registration being such that said picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respectto said background scene, and removing each picture from in front of said scene after it 35 is photographed.

9. V That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which includes producing pictures on sheets of opaque paper of an animated object in different positions, successively positioning the 40 picture sheets in proper registration with respect to a fiat surface carrying an image of a background scene, securing each sheet while so' posi-' tioned to a piece of paper provided with registration means, removingeach picture sheet from 45 said registration, at least partially separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet on which it was produced, replacing each picture sheet in said proper registration by means of said piece of paper, securing the picture portion of each 50 picture sheet separately in place in said proper registration in front of said background scene, removing said piece of paper and the remainder of said picture sheet, photographing said pictures one by one in front of said scene to produce a 55 picture sequence, said proper registration being such that the picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respect to said background scene, and removingv each picture from in front of said scene after it so is photographed.

10. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which includes producing pictures on sheets of opaque paper of an animated object in different positions, successively position- 65 ing the picture sheets in proper registration with respect to a fiat surface carrying an image of a background scene, securing each sheet while so positioned to a piece of paper provided with registration means, removing each picture sheet from 70 said registration, partially separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet on which it was produced, placing each picture sheet in said proper registration by means of said piece of paper on a separate sheet of transparent material 75 provided with similar registration means, securing the picture portion of each picture sheet in proper registration to said sheet of transparent material, completely separating each picture portion from the remainder of the sheet so as to leave only the picture portion secured to the transparent material, removing said piece of paper and the remainder of said picture sheet, placing said sheets of transparent material having the pictures secured thereto one by one over said background scene in proper registration by means of said similar means, photographing said scene with each of said pictures in front thereof to produce a picture sequence, said proper registration being such that said sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respect to said background scene, and removing each sheet of transparent material from in front of said scene after it is photographed.

11. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which consists in drawing relatively few pictures of the more immobile portions of an animated object in different positions, printing a relatively large number of permanent duplicates of said pictures on sheets of opaque material, completing the picture of the object on each duplicate, locating the duplicates successively in proper registration with respect to a flat surface carrying an image of a background scene,

securing each picture sheet while so positioned to a member provided' with means for removably maintaining said sheet in said proper registration with said background scene, removing each picture sheet from said registration, at least partially separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet of paper on which it was reproduced, replacing each picture sheet in said proper registration by means of said member, securing the picture portion of each. picture sheet separately in place in said proper registration in front of said background scene, removing said member and the remainder of said picturesheet, photographing said pictures one by one in front of said scene to produce a picture sequence, said proper registration being such that said sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respect to said background scene, and removing each picture from in front of said scene after it is photographed.

12. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which consists in drawing relatively few pictures of the more immobile portions of an animated object in difierent positions, printing a relatively large number of permanent duplicates of said pictures on sheets of opaque material, completing the picture of the object on each duplicate, locating the duplicates successively in proper registration with respect to a flat surface carrying an image of a background scene, securing each picture sheet while so positioned to a member provided with meansfor removably maintaining said sheet in said proper registration with said background scene, rem: ing each picture sheet from said registration, partially separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet of paper on which it was reproduced, replacing each picture sheet in said proper registration by means of said member, securing the picture portion of each picture sheet separately in place in said proper registration in front of said background scene, completely separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet of paper so as to leave only the picture secured in place, removing said member and the remainder of said picture sheet, photographing said pictures one by one in front of said scene to produce a picture sequence, said proper registration being such that said sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respect to said background scene, and removing each picture from in front of said scene after it is photographed.

13. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which consists in drawing relatively few pictures of the more immoble portions of an aminatedobject in difierent positions, printing a relatively large number of permanent duplicates of said pictures on sheets of opaque paper, locating the duplicates successively in proper registration with respect to a fiat surface carrying an image of a background scene, securing each sheet to a strip of paper provided with registration means, removing each picture sheet from said registration, partially separating each picture from the remainder of the sheet on which it was reproduced, placing each picture sheet in said proper registration by means of said strip of paper on a separate sheet of transparent material provided with similar means of registration, securing the picture portion of each picture sheet in proper registration to said sheet of transparent material, completely separating the picture portion from the remainder of the sheetso as to leave only the picture secured to the transparent material, removing said strip and the remainder of said picture sheet, placing each sheet of transparent material in said proper registration by means of said similar means over said background scene, photographing said pictures one by one on said scene to produce a picture sequence, said proper registrationbeing such that said picture sequence gives the appearance of the desired motion of said object with respect to said background scene, and removing each sheet of transparent material from in front of said scene after it is photographed.

14. That improvement in the art of makinganimatedpictures which includes drawing pictures on separate sheets of material of a portion of an animated object in different positions, drawing the remainder of said object in outline in correct proportions on each sheet, printing a relatively large number of duplicates of each sheet on sheets of opaque paperwith said picture on one side of the sheet and said outline on the reverse side, successively locating said duplicates in proper registration with the picture side up on an illuminated board whereby said outline is visible through said paper, completing the pictures of said animated object by utilizing said outline to obtain correct proportions, and photographing the completed duplicates in different successive locations with respect to the field of the camera one by one to produce a picture sequence, said diflerent locations being such that said sequence gives the appearance of the desired animation of said object.

15. That improvement in the art of making animated pictures which includes drawing pictures on separate sheets of material of a portion of an animated object in different positions, drawing the remainder of said object in outline in correct proportions on each sheet, printing a relatively large number of duplicates of each sheet on sheets of opaque paper with said outline in a color which will not photograph, successively locating said duplicatesin proper registration, completing the pictures of said animated object by utilizing said outline to obtain correct proportions, and photographing .the completed duplicates in difierent successive locations with respect to the field of the camera one by one to produce a picture sequence, said locations being such that said sequence gives the appearance of the desired animation of said object.

' RAYMOND MCSHEA FREIL.

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