The Learned Dogs

The history of animation lies at the heart of cinematic archaeology, and the French inventor Émile Reynaud was a key figure during its experimental years. His invention of the Praxinoscope allowed viewers to perceive moving action generated by the rapid rotation of static images, with significantly greater ease than classical zoetropes. "The Learned Dogs" (1878) is one of the first ten strips exhibited to the public. The circular composition of the images, set within a cylindrical apparatus, creates a seamless sensation of infinite movement, making the animated dogs and the performer appear almost lifelike, thus aligning animation with the same ideals as live-action film.