New York-based artist J.C. Fontanive creates gorgeous illustrations of colorful birds, moths, and butterflies, which he then turns into automated flipbooks like nothing I’ve ever seen. It may kind of resemble a diner napkin dispenser, but what this thing dispenses is far better than napkins. Inspired by pre-cinema optical devices, the artist invented his flipbook machine while studying at the Royal College of Art back in 2004 and his creations have been flying around ever since.
I am especially fascinated by the way the whirring of the cards creates a susurration similar to that of real fluttering wings, making it seem like the creatures are really in the machine.
“Flipping pages make these handmade sculptures live in real sound and space. Creatures flit and flicker by to awaken the poetry of movement and inspire through nature and invention.”
– J.C. Fontanive
You can learn more about J.C. Fontanive’s process and see all of his wonderful work on his website and on Instagram, and you can see his fantastical creations in motion on Vimeo and YouTube.
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My OBT 
February 23, 2022 at 8:42 am
They reminded me of the old days. This is how or similar to what Disney did a very long time ago. Yes, I enjoyed seeing them this morning. Hal
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February 23, 2022 at 9:07 am
I did a post a million years ago about the old days of Disney animation. I should dig it up!
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February 23, 2022 at 9:09 am
Found it! https://myonebeautifulthing.com/2016/01/02/no-wonder-he-needed-spinach/
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February 23, 2022 at 9:13 am
I do enjoy these. Partly cause it reminds me of my art school days, but I love the automation and getting it to loop – ingenious! for some reason the yellow butterfly works the best to me – maybe the page flipping better matches the wing flapping and the slightly more frenetic flight. Plus it feels a little more like a butterfly in the box
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February 24, 2022 at 12:50 am
I think they’re just lovely! Glad you liked them.
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February 23, 2022 at 10:02 am
Oh my goodness.. I would love to have one of these.
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February 23, 2022 at 10:04 am
oops…not in my life time. Out of my price range.
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February 23, 2022 at 2:35 pm
Whoa. I hadn’t looked at the prices until you mentioned them. So, the hummingbird won’t be coming home with me….
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February 24, 2022 at 12:53 am
What if we group-funded one and just passed it around on a schedule?
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February 24, 2022 at 8:17 am
And just like that…. 😉 Great idea, Donna.
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February 24, 2022 at 9:03 am
See? I’m always thinking…
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February 24, 2022 at 12:52 am
Here we go:
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February 24, 2022 at 12:51 am
Aren’t they magic? I would love to have one, too. I feel like I’d wear it out, especially in February!
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February 23, 2022 at 2:36 pm
Sitting at home getting absolutely nothing done, flipping these over and over and over again… What a talent.
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February 24, 2022 at 12:54 am
I confess I hit them at least 4 times today, and it was a BUSY day. There’s something so lovely about them.
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February 23, 2022 at 3:08 pm
These are amazing! Again I marvel at the ability of the creative mind to take something as “old school” as a flip book and reinvigorate it. These are much classier and cool looking than the doodles we used to create in the corners of our school textbooks.
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February 24, 2022 at 12:54 am
OMG did you do that, too? I used to get in so much trouble! (Text books weren’t my best choice.)
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February 24, 2022 at 2:52 pm
I would never, ever, ever vandalize a book in good condition. However, school text books were always falling apart wrecks and already had writing all over them. I, therefore, did not have the same qualms about creating little flip books in the corners. One of my big brothers taught me how.
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February 25, 2022 at 10:38 am
I did them all in pencil, and our textbooks were old and crumbly, too.
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February 23, 2022 at 3:57 pm
They don’t sell them in Walmart for sure — Hal
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February 23, 2022 at 4:01 pm
You’re right. I was at Walmart this morning. I guess they were all sold out. 😄
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February 24, 2022 at 12:54 am
They… do not.
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February 24, 2022 at 8:15 am
haha! Absolutely not!
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February 24, 2022 at 9:56 am
Why didn’t I think of making one? In my younger years I might have tried but now Ill just have to keep coming back.
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