Apparatus and method for generating an appearance of animation

An apparatus for creating an illusion of animation of a subject shape, comprising:

• a screen;
• an intermediate body;
• a plurality of lights;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with said plurality of lights, said controller being operable to turn the plurality of lights on and off in at least one of:
• a selected order, a combination, and a simultaneous operation of all of the lights;
• said intermediate body and plurality of lights being fixed relative to said screen such that:
• a) said intermediate body is positioned between the screen and the plurality of lights,
• b) when at least one first light in the plurality of lights is operated, the at least one first light projects a first projection of the intermediate body, showing a first outline on the screen which is the subject shape in a first position, and
• c) when at least one second light in the plurality of lights is operated, the at least one second light projects a second projection of the intermediate body, showing a second outline on the screen which differs from the first outline, and which is the subject shape in a second position.

An apparatus for creating an illusion of animation of a subject shape, comprising:

• a translucent body having a viewing side and a lights side opposite the viewing side;
• an intermediate body;
• a plurality of lights disposed on the lights side of said translucent body,
• said intermediate body being positioned between said translucent body and said plurality of lights such that when at least one light in the plurality of lights is turned on, a silhouette of the intermediate body is visible through the translucent body from the viewing side of the translucent body;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with the plurality of lights, wherein the controller is programmed to:
• illuminate a first one or more of the plurality of lights to generate a first projection of the intermediate body, showing a first silhouette on the screen which is a subject shape in a first position, and
• illuminate a second one or more of the plurality of lights to generate a second projection of the intermediate body, showing a second silhouette on the screen which differs from the first silhouette, which is the subject shape in a second position, thereby generating an illusion of animation of the subject shape.