The Animograph, or I Was Born in a Shoebox

Jean Dejoux, a self-taught cartoonist, assembles a peculiar contraption of lenses, mirrors, and wooden parts in his Parisian workshop during the 1960s. His 'animograph' was meant to revolutionize animation, allowing drawings to be brought to life without the painstaking process of reshooting each frame. The film meticulously reconstructs the history of this forgotten machine—from sketches in notebooks to attempts at securing investors. Through archival footage and voices of those who remembered Dejoux, we witness modern enthusiasts striving to resurrect his invention from surviving blueprints.