Four Frames of a Vanishing Snack

Make a four-frame animation in which a paper snack disappears.

Time: 30–60 minutes

Cutting is unnecessary: tear a paper biscuit or toast shape. Use a camera and an existing slide app that can display images in order.

What you need

phone or camera
computer
scrap paper

Try this idea

Tear a snack shape and place it on a plain surface. Keep your camera supported in one position.
Take four photos, removing a little paper between shots as if someone is taking bites.
Transfer the photos to your computer using your usual method and place them on four consecutive slides.
Advance through the slides to watch the snack disappear. Adjust the order or framing if needed.
Save the slide sequence and clear away the scraps.

A smaller version

Take a before-and-after pair without building slides.

A good place to stop

Two consecutive images showing a change are enough for a first animation.

Make it work for you

Use large paper pieces. If transferring files is difficult, flip between the photos on the camera device instead; that version does not need the computer.

Another way in

Reverse the slide order so the snack grows back.