KEVIN HOLMES

Kevin Holmes calls himself a technosmith after transitioning from writing corporate software to creating tangible, beautiful things. He describes building 4-Mation as a reawakening.

3D Zoetropes are a modern ‘spin’ on a Victorian toy. While classic designs use 2D cartoon strips, 4-Mation uses hand-painted 3D printed models and strobe lights to create real-time stop-motion animations. The strobes freeze the rotating motion and create 24 sequential animation scenes with the animation split into 2 threads, meaning you have to watch the platform rotate twice to see the whole animation.

Kevin designs the animations, machines, electronics, and wrote the App and firmware. Everything is made in his UK workshop; the animations, the elegant machine frames in walnut, ash, and birch, and the custom electronics. He offers zoetropes as exhibits for collectors and museums, plus DIY kits.

N7Tech, founded in 2004 as a software consultancy, transitioned in 2016 to its own 1,750 square foot premises in Suffolk for making physical products. Kevin is now dedicated full-time to 4-Mation.