Analog animation, still alive.
Before pixels, there were cameras, CRTs, waveforms, patch cords, and an astonishing number of knobs. Scanimate made television graphics move in real time, and left a trail of luminous work behind.
This is Dave Sieg’s archive of the people, places, machines, and projects that made it happen.
Start with the machine
The Scanimate was an analog computer connected to a scan converter. It could turn high-contrast artwork into fluid electronic animation while the client watched. Take the pictorial tour of how it worked.
Hear the story
Watch the Scanimate documentary on Vimeo · Browse the moving archive
Follow a wire
| The analog days | Dave Sieg’s history of analog computer animation. |
| Project images | Still frames, logos, titles, and the odd impossible color. |
| The people | The artists, engineers, operators, and other ScaniManiacs. |
| Dave Holman remembers | Memoirs from Computer Image. |
| Historic photos | Machines and people from the archive. |
| The guestbook | Stories and sightings from the people who were there. |