midmotion

Midmotion refers to a phenomenon observed in animation and visual media where movement occurs or is perceived to occur in the space between distinct frames of animation. This is in contrast to the discrete jump from one still image to the next. Early forms of animation, such as flipbooks and zoetropes, rely on the optical illusion of motion created by rapidly displaying a sequence of slightly varied static images. When these images are presented quickly enough, the human brain interpolates the missing movements, creating a smooth visual experience.

The concept of midmotion is central to the success of cinematic illusions. The frame rate of film and digital video determines how much information is presented per second. A higher frame rate generally leads to more perceived midmotion and a smoother appearance, reducing the choppiness that can occur with lower frame rates. Technologies like motion interpolation, often found in modern televisions, also aim to create artificial midmotion by generating intermediate frames based on the existing ones, further enhancing the fluidity of on-screen action. The effectiveness of midmotion is a testament to the brain's ability to process visual information and create a coherent sense of continuous movement from discrete inputs.