Tokyo subway tunnel as zoetrope

[Jason Gray]

With talk of high-tech mobile cinema, I remembered I had
been meaning to mention an interesting low-tech invention
which has turned a section of Tokyo's Ginza subway line
into a kind of zoetrope, or phenakistiscope. As the
Shibuya-bound subway travels between Tameike-Sanno and
Akasaka-Mitsuke stations, a poster-sized moving image
becomes visible outside the window for about ten seconds.
A natural shutter effect is created by the train passing
still image "frames" with the appropriate gap between. The
images look to be printed on special material to reflect
the light given off by the inside of the subway car,
creating an almost video-like appearance.

Of course the purpose has been advertising of products,
but it would be interesting to have filmmakers come up
with (very) short films that would screen in the tunnel.
Now, if only there weren't so many bodies in the way, you
could really enjoy it.

jg