When it comes to playing cards, I love anything that novel and unique.  So you can imagine that I'm just going to love custom decks that feature flip-book animation.

A flip-book is a book consisting of a series of images, one per page, so that when you flip through the pages quickly in succession, it produces an animated image.  You'll occasionally hear it described as "taking a deck to the movies".   Playing cards are ideal for flip-book animation because a complete deck typically has of just over 50 pieces of thin cardstock, ideal in size and thickness for flipping through with your thumb.

In this series of reviews I'd like to cover the Clockwork decks from designer and animator Stephen W. Brandt, all of which feature striking flip-book animation.  Stephen describes himself as an animator, broadcast designer, art director, illustrator, and graphic designer who does freelance work.  So he has the ideal skill-set to produce animated playing cards, which provide him with a unique way to combine his varied skills into one creative product, as part of his fig. 23 brand. 

 Clockwork Empire City deck

The Clockwork Empire City deck was Stephen's debut deck, and appeared in 2019.

Each of the Clockwork decks focuses on a different city or theme.  In the case of the Clockwork Empire City deck, the artwork was inspired by New York City's art deco style.



Clockwork lends itself very naturally to animation.  In this case it's the back of the cards that feature an intricate series of cogs and gears.  When animated using the flip-book technique, the main framework of the artwork remains static while the internal mechanism rotates.  You can see this animation in action via this animated gif.

But this deck actually has flip-book animation on both sides of the cards, including the card faces, which immediately adds extra interest for collectors.  On the faces the animation includes a changing logo (with a raven landing and taking off), moving letters that make up a short phrase, as well as moving cogs and gears.  Check out the flip-book animation for yourself via this animated gif.



Where to get them? These animated playing cards are available from the creator Stephen W. Brandt, at his website fig23.com.
● Clockwork Empire City deck
● Clockwork La Ville Lumiere deck
● Clockwork Quackington deck
● Clockwork Montana Mustache Manufacturing Co deck (currently on Kickstarter)
● Wonderland and Looking-glass flip-book decks