You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas and conversations to spark your curiosity every day.

I'm your host, Elise Hugh. Why do we love animation so much? In this talk, visual effects artist Brian McLean takes us on a journey into the world

of stop motion animation and 3D printing, sharing the incredible breakthroughs at the intersection

of art and science, and why our brains can remember and attach to animated images and movement so clearly.

We spend great effort into trying to capture moments, freeze frame memories, drawings, paintings,

sculptures, photography and home movies are all our attempts to remember something after it's gone.

But did you know that your brain and eyes are already hardwired to do this?

I'm not talking about memory, I'm talking about the fact that your eye

continues to see an object for a split second after that object disappears.

I've been thinking about that fact for over 35 years.

Hi, I'm Brian McLean and I'm doing on Science.

Principle of Persistence of Vision.

Many of you are probably wondering what is persistent for vision?

Well, it's really pretty easy.

Your eye is an amazing order, but it has one little quirk.

It continues to see an object for a tenth of a second after the object disappears.

This principle is what makes movies, cartoons, and even TV possible.

Yep, that was me, 12 years old and going deep into the science of animation.

I didn't want to do my science fair project on the principle of persistence of vision.

I was forced to.

I wanted to do my science fair project on claymation,

but my dad, he wouldn't let me.

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