Which innovative device did Eadweard Muybridge develop to project motion pictures?

Eadweard Muybridge developed the zoopraxiscope, which is an innovative device pivotal in the history of motion pictures. This apparatus was designed to project motion sequences captured through a series of photographs. By using a rotating disc that contained images in sequence, Muybridge was able to create the illusion of movement, which is essentially the precursor to modern film and animation techniques.

The zoopraxiscope allowed viewers to see a sequence of still images in rapid succession, which played a crucial role in demonstrating how the human eye perceives motion. This method of sequential display directly influenced the development of cinematic techniques in the following decades.

While a projector is used to display projected images, it does not specifically point to the innovative process relating to the animation and sequencing developed by Muybridge. CinemaScope refers to a widescreen format developed much later in the 20th century, and camera obscura is a much earlier optical device used primarily for viewing—a solid foundation for photography but not designed for motion pictures. Thus, the zoopraxiscope stands out as the correct answer, highlighting Muybridge’s significant contribution to the evolution of film.