Novelty animated device with synchronized audio output, and method for achieving synchronized audio output therein

Abstract

A method for creating realistic synchronization of a sound sample including speech to the motion of a lenticular image is disclosed, together with a device for achieving such synchronization. The device includes a lenticular image consisting of a number of different individual images spliced together and printed on a substrate which can be moved relative to a lenticular screen to give the appearance of animation that the lenticular image. The sound sample is ideally stored in the memory of a sound chip and the synchronization is achieved using a processor. In accordance with the invention, the synchronization is achieved in a realistic and intrinsically simple manner by using a lenticular image which consists only of a few individual images taken from a sequence of a character or person opening and closing its mouth thus resulting in a very short animation sequence and using electronics to repetitively animate the sequence for substantially each and every syllable pronounced in the speech within the sound sample.