Ed Merlin Murray And His Quirky Hand-Animated Illustrations

With simple materials like paper and ink washes, Scotland-based artist Ed Merlin Murray creates lively and illustrations that come to life with the pull of a tab. Through hand-activated animation, the faces show expression by rolling or blinking their eyes and by slithering their tongues.

More: Instagram h/t: neatorama

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T i l d a / Zd a v i d

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jul 4, 2019 at 7:16am PDT

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It’s here! My new (and first ever) book of drawings, Mysterium Conscientia, has arrived.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jul 2, 2019 at 8:40am PDT

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Uh oh – Old Uncle Alan has been in the sun all day, reading lies in the newspaper and spewing ochre ribbons of hate.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 30, 2019 at 8:46am PDT

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👁🍄👁

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 29, 2019 at 6:50am PDT

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One of my dogs (the green and purple one) regurgitated a silver serpent earlier today. I’m glad I was filming her at the time! #silverserpent

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 28, 2019 at 8:06am PDT

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Here’s NABERIUS [Lord Of Cunning] on clifftop lookout duty. It’s crucial that my coastal retreat is not disturbed by visitors because I’m Extremely Busy doing Important Drawings. That said, you’d all be more than welcome to pop over for a coffee. /// I’m still in the process of setting up my new studio after moving house but rest assured – if you hate this kind of thing – I’ll be back to drawing drawings real soon. Thanks for sticking with me during this weird hiatus :-)

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 25, 2019 at 7:26am PDT

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HASMŒDEL [The Horse Lord] Keeps Toot.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 24, 2019 at 9:20am PDT

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I want you to walk. If that’s ok? I mean, you don’t have to. It’s up to you. /// I haven’t done any new drawings for a few days now as I continue to move house. New studio is almost ready though, which is good, as I need to start working in it tomorrow (thanks for your patience, clients!). Meanwhile, here’s another [hellish] older snippet that I’ve added sound to… Back with new stuff real soon! 👶🏼💙💕✨

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 23, 2019 at 12:19pm PDT

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Programmer Free Will & The Pre-Established Divine Mind State /// An abandoned drawing from my recent book project, as warped forth in the Aftre Efx.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 20, 2019 at 7:57am PDT

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* s o o t h e *

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 19, 2019 at 10:47am PDT

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The Bishop is coming for tea today, children.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 18, 2019 at 9:41am PDT

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m i n d * o p e n [?] just using some cutting edge green screen technology to have a look inside…

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 16, 2019 at 6:29am PDT

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* blep *

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 15, 2019 at 7:07am PDT

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A friendly little guy from a while ago, and some of his contents. When I have an impending deadline, one of my best procrastinations is making pointless things out of Lego. What’s your favourite way to pretend you aren’t busy?

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 13, 2019 at 9:12am PDT

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M O V I N G • M O U N T A I N S /// A little animated gif made from an ink drawing [someone made the animation from a drawing of mine, and I can’t remember who it was ~ get in touch if you’d like a credit ~ anyway thanks!] ///

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 12, 2019 at 8:14am PDT

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Warm up drawings of today: Tory leadership candidates. From the Guardian newspaper, 11/06/19. A finer selection of ladies and gentlemen I can’t imagine.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 11, 2019 at 7:02am PDT

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I asked recently for suggestions of faces to draw, and David Icke came up twice so here he is with his wonderful pink mullet. That’s a Pentel Signpen Touch & a Pentel Aquash (hi @pentel_eu 🖐🤡).

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 10, 2019 at 6:46am PDT

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More brush pen selfies, this one also moving through time (or appearing to anyway). GET THOSE NEON SPECTACLES OFF & Witness The Warp!! 🌀👃🏼🌀

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 8, 2019 at 7:42am PDT

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Wobbly brush pen selfie. Pentel Aquash & Pentel Colourbrush. [I’m not sponsored by @pentel_eu though…]

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 7, 2019 at 6:07am PDT

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Made this little five-limbed friend the other day out of bits that were lying around. I call him NABERIUS [Lord Of Cunning] and he’s got the sweetest little toes.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 6, 2019 at 9:42am PDT

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Took a little break to coax a few images out of this waitress pad earlier. (Can they really still be called waitress pads in this day and age? Waitron pad? Anyway, pad). 80 pages / 5 seconds.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 4, 2019 at 6:25am PDT

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More snaps of my kids today I’m afraid. Here’s Avachiel (The Inquisitor) in her little Throne of Light.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 3, 2019 at 7:24am PDT

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Making videos for 90s darkcore tracks since 2019.

A post shared by Ed Merlin Murray (@e_merlin_m) on Jun 2, 2019 at 5:47am PDT