What is a Crankie?

Crankies are illustrated scrolls that tell stories. They have been around for millennia and have arisen independently in many cultures. Crankies are often accompanied by live music, poetry, or other spoken recitation or soundtrack and shadow puppets.

Crankie artists are increasingly turning to back lighting for illumination with a transparent scroll material within a wooden box. The result has been described as akin to listening to stories around the campfire.