Animation Entertainment Techniques in the Victorian Era Prior to Contemporary Innovations
Before Walt Disney, the internet, and contemporary entertainment, children of the Victorian era engaged with the phenakistoscope. The term derives from the Greek word *phenakisticos* and translates to “deceiver of the eye.” This clever precursor to animation comprised a rotating disk that created the impression of smooth motion when spun, due to the uniformly spaced slits along its periphery.
The phenakistoscope was created independently by two physicists, Joseph Plateau and Simon von Stampfer, around the same period between 1832 and 1833. However, its complex name is not particularly enjoyable to articulate, and it has been referred to by various alternative names throughout its existence, including the fantascope or stroboscopic disks.
To use the animation device, one must position the disk in front of a mirror and gaze through the slits while it rotates towards the reflection. These slits introduce pauses between the frames, making it impossible to follow the image, thereby maintaining the illusion. If done correctly, your mind should be fooled into thinking the depicted subject is genuinely in motion.
Initial phenakistoscopes showcased entertaining content like dancing figures, leaping frogs, or other delightful scenes. This was succeeded by the zoetrope in 1865, which featured a cylinder with slits on the sides. Today, we have access to all these at our fingertips, albeit figuratively, as we no longer need to spin them ourselves. Nonetheless, they can be completely made at home and might serve as a means to demonstrate your animation talents or to keep children away from their phones for at least a tad longer.
The phenakistoscope consists of a paper disk with uniformly spaced slits designed to create the illusion of motion when rotated.
The slits are intended to be viewed through while the spinning disk’s reflection is seen in a mirror, allowing your mind to experience a pause between frames.
These devices offered entertainment to Victorian children, featuring dancers, animals, athletes, and more, and they can even be constructed at home.
Interested in crafting your own phenakistoscope? This video will guide you through the process.
Source: [The 1830s Device That Created the First Animations: The Phenakistiscope](https://www.openculture.com/2025/08/the-1830s-device-that-created-the-first-animations-the-phenakistiscope.html)
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