Phenakistoscope

Definition: A phenakistoscope was one of the earliest devices that simulated animated motion, invented in the early 1800s. The device consisted of a wheel with the animation sequence (what we define as separate frames of motion now) drawn in succession around its circumference. Slits were cut in the wheel, and it was mounted vertically in front of a mirror. Viewers would spin the wheel and then look through the slits to see the rapid succession of images reflected on the mirror to create the illusion of animated motion.