flipbook

A flipbook is a small booklet or pad of sequential images that change gradually from page to page. When the pages are flipped rapidly, the images appear to animate, creating the illusion of motion through persistence of vision. Flipbooks are typically designed so that each image differs slightly from the previous one, producing a smooth sequence when viewed in quick succession.

The flipbook emerged in the late 19th century as an early form of animation. One of the earliest commercial examples is John Barnes Linnett's Kineograph, introduced in the 1860s, which printed a sequence of drawings in a book so that rapid flipping produced motion. The format became popular as a simple, inexpensive way to convey moving pictures long before cinema.

Design and mechanism: Each page carries a frame that differs slightly from the next. As the stack is flipped, the observer experiences a continuous progression of images. Typical flipbooks contain roughly 16 to 40 frames, though longer versions exist. The speed of flipping largely determines the apparent frame rate and the smoothness of the animation.

Production and formats: Traditional flipbooks are made with cardstock pages bound along one edge, often by staples or a comb binding. They come in pocket-sized or larger formats and may feature drawings, photographs, or mixed media. They are commonly used as toys, gifts, or promotional items.

Digital flipbooks: In digital media, flipbook-style page-turning animations replicate the physical object for online magazines, catalogs, and educational materials. They are created with HTML5, JavaScript, or dedicated software and can offer interactive navigation and multimedia enhancements.