flipbooks

Flipbooks are small booklets that contain a sequence of images depicting progressive stages of a motion. When the pages are flipped rapidly, the images change quickly enough to create an illusion of movement, a perceptual effect explained by persistence of vision. The bound collection of drawings is typically attached along one edge, so flipping exposes each successive frame in turn.

The form originated in the late 19th century. John Barnes Linnett is commonly credited with the invention of the kineograph, an early flipbook, in 1868. Early examples demonstrated simple actions such as a running horse, symbolizing one of the first usable stationary animation devices. The term flipbook later came into broader use as the format gained popularity as a toy and art medium.

Production and formats: A flipbook requires a sequence of slightly altered images. The number of pages and the speed at which the reader flips determine the perceived smoothness of motion. For a naturally fluid effect, around a dozen to several dozen frames per action are used, with many commercial books containing 20–60 pages. Modern digital flipbooks imitate the physical action in software or on web pages, using page-turning animations to reproduce the experience without printed frames.

Uses and significance: Flipbooks have been used for entertainment, education, and advertising. They are valued for their simplicity and as historical precursors to cinema and animation. Contemporary artists also employ flipbooks as a minimalist medium and a portable demonstration of motion principles.