A zoetrope is an early animation device that brings still images to life through motion. It’s a spinning cylinder with vertical slits and a sequence of drawings inside. When viewed through the slits as it spins, the images appear to move — running, jumping, or dancing in a loop. This illusion works through persistence of vision, where the brain blends rapidly changing images into continuous motion. Invented in the 19th century, the zoetrope was a key step in the development of film and animation, and it’s still used today to explore storytelling, timing, and movement in a fun, hands-on way.