Have you ever wanted to create your very own animation? One way to do this is with a simple flipbook.
An animation flip book is a series of pictures arranged in a flip book that change slightly from one page to the next. When you flip through the book, the images appear to move, creating a short animation.
It’s a fun way to bring images and drawings to life without a screen! Flipbooks work because of a phenomenon known as persistence of vision.
My simple template allows you to print off a rocket animation and includes blank pages to draw your own sequence!
How to Make a Flipbook Animation
Make a flipbook with my rocket images and then draw your own!
You’ll need
Paper
Pens
Scissors
2 paperclips
Instructions
Either use my template or cut about 20 pieces of paper to the same size. They should be small enough to flip through easily.
Draw the same image on each page, but in a slightly different place.
Attach the papers in order using two paperclips.
Flip through the book and watch your drawings come to life.
Why do the images appear to move in a flipbook?
When you see an object, the information is sent to your brain, where it is processed to form the image you see. When you flip through the flipbook, the brain fills in the blanks, creating an illusion of movement!
Your eye and brain can’t process a new image instantly as you flip through, so it merges them together. The more images you have and the smaller the changes are, the smoother the animation will appear.
This same principle is used in cartoons and animation on the big screen!
More Animation Science Activities
Make a stop motion movie.
Create a simple optical illusion with paper and a pencil.
Make a simple thaumatrope.
Use the power of refraction to make a coin disappear.
Draw your own optical illusion. A Kanizsa Triangle is a great example of your brain filling in information it can’t see.
Science concepts
- Optical illusions
- Animation
- Perception
- Apparent motion
Last Updated on September 4, 2025 by Emma Vanstone
