VisualFunHouse

Illusory Motion or self-animating images is a type of optical illusion that tricks your mind into seeing motion in a static image. This cognitive effect is created by using contrasting colors and shapes. Self-animating images are created using repeating asymmetric patters. Shape and color will also determine the strength or impact of the image illusion.   This image set was created and sent in by Anh Pham. For more great “animated” static images check out the Ferris wheel illusion, or the flying beetle motion illusion.

The Ferris Wheel Optical Illusion was submitted by one of your users. This image is based off some of the more well known static animation illusions like the moving gears, spinning circles, or the spinning tunnels optical illusion. These images work by using different shading techniques that cause your eye to shift around giving the objects the illusion that they are moving. It doesn’t always work right away for everyone but generally if you stare at one of the circles the other ones will start to move around the ones you are focusing on.  Try it out and let me know if it works for you.

This awesome Optical Illusion is a new twist on some the old Spinning Tunnel Optical Illusion.  The artist has turned that pattern into a vortex with some funky flying VB Beatles and mirror balls flying out of it.  The image is a jpeg not an animated gif, which is part of what makes it an optical illusion! If you stare into the vortex it appears that the edges are sucking into itself.  In actuality this is a static image and not moving at all, your eyes shift focus of the contrasted dot edges. This difference on contrast on the blue circles is what gives the illusion that the image is in motion.

Spinning Silhouette Optical Illusion that is a great way to figure out if you use more of the left or right side of your brain.  When you stare as this silhouette which way is it spinning? left or right? After concentrating on it for about 30 seconds it actually switched directions on me!  So which way does she spin for you? Can you see it spin both directions?

This 3D stone wall Optical Illusion is made by taking two photos of the same thing at a slightly different angle, when flashed back and forth it gives the Illusion that photo is 3D and almost pops out at you. This is always a neat effect! Be sure to check out some of the other animation optical illusions. If you like this one be sure to see the 3d Beach Illusion and the 3D Dinosaur optical illusion.

Flying Through Space is a simple yet pretty neat illusion. This man appears to be flying across the screen, but in fact he is barley moving, the animation is made up of only four frames, two normal and two inverted. One of the inverted frames and one of the normal ones the man is shift up and over a nudge. When all four frames are flashed in a row it appears he is for ever moving forward in a continuous motion, when in fact hes slipping back and forth only a few pixels, this is masked by the image being inverted. Also be sure to check out the Dinosaur and Beach animated illusions.This is another great addition to the Animation Illusions.

3D Beach Optical Illusion is simple but effect image, it is created by flashing 2 or more frames of the same object but at a slightly different angle. The result of flashing these frames back and forth gives the image a 3D effect and almost appears to pop out at you!
Be sure to check out more cool Animation Optical Illusions.