---
name: "Ants on a Turntable"
subtitle: "A phenakistoscope drawn one ant at a time"
date: 2026-07-28
shortlist: true
link: "https://youtu.be/PG6DG3UXZxY"
linkText: "youtube.com"
promotedTo: ants-phenakistoscope-turntable
source: "The Awesomer"
topics: [design-and-art]
tags: [animation, illusion, drawing, video]
description: "Yohei Kisanuki hand-draws a disc of ants, each a few degrees further into its stride than the last, then spins it on a record player."
---

Yohei Kisanuki draws a disc of ants by hand, one insect at a time, each a few degrees further into its stride than the one before. Put it on a record player and the 1830s trick fires: the ants stop being drawings and start walking. The long version is nothing but the drawing, hours of it, and it is the better watch — you see the illusion assembled stroke by stroke before it ever moves.