The Phenakistoscope is an early animation device invented in 1832 by Joseph Plateau. It consists of a spinning disc with a series of images arranged around its edge. When the disc spins and is viewed through a slit, the images appear to animate, creating the illusion of motion. This device is considered one of the first forms of moving pictures. The Phenakistoscope played a significant role in the development of animation and influenced later devices like the Zoetrope and the Praxiscope. It demonstrated the principles of persistence of vision, which is essential for understanding how motion pictures work today.