A zoetrope is an early animation device that creates the illusion of motion. It consists of a cylindrical drum with a series of images printed on the inside. When the drum spins, viewers look through slits on the side, allowing them to see a sequence of images in rapid succession, which gives the appearance of movement. Invented in the 1830s, the zoetrope is one of the precursors to modern animation techniques. It is similar to other devices like the thaumatrope and the phenakistoscope, which also use sequential images to create motion. The zoetrope remains a popular tool for understanding the basics of animation.