This viral elephant optical illusion is pure magic

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It transforms right before your eyes.

Purple elephant optical illusion
(Image credit: Matt Pritchard)

If there's one thing the internet loves, it's a good optical illusion. The most recent brain-boggling viral hit is this deceptively simple purple elephant illusion that appears to transform right before our eyes, despite no video trickery involved.

From the cognitive to the physiological, optical illusions come in all forms, constantly proving that we can't always believe our eyes. Even when the science behind the visual trick is revealed, optical illusions still manage to perplex and amaze all corners of the internet.

Shared by Science Magician, Matt Pritchard, this optical illusion consists of a circle of vivid purple elephants in a circle. The aim is to find which one is the brightest, but the more you search, the less clear it becomes, as each appears more vibrant than the last.

"This illusion is based on a new science paper I read by Hinnerck Schultz-Hildebrant. It’s a fascinating combination of mechanisms in our vision system and colour theory," Matt explains on Instagram. The illusion works best when your brightness is turned up (especially on OLED screens). Tell us what you see in the comments below.

For more op art, check out this dotty optical illusion that sparked a delightfully nerdy colour debate or take a look at this deceptively simple grid illusion that melted people's minds.

Natalie Fear
Natalie Fear
Staff Writer

Natalie Fear is Creative Bloq's staff writer. With an eye for trending topics and a passion for internet culture, she brings you the latest in art and design news. Natalie also runs Creative Bloq’s Day in the Life series, spotlighting diverse talent across the creative industries. Outside of work, she loves all things literature and music (although she’s partial to a spot of TikTok brain rot). 

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