Magic using drawings and illustrations. Recommended tricks for parties and performances.

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

In this article, we introduce magic tricks that use drawings and illustrations on paper! There are lots of fun ideas, like pictures becoming real, transforming into something else, or even moving.

Picture-based magic is easy to understand, so it’s great for kids’ events like birthday parties.

Many ideas require some preparation in advance, but once you set them up, you can use them repeatedly, making them beginner-friendly.

There are also videos explaining how to perform the tricks, so be sure to check them out and give them a try!

Magic using drawings and illustrations. Recommended tricks for parties and performances (21–30)

The picture changes! Transformation magic

How to Make a Simple Transforming Picture with Origami [Fun Transformation Magic for Kids]

The picture changes! Transformation magic

It’s a transformation magic trick where the illustration changes as you flap-fold the origami.

First, crease the paper so it’s divided into four equal parts both vertically and horizontally, then make a slit along the center crease.

Cut another sheet of origami into strips one quarter the length, and insert them alternately into the slitted origami.

Now the item is complete.

Fold along the creases and split open the middle to reveal a different illustration.

Pull the origami that moved to the underside once more, and it returns to the original image.

You can expand the ideas by drawing illustrations on both the front and back, or by changing the expressions of the same character or swapping parts of an object.

It’s a transformation magic trick that’s fun to make together with children.

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Color-changing mug

[Crane Game] The design changes!? A fun magic trick mug!!

Color-changing mug

It’s something you can get as a prize from crane games and the like—at first glance, just an ordinary-looking mug.

But when you pour in hot water, the lightbulb illustration on the side lights up brightly.

It’s a simple mechanism where the image appears depending on the temperature of the contents, but it makes drinking from it something to look forward to.

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Magic using drawings and illustrations. Recommended tricks for parties and performances (31–40)

Magic that makes a drawing become real

Pixel art in a cola!? Three easy magic tricks kids will love, with explanations. 3 Easy Magic Tricks with Tutorials.

Magic that makes a drawing become real

A magic trick where a drink drawn in a picture turns real and appears.

You point to a drink illustration within pixel art, bring your hand close, and in an instant the illustration disappears and the drink pops out.

You create two versions of the pixel art—one blank and one with the drink—and build a mechanism that switches the images by pulling a string on the back.

Set the actual drink behind the illustration, and if you pull the string at the exact moment you let the drink drop into your hand, it looks like the drink has burst out of the picture.

Try this magic trick to liven up birthdays and parties!

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In conclusion

I introduced magic tricks that use pictures and illustrations. Did you find a trick you’d like to try? All of them require some preparation, but once you’ve made the props, many of the ideas let you perform confidently without worrying about mistakes on the day. Master the performance and be sure to show it off in front of everyone!