Anamorphosis

a drawing presenting a distorted image that appears in natural form under certain conditions, as when viewed at a raking angle or reflected from a curved mirror.
the method of producing such a drawing.
zoology, entomology. the gradual change in form from one type to another during the evolution of a group of organisms.
(in certain arthropods) metamorphosis in which body parts or segments are added to those already present.
historical examples

the apparatus invented by m. linde for producing the anamorphosis is shown in figs. 10 and 11.
photographic amus-m-nts, ninth edition walter e. woodbury and frank r. fraprie

the sun was setting, and its slanting rays caused the shadow to -ssume the appearance of an anamorphosis of ludicrous proportions.
the ape, the idiot & other people w. c. morrow

on this disc is fixed the picture from which it is desired to make an anamorphosis.
photographic amus-m-nts, ninth edition walter e. woodbury and frank r. fraprie

the curious fish-like object is simply the anamorphosis—the distorted projection—of a human skull.
a popular handbook to the national gallery, volume i, foreign schools various

the second kind of anamorphosis is produced by the distortion of the picture in the sense of one of its dimensions.
photographic amus-m-nts, ninth edition walter e. woodbury and frank r. fraprie

noun (pl) -ses (-ˌsiːz)
(optics)

an image or drawing distorted in such a way that it becomes recognizable only when viewed in a specified manner or through a special device
the process by which such images or drawings are produced

the evolution of one type of organism from another by a series of gradual changes
n.

“distorted projection or drawing that looks normal from a particular angle or with a certain mirror,” 1727, from greek anamorphosis “transformation,” noun of action from anamorphoein “to transform,” from ana “up” (see ana-) + morphosis, from morphe “form” (see morpheus).