DictionaryRoot: animare
Latin
animare
give breath to, enliven
2 / 3
noun
animator
AN-ih-may-ter/ˈænɪmeɪtər/
Someone who brings something to life or apparent movement.
Etymology
An animator was originally someone or something that enlivened or inspired. The filmmaking sense makes this life-giving role visual: the artist gives drawings or models the appearance of living movement.