rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryanimationMoving images
noun

animation

an-ih-MAY-shuhn/ˌænɪˈmeɪʃn/

The giving of life or apparent movement to something.

The flipbook creates animation by showing the ball in successive positions.

Hands riffle a small flipbook, three separated successive pages show a simple red ball at progressively different heights above baseline, curved motion arc connects changing ball positions, technique makes drawings appear to move.
Etymology
animaLatingive breath to, enliven
+tionLatinaction or process

The idea of giving breath or life became the appearance of life and activity. In filmmaking, animation applies that idea to images made to appear to move.

In context

Filly Film Features6:36
the key framing is awful the animation gets so herky-jerky I swear the Foley should be just screeching tires every time their mouths and their faces faces move
Filly Film Reviews: The Little Cars in the Big Race

More examples

  • Her face fills with animation when she describes the trip.
  • The museum displays early experiments in animation.
  • Short animations explain each step of the process.

Forms

animation · animations

animate verb — To give life, energy, or apparent movement.

animator noun — A person who creates apparent movement in images.

Similar words

liveliness
Names energetic expression without implying a moving-image technique.
cartoon
Names a particular kind of artwork rather than the process itself.