Definition of animation

The word "animation" dates back to the 14th century, derived from the Latin "animator", meaning "to give life" or "to animate". In medieval Latin, "animator" referred to someone who breathed life into a person or an object, often in a supernatural or magical sense. In the 15th century, the word "animation" began to refer to the act of giving life or sensation to an inanimate object, such as a figure or a drawing. This sense of the word was used in the field of art, particularly in the context of figurative art, where an artist would use techniques like shading and perspective to create the illusion of life in a static image. Over time, the term "animation" expanded to include the art of creating the illusion of life or movement in any medium, including film, television, and video games. Today, animation refers to the process of creating motion graphics, special effects, and character design for various forms of storytelling.