Animation is the art of bringing images to life.
The word animation comes from the Latin root “animare”, meaning to breathe life into or to enliven. This is derived from “anima”, which means soul, spirit, life, or breath.
Historically, the concept of animation reflects the idea of giving life or spirit to something lifeless, which ties directly to its use in both art and philosophy. In its broader sense, animation embodies the act of imbuing energy, movement, or vitality—whether it’s in storytelling, objects, or natural phenomena.
At its core, animation is about communication.
By creating the illusion of movement frame-by-frame it turns images, drawings, models, digital designs and abstract concepts, into dynamic living world. Animation can tease out their stories in ways no other art form can.
Animation is also a powerful tool for innovation and education.
You find animation everywhere – from entertainment and cartoons, to the explainer and teaching videos that simplify complex ideas. Think about how science and natural history documentaries visualise the vastness of space, natural phenomena and our environments, or how medical animations help us understand the human body.
Abstract concepts when brought to life become more accessible and tangible. In return, it helps us to bridge gaps between cultures, languages, and even generations, making it a universal language of emotion, creativity and imagination.
Animation taps into something primal—the need to tell stories.
Experimental animation is considered a non-industrial production, often evolving individual artists or small collectives, outside of the mainstream industry. The personal and artistic freedom, away from the constraints of commercial production, allows for unconventional forms of animation.
Experimental animation prioritises different aspects of the medium and in return, can challenge the traditional conventions of narrative and character-based animation. There is a greater focus on styles, techniques, abstract concepts, material processes and surface details of the animation itself. These often unconventional forms push the boundaries of what animation can be.
Thinking about animation in a new way – as an art form, moves beyond the traditional narrative with a pre-planned execution of a story. Instead of characters, a clear narrative or message with a series of connected events, the images sequences evoke and suggest ideas, and invite us on a journey of discovery and multifaceted ways of interpretation.
Kate
Your content is fascinating, and you are introducing some unusual concepts. I would use a simpler layout, so that it is easier for people to consider your ideas as they read.
Karen
Good suggestion. Thank you. I’ll look into how to improve the layout.