Animations: meaning, definitions and examples

Used generally to refer to any type of moving visual image created using various techniques, including 2D or 3D animation, motion graphics, and stop-motion. Suitable for broad, general discussions about the art form or industry.

• The festival showcased some of the best animations from around the world.
• She specializes in creating animations for video games.

Commonly used to refer to simplified and often humorous animations, typically aimed at children but can also be for adult entertainment. Often features exaggerated characters and storylines.

• The kids love watching cartoons on Saturday mornings.
• Classic cartoons like Bugs Bunny are still popular today.

Often used in professional settings to describe animated graphic design elements used in multimedia projects. Frequently applied in commercials, title sequences, and presentations, focusing on text and graphical elements' movement.

• The documentary's introduction featured stunning motion graphics.
• Motion graphics are essential for creating engaging promotional videos.

Refers specifically to videos created using animation techniques, often used in marketing, educational content, or YouTube channels. Emphasizes the format as a moving image sequence intended for viewing as a video.

• We created animated videos to better explain our product features.
• His YouTube channel is full of funny and educational animated videos.

Best used when referring to digital or computer-generated movements and images, often in films, video games, or presentations.

• The movie used a lot of animations to bring the characters to life
• The presentation was more engaging because of the animations

Actions or movements of the body, especially the hands or head, that convey a particular message or emotion, often used in face-to-face communication.

• She used a lot of hand gestures while explaining the directions
• His friendly gestures made everyone feel comfortable

Refers to facial expressions or phrases that convey emotions or thoughts, commonly used in everyday interactions and conversations.

• Her face was full of expressions, making it easy to understand what she was feeling
• He used a lot of colorful expressions that made his speech interesting

The act of imitating someone's behavior, voice, or mannerisms, often for humorous effect or to critique someone, and can have a negative connotation if done mockingly.

• His mimicry of the professor was spot-on and made everyone laugh
• The child's mimicry of his parents' mannerisms was cute