Animation

Animation is a form or process of filmmaking in which inanimate, static objects or individual drawings (hand-drawn or CGI) are filmed “frame by frame.”

Or, it’s one frame at a time (as opposed to being shot “live”). Each one differs slightly from the previous frame to create the illusion of motion in a sequence. This is as opposed to filming naturally occurring action or live objects at a regular frame rate.

Often used as a synonym for cartoons (or toons for short). Although, animation includes other media such as claymation and computer animation.

See also CGI, claymation, stop-motion, time-lapse.