To animate something means to bring it to life or give it movement. When artists animate a drawing, they create a series of pictures that, when shown quickly one after another, make the character appear to move and act. Walt Disney and his team animated Mickey Mouse by drawing thousands of slightly different pictures, and when filmed in sequence, Mickey came alive on screen.

When you animate something, you're giving it that spark of life, whether it's a cartoon character, a puppet, or even an idea.

You can also use animate as an adjective (pronounced slightly differently: AN-ih-mit). An animate object is alive or appears alive, like animals and people, while inanimate objects like rocks and books aren't living things. In grammar class, you might learn that animate nouns refer to living creatures while inanimate nouns refer to objects.

When someone describes a person as animated, they mean energetic and expressive. An animated storyteller uses big gestures, changes their voice, and brings excitement to every detail. Their enthusiasm animates the story, making it feel alive and real to everyone listening.