animator

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tor ˈa-nə-ˌmā-tər 

plural animators

: someone or something that animates: such as

a

: an artist who is involved in creating animation for cartoons, films, video games, etc.

b

: a person who leads and encourages participation in an activity

… community animators mobilize individuals and organizations …

—Laura Payton and Bruce Deachman

Examples of animator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The costumes workflow included the creation of physical pieces for animators to work with in order to get movement and texture right. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026

The gorgeous, detailed backgrounds are one strong giveaway of Hayao Miyazaki’s marked influence on the French animator and illustrator. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026

These opportunities were seized upon by the pioneering experimental animators of the Weimar Republic, including Walter Ruttmann, Lotte Reiniger, and Oskar Fischinger. —Michael Cowan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026

Ryan Collett is a writer, animator, and knitter. —Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for animator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator
• calculator

Kids Definition

animator

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tor ˈan-ə-ˌmāt-ər 

: someone who makes an animated cartoon