How to say "animation" in Japanese

• アニメCommon
  nounCovers animated films and cartoons, especially in the Japanese style; as an abbreviation of アニメーション it is the everyday word people use when talking about anime.
  そのアニメは外国がいこくでも放送ほうそうされています。↗

  The animation is on the air even in other countries.
• アニメーションCommon
  nounThe fuller loanword for the art or technique of animation and for animated films themselves; it suits discussion of animation as a craft, such as in film or media contexts.
• 活気かっきJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounMatches the abstract sense of 'animation' as liveliness or energy in a place, crowd or atmosphere; it has nothing to do with moving pictures and is a poor choice for that sense.
  その街まちは活気かっきにあふれていた。↗

  The town was full of activity.
• 生気せいきCommon
  nounCovers 'animation' as vitality or the spark of life in a person or thing; like 活気 it does not refer to animated images and is seldom the word you want for the film sense.
  春はるの雨あめが花はなに生気せいきをよみがえらせた。↗

  A spring rain revived the flower.
• 動画どうがCommon
  nounRefers to a moving image or animated clip as a file or piece of footage; use it when talking about videos and short animations, rather than anime as a genre or works.

For the moving-image sense use 「アニメ」 or 「アニメーション」; 動画 refers to video footage; 活気 and 生気 are for the liveliness sense of 'animation' and are unrelated to film.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• アニメanimation
• アニメーションanimation
• 活気かっきenergy
• 生気せいきlife
• アニメートanimation
• 動画どうがanimation