Animation is the illusion of movement created by displaying a series of images in rapid succession. There are two major types: 2D animation which uses bitmap and vector graphics to create animated images on computers, and 3D animation which animates objects in a three-dimensional virtual space.
The main artists involved in animation include animators who create the frames, cleanup artists who refine the drawings, inbetweeners who generate frames between key images, and layout artists who assemble visual elements. Basic tools for 2D animation include pencils, color pencils, erasers, rulers, animation paper, and computers running 2D animation software like Toon Boom Harmony.