animatic

noun

an·​i·​mat·​ic ˌa-nə-ˈma-tik 

plural animatics

: a preliminary sequence of shots, images, or sketches (as for a movie or an animated television program) that is filmed or arranged usually with a sound track and viewed to determine its effectiveness before being finalized

The final step before the material gets sent across the Pacific Ocean is an animatic of the episode, a filming of the layout drawings that gives a rudimentary sense of how the show will move. There's no color and the movements are, at best, jerky, but the animatic gives the producers a chance to see how the drawings and voices work together.

—Joe Rhodes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 May 1990

Word History

Etymology

probably blend of animated and schematic entry 2

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!