Gems of My Crown ~ Animated vs. Automated

This one is a rarer occurrence, but I have seen instances where writers mix up these two words. Animated and Automated are not the same thing, though they're close in definition. 

Animated

Animated is an adjective that has two definitions. It can be used to describe a behavior or tone of conversation. An individual can be described as performing an action "animatedly" when he/she acts out a scenario, uses their hands to talk, and/or speaks in a lively or enthusiastic manner.

A production can be described as animated if it was produced using a series of still photographs that have been arranged to mimic movement when shown in a sequence. There are many types of animation. Cartoons such as Tom & Jerry and Spongebob Squarepants are the most popular and widely known forms of animation. Clippit, Microsoft's first Office Assistant, a paperclip commonly referred to as Clippy, was animated. Toy Story is an example of 3D animation, while the characters we see moving on the rides at DisneyWorld and DisneyLand are automated animatronics. Puppetry animation includes those Rankin-Bass "clay-mation" Christmas specials we all love, and South Park is an example of cut-out animation.

There are nearly three dozen types of animation, each with their own ways of depicting movement in still images. For a comprehensive list, I suggest checking out this article from Yans Media.

Types of Animation Styles and Techniques

Automated

Automation uses a technique similar to animation but is a different process. Automation is a technology that uses AI (artificial intelligence) to communicate with humans without human assistance. The "robot" answering service that many large corporations use is automated. Numerous machines and mechanical tools with automated features have been developed over time as well. The robotic vacuum is considered automated, as it is designed with a combination of sensors, software algorithms, and mechanical components that allow it to navigate and clean different types of floors with no human interaction or assistance. The lumber industry has automated cutting machines, while the automotive industry has numerous machines that perform a wide range of tasks.

The word automated is related to the word automatic. If a machine or any other entity does something "automatically," it is safe to assume the word automated should be used to describe it.

The Difference

The best way to remember the difference between the two words is to think of anything that is animated as "cartoony." We've all seen those hilariously excited conversations depicted on cartoons. When an individual has an animated conversation in real life, it can be described as cartoony as well. Anything that wouldn't be described as cartoon-like in nature should be described as automated. As you can see, these words have very distinct meanings and should not be used interchangeably.