The characteristics of animations as visual images were discussed in comparison with those of paintings, photographs and movies, as follows: 1) Motion perception produced by animations directly gives impression of active, biological and social creatures with individual intentions, even in simple geometrical objects. 2) Independence from the linear perspective rule was pointed out to be one of the important characteristics of animations in comparison with Western traditional paintings, photographs, and movies. In this point, the Oriental tradition of arts has been succeeded by Japanese animations. 3) Because of the psychological limit of visual attention, full animations were thought to be not always necessary. 4) Cross-cultural generality of affective impression produced by colors, forms, and motions was discussed to be an important background of the internationality of animations.