Animato

Animato is Italian for ‘animated’. As a performance direction it instructs the performer to play with animation, liveliness, increased energy. The marking can apply to any tempo, urging the performer to give the music extra life and forward motion.

The character is lively and engaged. Animato passages should sound activated — the music alive, breathing, moving forward. The marking is similar to con moto (with motion) but slightly more emphatic; animato implies more than mere motion, it implies life.

The direction is often paired with tempo markings: Allegro animato (an animated allegro), Andante animato (an animated andante that doesn’t lag). It can also stand alone or be used to modify the existing tempo (più animato — more animated).

Italian, past participle of animare (‘to animate’), from Latin animare, from anima (‘soul, breath’).

Bring the music to life. Phrasing should feel lifted; articulation should be precise; tempo should feel alive rather than static. Avoid mechanical playing; animato demands engagement.