An animation system provides tools and processes to animate the properties of models and assets. For example, use an animation system to animate transform properties to move and rotate a model, or animate the intensity property to dim a light.

Common tools include importers that import animation and models, editors that create and modify animation, and real-time animation state machines that determine which animation plays and when. Some animation systems also include specialized tools that define a humanoid model and retarget animation between models with the same definition.

Unity has two animation systems with different capabilities and performance characteristics: