'animatograph' originates from English, formed from 'animate' (from Latin 'anima' meaning 'breath, soul') and the combining form '-graph' (from Greek 'graphein' meaning 'to write, record'); it was popularized as the trade name of Robert W. Paul’s motion‑picture apparatus.

'Animatograph' began as Robert W. Paul’s trademarked name (c. 1896) for his moving‑picture camera/projector; the proprietary name then entered general English use as the common noun 'animatograph'.

Initially, it meant a specific camera‑projector device for moving pictures; it broadened to mean any motion‑picture projector and even a film show, and today it is chiefly historical/archaic.