The device that lets characters relive genetic memories in the Assassin's Creed video-game series is called the Animus.
In the original story, Abstergo Industries uses the Animus to access memories inherited through a person's genetic lineage. Desmond Miles is connected to the machine and relives the experiences of his ancestor Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.
The Animus provides the narrative bridge between modern-day science-fiction scenes and historical settings. It also explains why players can move between different centuries and control characters who are not living in the present.
The term is sometimes confused with Helix, a later entertainment-oriented platform associated with Abstergo. Eagle Vision is instead a perception ability, while a Leap of Faith is an acrobatic descent used by Assassins.