Animus is the name of the device that lets Assassin’s Creed characters experience ancestral memories.
In the series, the Animus interprets genetic memories inherited through a person’s DNA. A user enters the machine and relives events experienced by an ancestor, allowing the games to move between a modern setting and historical periods. Desmond Miles uses an Animus created by Abstergo in the first game, while later entries show different models and related technologies.
Eagle Vision is an Assassin ability that highlights people and objects; it is not a machine. The Bleeding Effect is a psychological consequence of repeated Animus exposure, and Helix is a later entertainment-style system associated with Abstergo Industries. These terms are connected to the technology but are not alternative names for the core device.