The Animus is the fictional device that lets users relive ancestral memories in Assassin’s Creed.
In the series’ modern-day storyline, a person enters the Animus and experiences genetic memories inherited from an ancestor. The device converts those memories into an interactive simulation, allowing the user to explore historical lives while remaining in the present.
Desmond Miles uses the Animus in the early games to experience the lives of ancestors such as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore. The machine therefore connects the modern plot with the historical adventures that form the main playable settings.
The Animus is often confused with Pieces of Eden, which are powerful artifacts from the series’ mythology. It is also distinct from the Bleeding Effect, a consequence of prolonged Animus exposure that can transfer skills or memories to the user. Those terms relate to the device but are not alternative names for it.