The Animus is the memory-viewing machine in the Assassin's Creed series.
The device allows a modern user to access genetic memories inherited from ancestors. In the original games, Desmond Miles uses an Animus to relive the experiences of historical Assassins, including Altaïr and Ezio. This structure lets the series move between modern laboratories and historical settings.
The Animus is not presented as ordinary time travel. The user experiences ancestral memories through a technological interface, so the framing remains science fiction while the main gameplay takes place in reconstructed historical worlds. Abstergo Industries develops and uses the technology for its own purposes.
Eagle Vision is a perception ability, not a machine. The Apple of Eden is a powerful Isu artifact, while the Bleeding Effect describes memories and skills that can carry over to an Animus user after prolonged exposure.