Animations can sometimes be used to show data changes over time.

However, animations can make it difficult for users to see the whole story clearly. This is because not all of the data points are shown at once so may be difficult to compare.

Tips for creating an animation  

• Never make an animation the only way to get the information.
• Make sure there is a way for the user to control the animation, for example, to pause or reset and navigate through the frames.
• Keep the animated elements to a minimum as using too many can be distracting and make it difficult to understand what the chart is showing.

An example of an animated chart shows the distribution of COVID-19 antibodies by age, included in a Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey article.