Quick answer
Blender animation starts with keyframes. Users can animate location, rotation, scale, camera movement, lights, materials and rigged characters inside the same free 3D creation suite.
Keyframes
Keyframes store values over time. They are used to animate movement, rotation, scale, camera shots, lights and many other properties.
Rigging
Rigging creates controls for characters or complex objects. A good rig lets animators move a model naturally without editing every mesh point.
Timing and output
Strong animation depends on timing, spacing and easing. The final result is rendered as an image sequence or video file.