The educational advantages of animation stem from its ability to visually depict the functioning of systems that change in time and space (for example, astronomical phenomena, mechanical and biological processes). However, these advantages do not lead to a noticeable improvement in learning outcomes in vocational education if the use of animated graphics does not take into account the peculiarities of human perception and cognitive abilities of students. The article provides an overview of international research in the field of animation application in the study of dynamic processes, phenomena, events. The possibilities of static images, videos in the representation of spatio-temporal changes are considered, their effectiveness in comparison with animated content is analyzed. The approaches that could complement the traditional ways of creating educational animation and contribute to the realization of its educational potential are formulated.