Which tool is essential for creating animations in digital design?

Animation software is specifically designed to create animations, making it the essential tool for this purpose in digital design. Such software provides a range of features and functionalities that cater to the needs of animators, including timeline management, keyframe animation, motion graphics, and various effects that contribute to the fluidity and professionalism of animated sequences.

In contrast, while graphic design software can support certain animation features, it is primarily focused on static images and layouts. Text editors are intended for editing text and writing code rather than creating visual content. Spreadsheet applications are used for data organization and analysis, and do not provide any tools relevant to animation creation. Thus, for anyone looking to produce animations, animation software is the most appropriate and effective choice.