Feature class, netCDF (feature and raster) and raster catalog layers can be animated in the display of ArcMap, ArcScene, or ArcGlobe. All that is required is a field with time values in the attribute table, or a time dimension for netCDF layers. Here you'll use the Create Time Layer Animation dialog box to create a time layer animation in the display, using a feature class layer as input.

If the Animation toolbar isn't present, click View, Point to Toolbars and click Animation. Next, click Animation and click Create Time Layer Animation.

Click the Source object dropdown and click County Population since this is the layer that will be animated. Click the Field dropdown and set DATE_ST as the time field to use in the animation.

Since this is a date field, the Format dropdown is disabled. If the field specified was a string or numeric field that contained date strings such as "2000/01/01" you would need to specify the field format.

Note that since the time steps in the County Population layer are every 10 years (regularly spaced), an End Time Field is not necessary. For irregularly spaced time steps, you may need to specify an End Time Field. This can be created as a pre-processing step using the Calculate End Date tool in the ArcToolbox window.

Leave the End Time Field option blank. Set the interval and units to use to display time slices to 10 years. This is commonly the minimum time step in your data. The Animate fields cumulatively option enables you to retain data in the display that has been drawn, enabling you to see progression, such as the accumulation in the extent of a wildfire. Leave the Animate fields cumulatively option unchecked.

Check Show time in the display. The time text for each time slice will display as the animation is played or previewed. Type a label that will appear before the time text in the display as the animation is played or previewed. Click Create to generate the time layer animation.

Click File on the Main menu and click Save.