So I started my research, and so far I've learned a little about the different styles, and some about the actual process. There are serval different styles, one can be made out of models that you take pictures of as you move them around (like in 'The Nightmere before Christmas'), or you could have drawings that turn into the animation ('The Lion King', 'Aladdin' and 'Beauty and the Beast' were done this way,) or you could use cut outs of paper in your animation (like the original 'South Park',). Some animations stop at a certain point (mostly children TV animations), which is they have frames of frozen pictures and a sound track, but they won't actually be moving (or animated) like how you are probably used to seeing in animated movies, ('How to Train your Dragon' for instance,).
As for the actual (basic) animation process, it all starts with an idea, as all stories do. If the studio heads accept it, they send people out to write out the plot, next the story is discussed and refined, (Jasmin's age in 'Aladdin' for example, was changed for 15 to undetermined, because they didn't wnat to send out the message you should get married at 15.(Glad they did that!)). At the same time they send out a research team to the place the movie will be set in (or in the rare case that place doesn't exist, then the place they're basing their nonexistent place on) and do research on the culture, art, etc. and use that in their sketches and movie. Then they have a group start drawing inspirational sketches that set the mood, setting, characters, and plot. These are rarely kept, they're mainly there to inspire other art. Many movies are scrapped before the get to the production stage. And that's all I know right now, but I'll be doing some more research soon.