Q: Does the Animator count as the Finger of God for smiting purposes as well as Goals?

A: Yes, the Animator can smite Creepers if the Finger of God is not on the table, since that’s something the Finger of God can do. If something “counts as” another card then it has all the same properties as that other card, without having to spell out all of those properties as written on the other card.

See also: Does the Librarian let us draw & play extra for Miskatonic Study Group?