Crossword Genius

Excited and hugging one chum (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

animated

'excited' is the definition.
(animating is a kind of exciting)

'and hugging one chum' is the wordplay.
'hugging' is an insertion indicator.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'chum' becomes 'mate' (I've seen this before).
'i'+'mate'='imate'
'and' enclosing 'imate' is 'ANIMATED'.

(Other definitions for animated that I've seen before include "Lively in diamante" , "Lively - brought to life by Disney?" , "full of spirit" , "Fired" , "Enlivened (like a cartoon film)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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