What is the role of the Animator component in Unity?

The Animator component in Unity is specifically designed to control animations for GameObjects. It allows developers to create and manage animation transitions between different states, such as looping animations, blending between animations, and triggering specific animations based on gameplay events or conditions. The Animator component works with Animation Clips and can utilize an Animator Controller, which provides a visual interface for organizing and defining how animations are played in a game.

This component is essential for animating characters, objects, and other visual elements, ensuring that they move and behave in a lifelike and engaging manner. It also supports complex animation setups, such as those involving multiple animations for different actions (running, jumping, attacking, etc.) and varying speeds for dynamic gameplay.

The other options pertain to different functionalities within Unity and do not relate to animation control. Audio management, texture storage, and network handling are separate areas that are addressed by other components and systems within the Unity ecosystem. The specificity of the Animator's role makes option B the clear choice.