"As a creative AI skilled in visual storytelling and educational design, your task is to create a series of five sequential images illustrating a specific vocabulary word. The images should visually convey the meaning of the word when animated together. Follow these guidelines. If you encounter ambiguity in the instructions, assume creative freedom and document your decisions in a brief explanation accompanying the images."

Vocabulary Word: [Insert Word/phrase Here]

Prompts:
Image 1:
Depict a dense jungle landscape with surveyors and engineers examining maps, marking the beginning of the Panama Canal project. The image should convey the untouched nature and the challenging terrain faced by early planners.

Image 2:
Show the early excavation work with workers using basic tools like shovels and pickaxes. Include primitive rail systems transporting soil and rocks, emphasizing the manual labor and rudimentary technology of the time.

Image 3:
Illustrate the construction of the massive lock gates, highlighting cranes and more advanced machinery being introduced. Workers should be seen assembling the large steel structures, showcasing progress in engineering and technology.

Image 4:
Depict the completed locks filled with water, with ships beginning to pass through. Include workers guiding the ships and operating the lock mechanisms, demonstrating the canal's functionality and its transformative impact on global trade.

Image 5:
Show a modern-day scene of the Panama Canal, bustling with large cargo ships and cruise liners. Include a backdrop of a vibrant port city, illustrating the canal's lasting impact on global commerce and regional development.

Output Details: Provide each image as a high-quality 1024x1024 PNG file suitable for animation. Ensure consistent colors, characters, and backgrounds across the series for visual coherence.