Certified Animation Professional (CAP) Practice Test

The most common frame rate for animation projects is typically 24 frames per second. This standard originates from the film industry, where 24 fps became the standard for capturing smooth motion and achieving an acceptable level of visual quality. It provides a good balance between motion fluidity and the amount of film used.

In the context of traditional animation, animators usually create a sequence of drawings, and at 24 frames per second, it means there are 24 distinct images played in one second to create the illusion of motion. This frame rate has been widely adopted not only in traditional animation but also in digital and CGI animation, making it a cornerstone of the animation industry.

While other frame rates might be used for specific purposes—such as lower frame rates for certain styles of animation or higher frame rates for smooth motion in action sequences—they are less common in standard animation projects compared to the established 24 fps.