Certified Animation Professional (CAP) Practice Test

What are the main poses in a scene which are most important to communicate the desired movement?

1. Key Frames

2. Tweens

3. Alternate poses

4. Secondary frames

The correct answer is: Key Frames

Key frames are critical in animation as they represent the main poses or positions within a scene that outline the fundamental movements and actions of characters or objects. They serve as a reference point for the animator, indicating the starting, ending, and significant transitional moments in the sequence. By establishing these essential poses, key frames effectively communicate the intended motion and emotional state of the animated subject, allowing for a clear understanding of the animation's narrative. In contrast, the other options serve different purposes in the animation process. Tweens involve the in-between frames created to transition smoothly between key frames, but they do not define the main poses themselves. Alternate poses may serve to illustrate variations of a character's actions but are not the key moments that structure the animation. Secondary frames, while important for adding depth and detail to an animation, do not hold the primary significance that key frames do in conveying essential movement. Thus, key frames stand out as the most important elements in communicating desired movement in a scene.