Certified Animation Professional (CAP) Practice Test

What type of animation involves using drawings on paper?

1. 3-D Animation

2. Cel Animation

3. Stop Motion

4. Computer Animation

The correct answer is: Cel Animation

The correct choice refers to cel animation, which specifically involves creating images on transparent sheets, or "cels," that are then layered over background images. This traditional technique was widely used in the production of animated films before the advent of digital methods. Artists would draw characters and scenes on these cels, which were then photographed in sequence to create the illusion of motion. This method emphasizes the hand-drawn quality and is characterized by its distinctive visual style. In contrast, 3-D animation uses digital software to create models and environments in a three-dimensional space, while stop motion involves photographing real objects or puppets frame by frame to achieve movement. Computer animation, on the other hand, utilizes digital tools to create animations through various techniques that do not necessarily rely on traditional drawings. Each of these other types of animation represents distinct processes that do not involve the direct use of drawings on paper, highlighting the unique nature of cel animation in the animation landscape.