Certified Animation Professional (CAP) Practice Test

Which type of animation is characterized by the manipulation of physical objects?

1. Stop Motion

2. 2-D Animation

3. Frame-by-Frame Animation

4. Digital Animation

The correct answer is: Stop Motion

The correct answer pertains to stop motion animation, which is specifically characterized by the manipulation of physical objects to create animated sequences. In this technique, real-world objects like clay figures, puppets, or even cut-out shapes are incrementally moved and photographed frame by frame. When these individual frames are played in sequence, the illusion of movement is created, making it appear as if the objects are in motion. This method stands out from other types of animation due to its hands-on approach, focusing on tangible materials and requiring physical manipulation for each frame. For instance, while 2-D animation involves creating images on a flat surface and digital animation utilizes software to create animations on a computer, stop motion relies fundamentally on the physical presence and movement of real-life objects. Frame-by-frame animation can sometimes refer to techniques that involve drawing or painting each frame, which is distinct from the physical manipulation of objects seen in stop motion. Thus, stop motion uniquely captures the essence of bringing physical entities to life through animation.