Certified Animation Professional (CAP) Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Exam Study Guide

Keyframes are essential in the animation process because they define the specific starting and ending points of transitions within an animation sequence. By setting keyframes at pivotal moments, animators establish the positions, movements, and transformations of objects or characters over time. When the software interpolates the frames between these key points, it creates smooth transitions and animations, bringing the scene to life. This technique allows for dynamic changes in action or emotion, effectively guiding the viewer's experience.

The other choices focus on aspects of animation that are not directly related to the function of keyframes. For example, lighting effects and sound effects pertain to different components of production and do not involve the critical role of establishing movement through keyframes. Similarly, while completed animation sequences can utilize keyframes, they do not represent keyframes themselves, which are more about defining specific moments rather than entire sequences.