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

The creation of depth and dimensionality is a defining characteristic of 3D animation, setting it apart from other forms of animation. 3D animation utilizes computer-generated imagery (CGI) to create visuals that occupy three-dimensional space, allowing for realistic movement and perspective shifts. This depth is achieved through various techniques, including modeling, texturing, rigging, and rendering, which enable animators to represent objects as they exist in the real world, complete with volume and spatial relation.

In contrast, the use of flat images relates to 2D animation, which relies on images that exist only in two dimensions—height and width. Hand-drawn frames also pertain to traditional 2D animation techniques where each frame is drawn separately, lacking the spatial depth inherent in 3D animation. Focusing solely on static images applies to non-animated content and does not engage with the dynamic, moving qualities typical of animation itself. Thus, the unique aspect of creating depth and dimensionality is what distinguishes 3D animation fundamentally.