What is a keyframe?

Keyframe artists, also known as keyframe animators, are professionals in animation and visual effects who create the main frames that define the starting and ending points of any smooth transition. These keyframes are essential in establishing the timing, movement, and poses of characters or objects in an animation sequence. Keyframe artists work closely with directors and other animators to ensure that the animation follows the desired storyline and visual style. Their work provides the foundation for in-between animators, who fill in the frames between key poses, resulting in fluid motion. Keyframe animation is widely used in film, television, video games, and other multimedia projects.