Animation Frame Rates (24, 30, 60 fps)
Which frame rate to animate and export at
Also known as: Animation fps · 24 fps animation · 30 fps animation · 60 fps animation · Animation sample rate · Frame rate animation game
Definition
Animation frame rate is the number of frames per second at which animation is authored and sampled. Film is traditionally 24 frames per second, television and many games use 30, and fast or competitive games use 60 or more. Game animation is often authored at 30 and then interpolated by the engine, which plays it at any display rate, so the animation does not have to match the game's frame rate. What matters is consistency between the authoring tool, the export and the engine.
In production
Set the same frame rate in your 3D tool, in the export and in the engine's import settings, to avoid timing and sync problems. Animating at a higher rate gives smoother motion for fast actions but increases file size and work. Cinematic sequences have their own frame rate, such as 24 for a filmic look. Check the animation's length in seconds after import.
Tools that use Animation Frame Rates (24, 30, 60 fps)
See also
Animation Looks Different in the Engine
Motion plays differently than in Maya or Blender
Frame Rate and Frame Time
FPS in milliseconds
Keyframes and Interpolation
Poses in time and how the computer fills in between
Animation Compression
Reducing animation memory with a small error
Sequencer and Timeline
Engine tools for cinematics and scripted scenes
Motion Capture
Recording real-actor motion