Sprite Animation Lesson 1 of 4
Frames and frame rate
Motion is an illusion built from still frames shown in sequence.
Animation is a series of still images (frames) shown quickly in sequence. Your eye blends them into motion. In pixel art, you usually animate on a small number of frames — a walk cycle might be just 4 to 8 frames — because each frame is hand-drawn and clarity beats smoothness.
Frame rate is how many frames play per second. Games often play sprite animations at 8–12 frames per second for a classic, readable look. More frames feel smoother but cost more work and can look "too clean" for pixel art.
Tip Onion-skinning shows a ghost of the previous frame while you draw the next one, so you can line up the motion. It is the single most useful tool for hand-drawn animation.
Quick check
A pixel-art walk cycle typically uses: