Rigging & animation · Intermediate

Animation curve

A line on a graph showing how a value changes over time

Also called F-curve, Function curve

What is an animation curve?

An animation curve is a line on a graph that shows how one value, such as height or rotation, changes over time. Keyframes are points on the curve, and its shape between them sets the speed: steep means fast, and flat means slow or still.

Think of it like this

Like a car’s speed plotted on a trip graph: from the slope alone you can see where it sped up, cruised and braked.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Animate: Making things move over time.

TimeKeyframeSoftware fills the in-between
Keyframes set the key values; interpolation draws the motion between them.

How an animation curve works

  1. 01Each animated value, like X position, gets its own curve.
  2. 02Keyframes you set become points along that curve.
  3. 03Handles on each point bend the curve to shape the motion.
  4. 04The software reads the curve every frame to place the object.

Animation curve vs dope sheet

PropertyAnimation curveDope sheet
ShowsHow values change over timeWhen keyframes happen
Best forShaping speed and smoothnessRetiming and moving keys
Looks likeLines on a graphRows of dots on a timeline

Set timing in the dope sheet, then polish how motion speeds up and slows down with the curves in the graph editor.

Where an animation curve is used

  • Smoothing out jerky motion
  • Adding ease in and ease out to a move
  • Finding and fixing overshoots and sudden pops

Beginner tip

If a move looks wrong, open the graph editor and look for sudden spikes or flat steps. A smooth curve almost always means smooth motion on screen.

Terms related to an animation curve

Animation curve FAQ

What is the graph editor?
The panel in a 3D app where animation curves are shown and edited. Time runs left to right, the value runs up and down, and you drag keys and handles to change how the motion feels.
What is an F-curve?
Short for function curve, Blender’s name for an animation curve. Each F-curve controls one channel, like X location or Z rotation.
Why does my animation overshoot between keyframes?
Smooth interpolation is swinging the curve past the key values. Flatten the handles on those keys, or switch them to a linear or clamped type, so the curve stops bulging.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms