Skip to main content
Known Participant
Feb 3, 2026 6:41 AM UTC
Answered

What the difference AEP and FLA in adobe after effects and adobe animate

Hi there, what the difference between AEP and FLA in adobe after effects and adobe animate I don’t know what’s the difference Thanks Kevin

    Warren Heaton
    Warren HeatonCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Feb 4, 2026 10:35 PM UTC

    To add to what ​@ShiveringCactus replied:

    • After Effects is a motion graphics and visual effects application with a raster based canvas (the Composition) and a time-based Timeline.
    • Animate is a 2d animation and interactive content application with a vector based canvas (the Stage) and a frame-based Timeline.

     

    These applications can be used separately or together.
     

    7 replies

    Warren Heaton
    Community Expert
    Warren HeatonCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Feb 4, 2026 10:35 PM UTC

    To add to what ​@ShiveringCactus replied:

    • After Effects is a motion graphics and visual effects application with a raster based canvas (the Composition) and a time-based Timeline.
    • Animate is a 2d animation and interactive content application with a vector based canvas (the Stage) and a frame-based Timeline.

     

    These applications can be used separately or together.
     

    Translate
    MarekMularczyk
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Feb 4, 2026 3:42 PM UTC

    You don’t have to worry about FLA anymore. Adobe Animate has now been discontinued

      

    Translate
    Adobe Community ExpertAdobe Certified Professional
    Known Participant
    Feb 4, 2026 5:11 PM UTC

    Update Adobe said adobe animate is not discontinue anymore 

    Translate
    Sammy the Red the Betta fish
    MarekMularczyk
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Feb 4, 2026 6:47 PM UTC

    Thanks for the update. I got an email from Adobe a few days ago saying Animate was being discontinued in march 

    Translate
    Adobe Community ExpertAdobe Certified Professional
    ShiveringCactus
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Feb 3, 2026 11:01 AM UTC

    An FLA is the project file type for Adobe Animate, whereas AEP is the same for After Effects.  Both Animate and After Effects were created by different companies which were bought by Adobe.  There has been work done to allow users to import project files from one program to the other, but at the fundamental level, FLAs and AEPs are for different software.

    I hope that answers your question or have I completely misunderstood your question?

    Translate