Animated icons and cursors share many similarities with their static counterparts. That's because ANI files are created from a collection of static icon or cursor images - the same image formats that can be found in ICO and CUR files. In fact, because ANI files use icon and cursor image formats, there is only one additional consideration to make when authoring and distributing animated icons and cursors.
Unlike ICO and CUR files, ANI resource files only contain a single image format. This means that a single ANI file cannot extend support for all Windows configurations.
You should consider your target audience when you create animated icons and cursors and provide multiple ANI files if required.
Since all cursors are 32x32 pixels in size, the only consideration you need to make is what color depth(s) you will create. For example, the original Windows Plus! package includes animated cursors in both 16 and 256 color formats such as "My Icon.ani" and "My Icon (hi-color).ani".
Animated icons are a feature of Microangelo On Display, not Windows. Your target audience will be limited to users who have On Display or another utility that displays ANI files. Image size becomes more important than color depth. From our experience, Microangelo users are almost always able to display hi-color icons, but some use standard (32 pixel) desktop icons and others use Large (48 pixel) icons. An animated 32x32 icon will not look its best when installed to a system configured for 48x48 icons. The image will be "stretched" by Windows to meet the 48x48 requirement.