An animation that starts on its own can draw attention away from the content a person is trying to read. The problem is especially visible when movement loops beside text, forms or decisions that need concentration.
Review the control, not just the duration
Check whether a person can pause, stop or hide movement that continues while other content is displayed. WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.2.2 provides a technical requirement for certain moving content. Its threshold is useful for conformance, but a person may experience distraction well before that threshold.
Test reduced motion in the actual product
A device's reduced-motion preference does not by itself freeze an animated GIF. Test what the page actually does with that preference. A static alternative or a working control may give people a clearer, calmer experience.
Test the surrounding task
Watch someone read the adjacent content or complete the nearby journey while the animation plays. If movement competes for attention, removing it or making it optional may help more than treating a checklist result as the whole answer.