diff --git a/packages/flutter/lib/src/animation/animation_controller.dart b/packages/flutter/lib/src/animation/animation_controller.dart
index 1baef4d5d92..5b90cbacde5 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/lib/src/animation/animation_controller.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/lib/src/animation/animation_controller.dart
@@ -242,6 +242,11 @@ class AnimationController extends Animation<double>
   /// * `vsync` is the required [TickerProvider] for the current context. It can
   ///   be changed by calling [resync]. See [TickerProvider] for advice on
   ///   obtaining a ticker provider.
+  ///
+  /// * [pauseWhenNoListeners] controls whether the animation controller should
+  ///   pause frame scheduling when there are no listeners. When set to true,
+  ///   the controller will not request frames (saving CPU/GPU resources) until
+  ///   a listener is added. Defaults to false for backward compatibility.
   AnimationController({
     double? value,
     this.duration,
@@ -250,6 +255,7 @@ class AnimationController extends Animation<double>
     this.lowerBound = 0.0,
     this.upperBound = 1.0,
     this.animationBehavior = AnimationBehavior.normal,
+    this.pauseWhenNoListeners = false,
     required TickerProvider vsync,
   }) : assert(upperBound >= lowerBound),
        _direction = _AnimationDirection.forward {
@@ -272,6 +278,9 @@ class AnimationController extends Animation<double>
   ///   be changed by calling [resync]. See [TickerProvider] for advice on
   ///   obtaining a ticker provider.
   ///
+  /// * [pauseWhenNoListeners] controls whether the animation controller should
+  ///   pause frame scheduling when there are no listeners. Defaults to false.
+  ///
   /// This constructor is most useful for animations that will be driven using a
   /// physics simulation, especially when the physics simulation has no
   /// pre-determined bounds.
@@ -282,6 +291,7 @@ class AnimationController extends Animation<double>
     this.debugLabel,
     required TickerProvider vsync,
     this.animationBehavior = AnimationBehavior.preserve,
+    this.pauseWhenNoListeners = false,
   }) : lowerBound = double.negativeInfinity,
        upperBound = double.infinity,
        _direction = _AnimationDirection.forward {
@@ -308,6 +318,24 @@ class AnimationController extends Animation<double>
   /// [AnimationController.unbounded] constructor.
   final AnimationBehavior animationBehavior;
 
+  /// Whether the animation controller should pause frame scheduling when there
+  /// are no listeners.
+  ///
+  /// When a listener is added, frame scheduling resumes automatically.
+  ///
+  /// Defaults to false for backward compatibility. Set to true to enable this
+  /// optimization.
+  ///
+  /// Example usage:
+  /// ```dart
+  /// final controller = AnimationController(
+  ///   vsync: this,
+  ///   duration: const Duration(seconds: 1),
+  ///   pauseWhenNoListeners: true, // Enable optimization
+  /// );
+  /// ```
+  final bool pauseWhenNoListeners;
+
   /// Returns an [Animation<double>] for this animation controller, so that a
   /// pointer to this object can be passed around without allowing users of that
   /// pointer to mutate the [AnimationController] state.
@@ -327,6 +355,44 @@ class AnimationController extends Animation<double>
 
   Ticker? _ticker;
 
+  /// The number of registered listeners (both value and status listeners).
+  ///
+  /// This is used to pause the ticker when there are no listeners, avoiding
+  /// unnecessary frame scheduling. Only used when [pauseWhenNoListeners] is true.
+  int _listenerCount = 0;
+
+  /// Called when a listener is registered with [addListener] or [addStatusListener].
+  ///
+  /// When [pauseWhenNoListeners] is true, this resumes the ticker when the
+  /// first listener is added while the animation is running.
+  @override
+  void didRegisterListener() {
+    if (!pauseWhenNoListeners) {
+      return;
+    }
+    _listenerCount += 1;
+    if (_listenerCount > 0 && isAnimating) {
+      // Resume ticker when we get our first listener while animating.
+      _ticker?.resume();
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Called when a listener is unregistered with [removeListener] or [removeStatusListener].
+  ///
+  /// When [pauseWhenNoListeners] is true, this pauses the ticker when the
+  /// last listener is removed while the animation is running.
+  @override
+  void didUnregisterListener() {
+    if (!pauseWhenNoListeners) {
+      return;
+    }
+    _listenerCount -= 1;
+    if (_listenerCount == 0 && isAnimating) {
+      // Pause ticker when we lose our last listener while animating.
+      _ticker?.pause();
+    }
+  }
+
   /// Recreates the [Ticker] with the new [TickerProvider].
   void resync(TickerProvider vsync) {
     final Ticker oldTicker = _ticker!;
@@ -864,6 +930,18 @@ class AnimationController extends Animation<double>
     _lastElapsedDuration = Duration.zero;
     _value = clampDouble(simulation.x(0.0), lowerBound, upperBound);
     final TickerFuture result = _ticker!.start();
+
+    if (pauseWhenNoListeners) {
+      if (_listenerCount == 0) {
+        if (!_ticker!.isPaused) {
+          _ticker!.pause();
+        }
+      } else {
+        if (_ticker!.isPaused) {
+          _ticker!.resume();
+        }
+      }
+    }
     _status = (_direction == _AnimationDirection.forward)
         ? AnimationStatus.forward
         : AnimationStatus.reverse;
diff --git a/packages/flutter/lib/src/scheduler/ticker.dart b/packages/flutter/lib/src/scheduler/ticker.dart
index be7c1751109..bc68de13d3e 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/lib/src/scheduler/ticker.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/lib/src/scheduler/ticker.dart
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ class Ticker {
   /// Whether this [Ticker] has scheduled a call to call its callback
   /// on the next frame.
   ///
-  /// A ticker that is [muted] can be active (see [isActive]) yet not be
-  /// ticking. In that case, the ticker will not call its callback, and
+  /// A ticker that is [muted] or [isPaused] can be active (see [isActive]) yet
+  /// not be ticking. In that case, the ticker will not call its callback, and
   /// [isTicking] will be false, but time will still be progressing.
   ///
   /// This will return false if the [SchedulerBinding.lifecycleState] is one
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ class Ticker {
     if (muted) {
       return false;
     }
+    if (isPaused) {
+      return false;
+    }
     if (SchedulerBinding.instance.framesEnabled) {
       return true;
     }
@@ -256,6 +259,57 @@ class Ticker {
   @protected
   bool get scheduled => _animationId != null;
 
+  /// Whether this ticker is currently paused by its consumer.
+  ///
+  /// A paused ticker will not schedule frames, but time continues to elapse.
+  ///
+  /// Unlike [muted], which is controlled by the [TickerProvider] (e.g., based
+  /// on [TickerMode]), this property is controlled by the ticker's consumer
+  /// (e.g., [AnimationController]) to temporarily suspend frame scheduling.
+  ///
+  /// See also:
+  ///
+  ///  * [pause], which sets this to true.
+  ///  * [resume], which sets this to false.
+  bool _isPaused = false;
+
+  /// Whether this ticker is currently paused by its consumer.
+  bool get isPaused => _isPaused;
+
+  /// Pauses frame scheduling for this ticker.
+  ///
+  /// When paused, the ticker remains active and time continues to elapse,
+  /// but no frames are scheduled and the callback is not called.
+  ///
+  /// This is typically used by [AnimationController] to suspend frame
+  /// scheduling when there are no listeners.
+  ///
+  /// See also:
+  ///
+  ///  * [resume], which resumes frame scheduling.
+  void pause() {
+    if (!_isPaused) {
+      _isPaused = true;
+      unscheduleTick();
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Resumes frame scheduling for this ticker after a [pause].
+  ///
+  /// If [shouldScheduleTick] is true, the ticker will schedule a frame.
+  ///
+  /// See also:
+  ///
+  ///  * [pause], which pauses frame scheduling.
+  void resume() {
+    if (_isPaused) {
+      _isPaused = false;
+      if (shouldScheduleTick) {
+        scheduleTick();
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   /// Whether a tick should be scheduled.
   ///
   /// If this is true, then calling [scheduleTick] should succeed.
@@ -265,8 +319,9 @@ class Ticker {
   /// * A tick has already been scheduled for the coming frame.
   /// * The ticker is not active ([start] has not been called).
   /// * The ticker is not ticking, e.g. because it is [muted] (see [isTicking]).
+  /// * The ticker is [isPaused].
   @protected
-  bool get shouldScheduleTick => !muted && isActive && !scheduled;
+  bool get shouldScheduleTick => !muted && !isPaused && isActive && !scheduled;
 
   void _tick(Duration timeStamp) {
     assert(isTicking);
@@ -331,6 +386,7 @@ class Ticker {
     assert(_future == null);
     assert(_startTime == null);
     assert(_animationId == null);
+    assert(!_isPaused);
     assert(
       (originalTicker._future == null) == (originalTicker._startTime == null),
       'Cannot absorb Ticker after it has been disposed.',
@@ -338,6 +394,7 @@ class Ticker {
     if (originalTicker._future != null) {
       _future = originalTicker._future;
       _startTime = originalTicker._startTime;
+      _isPaused = originalTicker._isPaused;
       if (shouldScheduleTick) {
         scheduleTick();
       }
diff --git a/packages/flutter/test/animation/animation_controller_test.dart b/packages/flutter/test/animation/animation_controller_test.dart
index 6626e8b1b2b..98b0b0da06c 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/test/animation/animation_controller_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/test/animation/animation_controller_test.dart
@@ -1333,6 +1333,103 @@ void main() {
       },
     );
   });
+
+  group('pauseWhenNoListeners', () {
+    test('does not schedule frames when pauseWhenNoListeners is true and no listeners', () {
+      final controller = AnimationController(
+        duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 100),
+        vsync: const TestVSync(),
+        pauseWhenNoListeners: true,
+      );
+
+      // Start animation without listeners
+      controller.forward();
+
+      // Animation should be in forward status but value should not update
+      // because ticker is muted (no frames scheduled)
+      expect(controller.status, AnimationStatus.forward);
+      expect(controller.isAnimating, isTrue);
+
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 50));
+
+      // Value should still be 0 because no frames were scheduled
+      expect(controller.value, 0.0);
+
+      controller.dispose();
+    });
+
+    test('schedules frames when listener is added with pauseWhenNoListeners true', () {
+      final controller = AnimationController(
+        duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 100),
+        vsync: const TestVSync(),
+        pauseWhenNoListeners: true,
+      );
+
+      // Start animation without listeners
+      controller.forward();
+      expect(controller.value, 0.0);
+
+      // Add a listener - this should unmute the ticker
+      controller.addListener(() {});
+
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 60));
+
+      // Now value should update because ticker is no longer muted
+      expect(controller.value, moreOrLessEquals(0.5));
+
+      controller.dispose();
+    });
+
+    test('stops scheduling frames when last listener is removed with pauseWhenNoListeners true', () {
+      final controller = AnimationController(
+        duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 100),
+        vsync: const TestVSync(),
+        pauseWhenNoListeners: true,
+      );
+
+      void listener() {}
+      controller.addListener(listener);
+
+      controller.forward();
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 30));
+
+      // Value should update because we have a listener
+      expect(controller.value, moreOrLessEquals(0.2));
+
+      // Remove the listener
+      controller.removeListener(listener);
+
+      // Advance time - value should not change because ticker is now muted
+      final valueBeforeRemoval = controller.value;
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 60));
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 90));
+
+      expect(controller.value, valueBeforeRemoval);
+
+      controller.dispose();
+    });
+
+    test('default pauseWhenNoListeners is false (backward compatible)', () {
+      final controller = AnimationController(
+        duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 100),
+        vsync: const TestVSync(),
+      );
+
+      // Start animation without listeners
+      controller.forward();
+
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+      tick(const Duration(milliseconds: 60));
+
+      // Value should update even without listeners (backward compatible behavior)
+      expect(controller.value, moreOrLessEquals(0.5));
+
+      controller.dispose();
+    });
+  });
 }
 
 class TestSimulation extends Simulation {
diff --git a/packages/flutter/test/scheduler/ticker_test.dart b/packages/flutter/test/scheduler/ticker_test.dart
index 23c10055021..062a0781ced 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/test/scheduler/ticker_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/test/scheduler/ticker_test.dart
@@ -211,4 +211,113 @@ void main() {
       areCreateAndDispose,
     );
   });
+
+  testWidgets('Ticker pause control test', (WidgetTester tester) async {
+    var tickCount = 0;
+    void handleTick(Duration duration) {
+      tickCount += 1;
+    }
+
+    final ticker = Ticker(handleTick);
+    addTearDown(ticker.dispose);
+
+    expect(ticker.isPaused, isFalse);
+    expect(ticker.isTicking, isFalse);
+    expect(ticker.isActive, isFalse);
+
+    ticker.start();
+
+    expect(ticker.isPaused, isFalse);
+    expect(ticker.isTicking, isTrue);
+    expect(ticker.isActive, isTrue);
+    expect(tickCount, equals(0));
+
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+
+    expect(tickCount, equals(1));
+
+    ticker.pause();
+    expect(ticker.isPaused, isTrue);
+    expect(ticker.isTicking, isFalse);
+    expect(ticker.isActive, isTrue);
+
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+
+    expect(tickCount, equals(1));
+
+    ticker.resume();
+    expect(ticker.isPaused, isFalse);
+    expect(ticker.isTicking, isTrue);
+    expect(ticker.isActive, isTrue);
+
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+
+    expect(tickCount, equals(2));
+
+    ticker.stop();
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('Ticker pause before start has no effect', (WidgetTester tester) async {
+    var tickCount = 0;
+    void handleTick(Duration duration) {
+      tickCount += 1;
+    }
+
+    final ticker = Ticker(handleTick);
+    addTearDown(ticker.dispose);
+
+    ticker.pause();
+    expect(ticker.isPaused, isTrue);
+    expect(ticker.isActive, isFalse);
+
+    ticker.start();
+    expect(ticker.isPaused, isTrue);
+    expect(ticker.isActive, isTrue);
+    expect(ticker.isTicking, isFalse);
+
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+    expect(tickCount, equals(0));
+
+    ticker.resume();
+    expect(ticker.isTicking, isTrue);
+
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+    expect(tickCount, equals(1));
+
+    ticker.stop();
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('Ticker stop clears pause state implicitly via restart', (WidgetTester tester) async {
+    var tickCount = 0;
+    void handleTick(Duration duration) {
+      tickCount += 1;
+    }
+
+    final ticker = Ticker(handleTick);
+    addTearDown(ticker.dispose);
+
+    ticker.start();
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+    expect(tickCount, equals(1));
+
+    ticker.pause();
+    expect(ticker.isPaused, isTrue);
+
+    ticker.stop();
+    expect(ticker.isActive, isFalse);
+
+    ticker.start();
+    expect(ticker.isActive, isTrue);
+    expect(ticker.isPaused, isTrue);
+    expect(ticker.isTicking, isFalse);
+
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+    expect(tickCount, equals(1)); // Still paused
+
+    ticker.resume();
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+    expect(tickCount, equals(2));
+
+    ticker.stop();
+  });
 }