animation experiments at 48 frames per second

I've had the idea to do high framerate 2D animations for quite some time, but I never had any reason to do it at all, nor did I have anything to even try it with. Although when I was finished animating the first clip in this video, I decided to go right into it. Why not?
For these animations, I did the balancing test in Animate CC 2021 quite a while ago [you can see it at 24FPS in my demo reel], and the runcycle in Macromedia Flash 8. I started both of them out at 24FPS, and when they were completed on that framerate, I bumped up to 48FPS. With 48FPS, I can just double the exposure of each drawing and punch in new drawings at every open spot to put the animation on ones. I didn't choose 60FPS because 24 doesn't divide well into 60, so I'd have trouble with getting the right spacing when I would start manually inbetweening. If I were to go higher than 48FPS, it would either have to be 72FPS spaced on thirds, or 96FPS spaced on halves.

Why? I guess mostly to see what PROPER high-framerate animation would actually look like. I'm sick and tired of seeing all these garbage "60fps anime" videos and awful AI interpolation videos that I just figured I'd just try and see what actual high-framerate animation would look like if it was done manually. None of those awful interpolation artifacts, no messy spacing, no deleted arcs, and to keep the "human" element of 2D animation. Without the use of DAIN or any AI interpolation software, I've done animation on ones at 48FPS and it's been a pretty interesting experiment. It was definitely quite an ordeal to even get these done. I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you REALLY knew what you were getting into, or you needed some incredibly fun inbetweening practice. In terms of it being practical, it is VERY MUCH NOT AT ALL. Animating at higher framerates takes way longer than people would expect. The runcycle in this video initially took an hour and a half to animate at 24FPS on ones. When I bumped the framerate to double, I spent several hours inbetweening it and fixing issues that would be very obvious in 48FPS.

2D animation doesn't need high framerates, leave it to video games.

[Mayyde]

A lot of people have been asking for the name of the song in this video. There isn't really a name for it, but it's just a chord progression I came up with when I was playing guitar a couple years ago. I found the old recording and decided to use it as background music rather than having the video be total silence lol
but yeah the song is just a short recording of me playing some chords I thought were pretty cool

[TMJBtv]

I'd be way too lazy for this but it's a very cool concept

[TheCrafsMan]

Mannn, I agree with you 100%: "2D animation doesn't need high framerates, leave it to video games."
Though if I've ever seen one good example of high framerate animation, *this* is it.
And I'll add that this applies just as well to physical/stop-motion animation. In fact, I prefer the look of things shot on twos, or even THREES.
Excellent demonstration!

[Nyamhk_art]

I actually appreciate how people in the comments are taking into account how hard you actually had to work to make this. I only do illustration and I've always wanted to do animation but I just can't bring myself to draw something so many times before having anything that resembles a final product. Hats off to all the animators out there, for real

[theguy]

48 frames per second, 48 second long video.
SATISFACTION

[HonkaiHistory]

I like the way japanese animators play with the framerates they animate in. For just talking or basic movement they use very limited animation, sometimes only 2-4 frames, but when they want a cut or a scene to have real impact, be it an emotional or an action sequence, they bump the fps they animate in way higher and it makes those moments stand out much more and make them feel really impactful

[okaybutwhythough]

High frame rate animation that doesn't look like garbage. We've got a rare one on our hands, boys.

[nilsqvis]

This perfectly illustrates diminishing returns. It does look better than 24 fps, but certainly not double the amount of work better.

[mistertwister]

Stickman: 🏃

Guitarist: *this requires maximum riff*

[teacup]

"2D animation doesn't need high framerates, leave it to video games."
THANK YOU
(from the description)

[emimimix]

I used to animate as a hobby way back in ms/mid hs and haven’t able to get back to it for a while. seeing videos like this really give inspo and admiration to animating again

[andrew_cunningham]

It's really striking how jumping from 24 FPS to 48 immediately makes my brain shift from perceiving a hand-drawn animation to a recording of a 3D model.

[omgghxst]

seeing the quality setting on youtube say "1080p48" and "720p48" is hella trippy
nice animation btw

[ZayMagDumper]

dude i couldn’t even focus on the video the guitar is such a vibe . it was speaking to me . now i gotta rewatch the videos with my eyes open

[hilotakenaka]

It kind of reminds me of games that use flash animation such as Fancy Pants
But then again that might be the music also contributing to that feeling

[jaedenter]

Even though making hand-animated 48 fps does look smoother, not only is it very hard to do both time-wise and drawing-wise, but it can make choppy movements from 24 fps that have more impact look like a less impactful and satisfying animation.

Not that 48 is bad... but look at the end of the description to see what I mean.

[DogeTheDoge]

As someone who does, and might I say loves animation, I have an incredible amount of respect for anyone that can manage a 47-second video at a consistent 48 fps.

[Phi_Ton]

Bro I've been subscribed to you ever since your previous channels and the progress I've seen you make be it your animations and shitposts or music has always astounded me.

[plazma]

This is so fascinating. The difference in feeling between 24 and 48 frames per second is staggering. One feels familiar, like an old comic or book that you've read a hundred times. It looks cartoony, simple (and not in a bad way).
The other looks *incredibly* vivid. Almost uncanny. Perhaps its just how unusual it is to see proper 48fps hand-drawn animation, but it feels like the animation is jumping out of the frame and showing off every single piece of itself. I would have loved to see more 48fps animation, if it weren't for the fact that my hand hurts from just thinking about animating something like this...

[suugiart]

1. This is really, really amazing animation skill. The animations and smooth and fluid and consistent, and we all love that.
2. FANCYPANTS VIBES.