How to read timing charts (It’s really not that hard)

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Hi! Let's understand timing charts once and for all 😄 Timing charts are an essential tool in frame-by-frame animation, but most beginners (and even intermediates) have a hard time understanding them.
So in this video, we'll discuss:
1. what timing charts are
2. timing and spacing
3. how timing charts came to be
4. how to read them
5. using timing charts on various examples
This was a difficult video to make. Explaining timing charts isn't a simple task, but we hope you'll learn and enjoy watching this video.
We hope this will be the only timing chart video you'll ever need. 😁
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
02:11 - What are timing charts?
02:31 - The origins of the timing chart
04:33 - How to make a timing chart
05:47 - Timing and spacing
06:32 - How to read timing charts
09:32 - Timing charts as a communication tool
10:31 - What do the curves mean in timing charts?
14:57 - Adjusting timing vs Adjusting spacing
16:06 - Timing charts as notes for yourself
18:08 - Anime example
20:00 - Kick example
21:00 - Slash example (with camera animation)
28:29 - Timing charts on multiple keyposes
32:57 - Conclusion

[@plainlysimple]

Support our channel to access the full lesson library: click 👉kzbin.info/door/jdm1e2lqR1QOtNfE33S1xQjoin If the KZbin membership isn't available in your country, you can join via Patreon instead 👉 www.patreon.com/plainlysimple

[@svnsetexe7326]

Thank you for this , this was deeply needed , perfectly simplified and to the point and im glad my google , "how to make timing charts " made this video recommended to me

[@mullandglow]

As someone who did go to animation school, you did a much better job explaining it than any of my teachers

[@plainlysimple]

Wow! That's so nice of you. Thanks! 🙌

[@darylzchannel]

True 🤣

[@ribos2762]

No bro it's because by watching this video you learning it the second time, check back to your lectures, it's the same.

[@ItsWindHere]

​@@ribos2762 who are you to decide that LOL

[@xanderjakeq]

timing chart being about spacing is the missing piece i needed xD

[@plainlysimple]

Right? They should have named it spacing chart 😂

[@Neptoid]

A timing chart is not for timing, but for spacing. Usually with equal time

[@plainlysimple]

Exactly! Glad to know you got this key take away from the video 😁

[@user-ji1ow4gq8z]

I HAVE BEEN CONFUSED ON THIS FOR AGES. AGES. THANK YOU, I AM FOREVER INDEBTED TO YOU. HALLELUJAH 🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! Glad to know that this video finally helped you understand timing charts. You're so welcome! 🙌 I hope you'll keep on animating. Keep going! Keep learning and keep animating 😁

[@drakashifaze1741]

IVE BEEN WAITIN YEARS FOR THIS GOOD GOD MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, thank you

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome!

[@xmcxii]

its not hard to google

[@dillonwright13]

As an animator, I commend this video, it even taught me things about timing charts I didn’t even know, specifically the use of curves in the charts.

[@plainlysimple]

Happy to help 🙌

[@lolmbrill]

Ah, that's what I need. Thank you for making this, as a self-taught animator, I feel discouraged because I didn't go to animation school.

[@plainlysimple]

Glad to hear that! 🙌 I'm a self-taught animator too. Don't feel discouraged. Just keep going! 🙌

[@yeahsamweller8671]

Same! But it feels great when something clicks!!

[@Aidenillu]

As someone who has been animating for years, i finally understand it

[@plainlysimple]

Glad to know that 😁

[@robertpoole9707]

Honestly the editing on this video could not be more perfect. Everything just helps point out how things are related between the timing chart and frame timeline

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks! We put a lot of effort into editing. So you noticing the editing part made it worth it 😄

[@Kitsunama]

Genuinely the best breakdown and explanation of this process I’ve seen! I have watched so many videos about timing charts and still couldn’t understand it. Thank you so much for this you’re a life saver 🙏❤️

[@plainlysimple]

Wow! Thanks for the kind words. Glad you feel this way about our tutorial. 😊

[@shubhamrishik6332]

Never thought ,that the day I join ,I will get the video on the topic I really needed

[@plainlysimple]

🙌

[@dutchielander2478]

I tried animation in the past, frame by frame and it's really demotivating when you spend a lot of time on drawing and the end result is bad or not what you hoped for. This video might help me in the future since it motivates me to try again. Thanks!

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! I hope you'll try to animate again 😊 Animation can take up a lot of time but it can also feel so fulfilling. It's not for everyone. But if it's your passion, I hope you'll give it another go. Expect the result will be bad. We've all been there but I hope that won't demotivate you because the next try will probably be a little bit better, and the next one after that and so on.

[@dutchielander2478]

@@plainlysimple Thank you for the reply. I actually have all character designs ready so i will give it another go soon! Thanks for motivating me!

[@jackaleope]

just going from changing the name from “timing chart” to “spacing chart” actually made it make a lot more sense to me. the name always made me confused and resulted in me putting the *spacing* on the *timeline* , not spacing the drawings themselves. who the hell decided to call it a TIMING chart?? they made it so confusing for no reason

[@plainlysimple]

Right? Spacing chart makes more sense 😄

[@rasamasala]

This is amazing. I love that this video walks you through the drawings as if youre animating yourself so it feels like all of this techniqual info is being applied. For anyone else learning, id also like to recommend Dong Chang on KZbin if you want another example of animation breakdowns but from the perspective of professional anime.

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks! So much thought has been put on trying to achieve what you have described. That was the intention and the design. Glad that it came across that way. Much thought and effort has been put into this and you noticing the "art" behind the teaching made that effort worth it 😄 And I also follow and subscribed to Dong Chang. I have a couple videos on my watch later list 😄

[@Uhfgood]

I think I read somewhere that timing charts come from actually timing out an action, like on a stop watch. You would act out an action or scene, you would time how long it takes to do the action, and you would mark your poses on the timing chart. Then you would go back through it and mark out the in-betweens. Hence it being called a timing chart instead of spacing chart.

[@TeriyakiTakeout]

Awesome awesome teaching. Not a single part I didn't understand clearly. Thank you!

[@misc.5428]

As someone who does no animation whatsoever, this was a really cool breakdown on a process I thought would be much more complicated than it actually is!

[@plainlysimple]

Glad you liked it. 😁 Hope you'll give animation a try soon! 😄

[@KobbyToons]

You're the first person to explain it better for me to understand. Thanks a lot, Man!!

[@plainlysimple]

You're very welcome! 😊 Glad to hear that!

[@pasletemps6358]

Hello. Thank you for this explanatory video on timelines. I have been practicing animation for a few years without going into detail, drawing frame by frame and manipulating the spacing by feeling afterwards. This method seems unintuitive at first but it reveals a powerful methodology that I understand better thanks to you :) Thank you very much, you are a passionate person and it shows.

[@mr_squidward4659]

I only animation sometimes for fun so I never knew about any of this. I appreciate how easy the video was to follow

[@professoryeetus8955]

finally understanding this opens a lot of potential for me! makes animation less intimidating to try and pick back up

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! Glad to hear that! Glad that you finally understand timing charts now. 😊 I hope you'll get back to animating soon! 🙌

[@Annaomic]

I wish you were my Animation Teacher over 10 years ago when KZbin was still young. Thank you for this simple yet informative tutorial. ❤

[@plainlysimple]

You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful. 😊 Sometimes I also wish too that we started teaching on KZbin 10 years ago. But then again we still didn't possess the skills we have now. And we have now, and we'll keep on posting from now on, and you're here. Glad to have you around our channel. 😊

[@Annaomic]

@plainlysimple My only source for Animation tutorials we're Walt Disney or Richard Williams guide book for digital animation. I only did ugly Story Boards with 3 or 4 keyframes but they we're a good reference. My High-school lied to me about there not being jobs for that field & I called them out on it. So glad KZbin exsist now to further my career choices.

[@grapeanimations9339]

YOU'RE A LIFE SAVIOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! this was really helpful

[@plainlysimple]

You're very welcome! 😊

[@abe6281]

Dude you really cooked with this video! haha, I can't believe that before watching this timing charts were so esoteric to me, and now it seems so simple! The cherry on top was when you mentioned how timing charts are actually spacing charts, I really feel like that section is what solidified the explanation in my head. 10/10 Video!

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! Glad that you liked it. And I appreciate the review at the end 😄 Yes, the moment I realized that timing charts are in fact spacing charts, that's when the light bulbs light up in my head. 😄 Glad that you came to the same conclusion

[@zeithmarc45]

❤️‍🔥♦️ I understood timing charts randomly when watching a sakuga compilation reel from someone on youtube. I said "what is that thing over there, what are they writing" then I analyzed it. Then after looking for a few minutes, I finally got it. From my perspective, it measures the distance traveled + timing. Because based on his animation, it skips far from the key frame to the in between when the time chart has a big leap to the next line. So that's basically how it went through my mind, it's very simple. I always think it's just the distance from the start to the next frame. The more the lines are compressed, the fewer distance or transition into a new pose it takes.

[@dream8bit733]

THANK YOU!!! I've wanted to learn this for so long, and you taught it to me in a single video! Thank you thank you thank you!!!! edit: I can't even express in words how thankful I am! This is something I wanted to learn for a long time and found difficult to grasp with other tutorials, but you're ability to teach it was like art itself. You're a really skilled teacher. Thank you!!! God bless you!

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! You're so welcome! Thanks for typing this message. I appreciate it. There's a lot of work put into making this video and knowing that this helped someone made it worth it. Let's keep learning and animating! 🙌

[@F0RRET]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!!! ive watched SO many tutorials and i couldnt understand them at all, and this was very straightforward!!!!!!!

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome! Glad that you finally understood timing charts with this video 😄 Keep learning and animating! ✨

[@Mijanimasi]

Thank you, good sir! New knowledge acquired. I finally get the idea on how to read timing charts.

[@plainlysimple]

Glad it was helpful! 🙌 Happy to help

[@FeralHare]

Thank you! My eyes would just kind of glaze over every time I saw a timing chart, thanks for making it so easy to understand 🙇‍♂

[@plainlysimple]

You're very welcome! Glad that you finally understand timing charts now. 😊

[@eaenglish7752]

This video is pure gold. Thanks a lot!

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome! 😊

[@milksalmon]

So the time charts help indicate speed and impact of the movements. The build up of a punch will have big gaps between frames to indicate a fast swing, and slowly stop at impact or maximum stretch.

[@ADez100]

Easily the best tutorial on this I’ve seen. Thanks!!

[@plainlysimple]

Wow, thanks! And you're welcome! 😁

[@EggyEggPie]

i finally understand what timing charts are now... i've seen people use them but had no idea what they were for lol

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! Glad to know that! 🙌

[@user-go6xi1lb7z]

the best video on youtube, to understand timing charts. Thank you!!

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome! Thanks for the kind words 😄 And thanks for watching!

[@yeahsamweller8671]

Oh my god this is great. I feel like I can already start helping myself with my shots and animations using this. I like also how you say “it’s a puzzle to solve” that’s honestly what gets me excited about drawing, every time I get to invent, solve and present new problems to solve and ways to achieve emotional effects. Thanks!

[@plainlysimple]

That's great to hear! Hopefully this information would help you improve your shots! Let's keep learning and animating! 🙌

[@DaBaSoftware]

beautifully described, i actually feel a lot more confident navigating and conceptualizing my own timing charts because of this lesson. Many thanks 💜🙏

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! That's really great! Hope you'll be animating more now 😄 And if ever you had a plan to make a short film, then take this as a sign to give it a go 😄

[@BreezyDefrag]

This was an awesome vid. I knew what they timing chart represented but actually seeing how it is ACTUALLY broken down REALLY helps a lot. I might actually complete an animation for the first time. Thanks so much!

[@plainlysimple]

You're so welcome! Glad it was helpful! And yes! Go for it! Complete an animation the first time! 🙌 Take this as a sign 😄 Don't worry if it's going to be bad. Lower your expectations. It's your first time after all. What's important is that you enjoy the process. 🙌

[@terencefarlot5365]

Super clear and finally I had all information I struggled to find on context , thank you very much ·

[@plainlysimple]

You're very welcome! 🙌

[@sandoraka]

Dude thank you do much! I keep reading about timing charts and I've watched other videos but this one finally made me understand all the different component of the chart! I'm learning animation myself through creating my own short film so this was really gold worth!

[@plainlysimple]

You're very welcome! I wish you all the best on your short film! I hope you'll keep learning and animating until you finish it 💪

[@TheNoviceAnimator_]

Thank you sm for the help. This helped me a lot to understand.

[@4Nooby4]

wow, I had no idea how you gonna manage that mid 13 frame and you just killed it on 23:53 OMG. good job man. also this is a very good video, I wanted to understand this method for a while

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! Thanks! Glad you liked that part. 😊 And glad to know you finally understand timing charts now. 🙌

[@CausticCatastrophe]

i thought i understood timing charts, but this actually clarified a lot of misconceptions i had thanks! :)

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome! 🙌 We learned a lot too trying to teach this. It solidified a lot of concepts in our heads. 😊

[@SliferMeow]

you explained that so well, I wasn't sure if I was gonna understand it but it makes a lot of sense, thank you :D

[@plainlysimple]

Happy to hear that. Glad that you understand it now. 😊

[@Bienvenue_anime]

This is a masterclass ❤

[@meguemil8542]

This was literally what I needed. Thank you so much!!

[@plainlysimple]

You're so welcome! 😊

[@FMHansen]

Thank you. Super clear now. Very well spelled out. Great video.

[@plainlysimple]

You're very welcome! Glad to know that. 🙏

[@m.raggui5367]

Terrific tutorial! Thanks a lot for share this kind of content

[@plainlysimple]

You're very welcome! 😊

[@levitabusman]

Thank you so much, I’m still a bit confuse about timings but will watch again

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome. 😊 What part are you confused about?

[@butterlinh]

I always don't understand that until watch this one. THANK YOU BROOOO SO MUCH

[@plainlysimple]

You're so welcome! 😁

[@WaelMahrouseh]

This was a fun watch, thanks for the video!

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks and welcome! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙌

[@sonnyeclipse2227]

I took courses years ago and we never really dove into charts, how they worked, why. This made me understand. I wonder why they didn't just name it a spacing chart instead???

[@plainlysimple]

Glad to know this video helped 😊 And I'm wondering that myself 😄 I hope they just named it spacing chart from the start 😄

[@SHOWoficial]

I was just looking for this topic, thank you very much for your knowledge, greetings from Mexico.

[@plainlysimple]

You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Dan_2003K]

Exceptional Video, very detailed, simply delivered and extremely informative, TYSM for your hard work! ❤

[@plainlysimple]

You're so welcome! ❤️

[@JasonRamasami]

This is very good. I like how you have modelled it in thorough steps.

[@plainlysimple]

Glad you like it! 😊

[@3r1u54]

honestly had no idea timing charts were a thing at all before this, i clicked because the curves in the thumbnail reminded me of a science thing, now i feel like a have a clear grasp on something i didnt know existed before. Thank you!!

[@plainlysimple]

I didn't know the graph was a science thing. I might take a look at it when I have the time 😄

[@preetikumbhakar7670]

Thank you for making this video

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome 😊

[@justghosted]

This has been very informative, tysm !!

[@plainlysimple]

You’re so welcome! 😁 Glad to know that!

[@eggnoggin8607]

This is so helpful thank you!! I've been so confused about the timing vs. spacing thing.

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome! Glad to know it was helpful! And glad to know this video cleared out the difference from timing and spacing once and for all! 😄

[@MJResearch-rkaj1]

Your tutorial is amezing man ❤❤❤❤❤

[@plainlysimple]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@icaroFF7]

Man! This is so good. I finally could understand this! Thanks!

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks! And you're welcome! Happy to help 😊

[@samuelsarastyrodriguez]

This video is a BLESSING 🙏🏼

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks! 🙏 Keep going and keep animating! 😄

[@ivancuevas5514]

Wow! ❤ I thought I already understood it but now I really understand it. Thank you! I'm going straight to putting it into practice. Excellent video! ❤

[@plainlysimple]

You're so welcome! Keep it up! 🙌

[@ikagui]

Omg this is best explanation I’ve ever seen!! Thank you so much, I’ll definitely use it in my future workssss ^~^

[@plainlysimple]

You're so welcome!! 🙌 Keep learning! 😁

[@suncrud9672]

Thank you, this is so useful

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome!

[@leimertanimationstudio]

Excellent! very clear and very thorough. Very helpful.

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks! Glad to know this video helped! 🙌

[@Ilov534]

well made video. Thank you so much. 🙏

[@plainlysimple]

You're so welcome! 🙏

[@Giga_Hood]

this was actually really informative thank you

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome 😊

[@jumpkut]

Thank you! Great video.

[@plainlysimple]

You are welcome!

[@byonty886]

10:46 after all these years I can finally understabd why those curves exista, thanks!

[@plainlysimple]

Haha, I also had the same sentiment years ago. Glad that this helped! 😊

[@shirabawasanta]

Thank u for helping me understand❤❤❤

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome 😊

[@fabiogular]

The video was super helpul. Thank you for that!

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful 🙌

[@neimyx1]

Another tip, try to keep your key poses on odd numbers if possible, it saves a lot of headache. Sometimes you have no choice but to use even numbers, but try to keep them odd.

[@plainlysimple]

Nice tip. 😊

[@merryherb]

i was wondering the ‘why’ behind this tip :O? i hope thats ok!

[@neimyx1]

@@merryherb because it stops you chart from dividing weirdly if that makes sense. It could sometimes make the chart go into thirds unintentionally. Test it out, make a chart with keys from 1 and 8 and try to divide it evenly

[@deewansh2444]

Feels illegal to watch it for free on KZbin 😄

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks! 🙌 You can also become a member if you want to. 😉😄

[@GGGUSZ]

honestly i am not really an animator, but i started using this in my pixel art animations for my games and it absolutely helped!!! amazing video!!!

[@plainlysimple]

Great to hear! Let's not gate keep the term animator. If you're doing animations, you're an animator! 😁 Keep on animating! 🙌

[@LierShadown]

As someone who just recently understood timing charts, have classmates who dont undersand them yet. This is huge, thanks!

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome!! Send this to your classmates who don't understand them yet 😄

[@useruser-le2du]

Amazing stuff🔥

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks 🔥

[@amarchanneltutorials]

Great working ❤🎉, can explain the next video about 12= principles of animation like what is the 12 principles of animation and how to use it, ok thank you god bless you🙏💕

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! Glad you liked this video. Hopefully you learned from it too. We already have discussed some of the principles here. :) We're not sure if we're going to make that video. First there are a lot of videos that explain that already esp. Alan Becker's video. Second, we're already including some of the principles in our videos. And each of our videos has concept plus application. So you just need to look at our channel and pick and watch the topic that you want. But who knows, maybe in the future, we'll make a video specifically about the 12 principles. 😊

[@DivineLine]

Ma' man, thank you👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 you just gave beginner animators like me a huge boost.

[@plainlysimple]

Hi! You're welcome! 🙌 Also, thanks for joining our channel. I hope you're loving the lessons so far! 😁

[@LancExists]

Thankyou kuya!!👍

[@plainlysimple]

Walang anuman! 😄

[@JordanSKTorres]

Great video! Thank you!

[@plainlysimple]

You are welcome!

[@aexea_arts]

Well, I finally understood timing charts thanks to you, so a big thanks!!

[@plainlysimple]

That's great! You're so welcome! Happy to help. 😁

[@idiot6958]

thanks for this kind of tutorial.

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome 😊

[@philosophyfrog2653]

Excellent summery, very useful video for aspiring animators.

[@plainlysimple]

Glad you liked it! 😊

[@excelsimeon1159]

Good job explaining

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks! 😁

[@artsydye]

It helped 👍 sick to put it into work

[@plainlysimple]

Great! 🙌

[@TheColdestMorning]

Dude. Thank you so much.

[@plainlysimple]

You're so welcome! 😊

[@user-ty3gk4vl6f]

Great great great video I understand everything 🙏 thanks 😊

[@plainlysimple]

Excellent! Glad it was helpful! 🙌

[@juliu_mondi.s]

wow! I haven't really gotten into understanding timing charts before finding this video, it was really well explained!

[@plainlysimple]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dinoman-tv8jf]

amazing video!!!

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks!

[@simantsoren1120]

Man! Timing charts had always been a mystery to me. This was very helpful.

[@plainlysimple]

Perfect! 🙌

[@_incognit0tab]

Tryna learn how to animate and this is super helpful! Thank you!

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome! Happy to help!

[@stevesteven-gw4zy]

Can you make an animal walk cycle walking in a circle , like in 3d space , this will be great.

[@michaelsilas5387]

Best teacher ever 🎉

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks Mike! 🙌

[@famofartists]

i ashumed that this was hard.. but this has been great

[@deihinsider969]

Spacing charts, that is the point. THANKS A LOT

[@plainlysimple]

Yes!! That is the point! 😄 You're welcome!

[@llin_sdt]

Thank you!

[@plainlysimple]

You're welcome!

[@tygrphantomz5792]

This video was great

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks 😊

[@Cra3ture]

SO GOOD!

[@plainlysimple]

Thanks!

[@ghastlyanarchy1720]

Gonna like this and keep it in the back pocket for when I'm ready.

[@plainlysimple]

Replying to push you towards your goals! 😄