How I Animated This Video

Joel Haver · 6.2M views · 2021-01-22 · 7:19

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Overview

Animator Joel Haver explains how he makes his short films using rotoscoping and the EbSynth tool, along with the software he uses. The method is a labor-intensive, frame-by-frame process.

On Hacker News

Cited in AI-art and video-stylization threads as an example of a manual, artist-driven alternative to AI tools, and as a demo of EbSynth.

Discussed on HN; no positive recommendation is recorded in this export · HN mentions 2022–2025

Topics

Animation & visual effects Filmmaking & video production

What people said

wonger_ · 2025-11 · Reference
Looks like rotoscoping: [LINK] . The closest you would get is maybe an edge detection filter. Or AI rotoscoping: [LINK] . Or maybe EbSynth, as demoed by this guy: [VIDEO] But it never looks as nice as the hand-drawn way.
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Cipater · 2023-01 · Reference
>There's a popular youtuber named Joel Haver who films videos, then uses an AI tool to convert them into animations, so they can be magically put into a space or fantasy setting. Hang on, AI tool? Joel Haver converts every frame manually. His method is the literal opposite of using an AI tool. It's incredibly painstaking. [VIDEO]
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Hamcha · 2022-09 · Reference
As someone who is in touch with a lot of people acting as VTubers in order to keep privacy while being able to express themselves, I'm very happy to see this! EbSynth gave Joel Haver a trademark style[1], and I feel this might be the next step. 1. [VIDEO]
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Sources

Video by Joel Haver, played through YouTube.

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