So lately i've been thinking, and came to this conclusion.
Why would anyone animate with stickfigures anyway?
I enjoy it myself, but I achieve nothing by doing it.
Stickfigure animations aren't popular at all anymore, it might have been a fun activity back in 2009 or something but now, you can not even get any recognition for your work.
I'm only here from 2013, but it makes sense that it probably used to do much better at around that time.
I thought about making a really advanced stickfigure game with a friend that works like Team Fortress but we stopped because making multiplayer most likely costs money, so we got discouraged and stopped.
That makes me think, is there any point to animating at all? except for, the satisfaction of seeing your work looking nice?
Why do you animate? even if you're a beast with sticks, I doubt stick animating will help you in the real world. I mean, every other hobby can, like, drawing, filming etc.
All of these seem like just random things to do when you're bored but if you become a master at them you can make money with them.
I mean, stick animating can help you go full-body and actually try to make something out of it, but what really can you make out of animating full-body?
I'm not a greedy-fuck at all, I enjoy animating alot, but I feel like it's wasting my time. Every time someone asks me why I animate I mostly answer with "It's fun I guess"
But that's pretty much it. I get nothing from it at all.
No recognition, no money, and you consume alot of time doing these.
What's the point of making something amazing just to have about 1000 people watch it? 1000 people is nothing imo.
I've seen some pivot gods doing absolutely amazing stuff that probably took them like 5 months and all they get is max 2k views.
This applies to flash as well, excluding Hyun who got famous pretty much only for his league video, most of flash animators will get about 1k views. If they are on Hyun's Dojo, probably like 20 - 40k.
Now that's a good amount, but not all of your animations will get there. It's just pretty much getting lucky enough to be there. You can't just fool around and post fun stuff, it'll get like 50 views...
Honestly, the only thing I can think about, is if you're really good at stickfigures, you can move on to fullbody. If you can actually master fullbody, one could say something like "Well i'll go animate animes!"
But that's nearly impossible for anyone who lives outside of Japan. Back when I was like 9 years old and animating my shitty pivot animations with the default stick fucking around, I never thought about something like that.
But that makes sense I guess, I was just a kid doing whatever he wants without worrying about nothing. Now that i've grown, the animation business is pretty much dead for me. There is a literally 2% chance that your video
will get a decent amount of views, and a 40% chance that these viewers will watch your future stuff.
In short, the average person would get nothing at all but satisfaction from making these animations.

So, why do you animate? what do you think about my little rant? try not to answer with "IT'S FUN :o"
And it'll be pretty nice if you do not judge me for my opinion. But well, that's my opinion.
Also no point in telling me to stop animating, because I probably will continue anyways.

I get the feeling it's a sense of achievement and overall a showcase of the skill of the animator.

You're right Ocelot, stickfigure animations aren't as popular as they used to be, but people still do it because, in retrospect, it's much easier to animate a stickfigure than a full body model. Which brings all the more respect to the people who can do stuff like that.

The greatest animators are usually recognized because they've put (very) good effort into what they do.
I can't say why I find it fun to do, I'm not that good. Maybe the reason is because I'm a perfectionist, and want to get better at it?
Idk really, but there's my lengthy explanation.

Quote from IgnusBurns

You're right Ocelot, stickfigure animations aren't as popular as they used to be, but people still do it because, in retrospect, it's much easier to animate a stickfigure than a full body model. Which brings all the more respect to the people who can do stuff like that.

While it's true that animating a stick figure is easier than a full body, I'm pretty sure it is more difficult to express anything by using only stick figures instead of full bodies
Stick figures rely entirely on movements to express anything. Sure, you have the free get-out-of-jail-card known as "sample text", but it is neverthless difficult to use it properly
In the case of full body, please remind me again of the superb anime expressions consisting of idle edgy/fanservic-y figures that have only their mouth moving (not even their eyes, only their mouth)
I think we should get this whole "stickfigures is for teens" thing down already

Quote from DiPi

While it's true that animating a stick figure is easier than a full body, I'm pretty sure it is more difficult to express anything by using only stick figures instead of full bodies
Stick figures rely entirely on movements to express anything. Sure, you have the free get-out-of-jail-card known as "sample text", but it is neverthless difficult to use it properly
In the case of full body, please remind me again of the superb anime expressions consisting of idle edgy/fanservic-y figures that have only their mouth moving (not even their eyes, only their mouth)
I think we should get this whole "stickfigures is for teens" thing down already

I sorta agree with you, but animes are popular, and they can deliver an amazing story, while stickfigures most likely not, and even if they did deliver an insanely amazing story, it probably won't get that much recognition.

Though you may not like this answer, I really do just animate for fun. No real reason or point to it, it's just a fun hobby. Sometimes people need no other motivation than enjoying what they're doing.

Quote from IAmTheOcelot

I sorta agree with you, but animes are popular, and they can deliver an amazing story, while stickfigures most likely not, and even if they did deliver an insanely amazing story, it probably won't get that much recognition.

This is the most depressing phrase I could ever read

About the first point, just tell me: where the hell do animes deliver an amazing story? On this side, they're on the same ground as any other kind of animation. Adopting a certain style does not make any kind of work an amazing story
Animes are popular, but that's because of its easy cliched style. Let me do you an example
I have a homemate who studies motor science (I think it translates in this way?) and is completely into sport. One day, with the olympic games coming, I asked him why China is one of the most favourite nation. He told me that it is mainly because of statistics: if on every 10000 people you get 1 athlete, the more people equals the more athletes. And the more athletes, the more probability that a great athlete might be among them.
Now, if you consider Sturgeon's law ("90% of everything is shit") and add this to the fact that the common anime style is fairly easier than other drawing styles (less realistic/more stylised), you get an absurd amount of people making anime/mangas and while the 10% shines, the other 90% gets straight down the toilet
But even so, of that 10% (and even of the other 90%), only a small part of it is made of great works (an example for what I mean a great work is "Lone wolf and cub"): the other 90% is in there because it has some kind of appealing factor. However, appeal is not always a synonymous of good, since otherwise things like SAO, Overlord and the remake of One Punch Man should be considered good (but luckily they aren't)

About why stickfigures don't get recognition, I think it's because of multiple factors: most works are edgy and predictable, because it is seen as a teen thing (and very rarely teens have original ideas); it is mainly connected to the action genre, which is not for everyone; it is quite difficult to pull it off correctly, since a really good animation needs lots of work for the movements; lastly, it is because weebs can't get their dick hard on stickmen and prefer the army of cheap waifus most animes/mangas shit left and right

Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying One Punch Man isn't good? Because on that sir, I must disagree.

I animate stickfigures because I know they are enjoyable/fun to watch. Also they have awesome choreography.

Quote from Azure

Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying One Punch Man isn't good? Because on that sir, I must disagree.

Dear Lord, please no weeb wars. (But yeah, if you're saying OPM is bad, then stop.)


But my opinion on this is that it's fun. It's easy to get into and provides a pathway to other forms of animation. I do it purely for fun, but since I have very little time for fun in my life, it falls by the wayside. For everyone, the answer will most often be something like this with a few changes, and there will be few outliers.

Quote from Azure

Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying One Punch Man isn't good? Because on that sir, I must disagree.

No. I said the remake of One Punch Man is horrible
The One Punch Man drawn by One is marvelous. The remake (anime/manga) is basically fanservice pushed way over inside your stomach

The second you look into the "point" of anything, it becomes depressing. We're born into this world without purpose, and we give our lives meaning via ambitions, whether they be influenced by society, religion, events, etc.

Point is, don't think about it. Just have fun if you like doing it.

Didn't you post this thread on the dojo as well.

Quote from Salt

Didn't you post this thread on the dojo as well.

What's a dojo

It's not about what people think but more about if you're having fun

Like, I animate stick figures because I saw all stuff as a kid and it got me into animating. Sure it's not full body stuff and sure it's not popular anymore but if you're having fun with it than there shouldn't be any other problem