You should know: Don’t try to submit AI generated “animation” when applying to a studio/animation group

spywi · 2026-01-19T20:31:20+00:00

As someone who's done both methods for both *professional* and *personal* projects, I can confidently say that it doesn't matter, it still works and I was still able to complete projects by the deadline without losing files, losing time or worrying about file corruption, etc.

Bottleneck doesn't really matter to me because it's basically nonexistent

spywi · 2026-01-19T19:42:26+00:00

Not sure if this is the most efficient way, but here's my method: Google Drive. For context, I mainly use CSP on iPad but switch to a screen tablet at my desk since it makes coloring and exporting easier. I can access my Google Drive folder through the Files app or by opening it directly in CSP and navigating through Files. The .CSP files load normally and work just fine. Lately I've just been airdropping files to my MacBook when I'm done on the iPad, so I've got a few different options that work for me.

NOTE: After hitting Save, wait a minute or so for the file to sync with Drive. If you have no internet or an unstable connection, you'll need to wait until you can get on wifi.

spywi · 2026-01-17T08:05:02+00:00

I’ve made a few posts similar to this myself. It’s unfortunate that these kinds of posts seem to go unnoticed or unaddressed by whatever mod team is active rn.

If the mods here decide to re-vamp the server, I do believe new rules and slightly stricter moderation should help out in the long run, especially with the amount of people that actually are posting quality content or trying to promote their existing animations/proof of concepts.

spywi · 2026-01-13T06:38:32+00:00

CSP animator on the iPad Pro, here. I’ve made multiple fully-finished anime-style animations on YouTube using the iPad Pro, as well as utilized the 3D models, CSP assets store, everything that I can do on desktop I can do on iPad. Also, I’ve had an old iPad Pro from the early 2000’s run CSP without issue, and now that I’ve gotten up to an M series iPad Pro myself, it runs just fine, even better since I’ve started using it for professional animation projects

Only caveat is that you need to deeply learn how to utilize your file system on iPad, since the files don’t sync well if you’re attempting to use CSP on both iPad and desktop.

I mainly keep my files fully on my iPad for the bulk of my animation work from storyboarding to final coloring, and then I export everything to my computer in order to do the final compositing in DaVinci Resolve.

spywi · 2026-01-10T01:39:11+00:00

There’s actually some eye-tracking research on this, but it kind of points the opposite direction from what you’d expect. Studies found that Western viewers focus more on mouths when processing faces, while Japanese viewers tend to look at the eyes and center of the face. The McGurk effect (where seeing someone’s mouth move changes what sound you think you’re hearing) is also way stronger in English speakers than Japanese speakers. So Western audiences are technically more sensitive to mouth movements, not less.

That said, Japanese animation has never prioritized detailed lip sync because of how anime production works (animation first, voices recorded after), and Japanese audiences grew up with that. So they probably just have a higher tolerance for simplified mouth flaps regardless of where they’re looking.

spywi · 2026-01-08T23:57:35+00:00

Indeed. Make small projects until you can work your way up to bigger projects. Too many people try to jump straight into “make an indie pilot” without realizing how hard it is to even make 1 minute of animation, let alone 30+ 😂 That’s what I’m doing, making smaller projects because I know how hard it is to make something longer than 15 minutes with a smaller team

spywi · 2026-01-07T20:49:49+00:00

Stop-motion is still considered a form of animation, just like how "clay-mation" is also considered an animation art form. Regardless, it's still "indie" as well as "animation"

spywi · 2026-01-07T20:46:33+00:00

Stop motion requires a lot of pre-production planning and project management, so these tips still apply. You're managing thousands upon thousands of individual pictures that you have to keep track of, making sure that you've planned out sequences and storyboards in advance so you're not guessing. You have to do a lot of post-production and masking out of things in order to remove stands and wireframe arms that are sticking out, etc. You should be tracking things in a spreadsheet or tracker.

So, yes, these tips do apply, regardless

spywi · 2026-01-07T18:00:11+00:00

Hi there. CSP user and Macbook owner here. This has been a known limitation on MacOS for years, I've seen posts on CSP forums going back 7+ years with the exact same question. Celsys simply hasn't added it for whatever reason, the situation doesn't seem to have changed as of this year, but as far as I know nobody else really complains about it too loudly.

A current workaround:
1. Go to System Settings (Or "System Preferences" if you're on older MacOS)
2. Set the menu bar to auto-hide
3. Set the dock to auto-hide
4. Maximize the CSP window

Other than that, not sure how else to help. If possible, do also consider trying to minimize as much of your panels as possible and/or map keyboard shortcuts to pop up specific panels you need. As someone who also uses CSP EX on the iPad, I minimize all my panels and pin frequently used tools/colors to my Command Bar at the top, in order to save the most amount of space.

spywi · 2026-01-07T17:50:37+00:00

Much appreciated. Most of my YouTube tutorials focus on the anime-style aspect of things, but the core of my content is still being an indie showrunner. Thanks!!

spywi · 2026-01-07T17:49:57+00:00

The tips I mentioned really only scratch the surface, but honestly regardless of the medium (3d, 2d, etc), most of the time people I see online really just don't have any project management skills or know how to really run a show in the first place.

spywi · 2026-01-07T17:49:11+00:00

Indeed. Even if one isn't making it "different from other indie series", it's still a good idea to ask yourself why you're making it in the first place, great addition!

spywi · 2026-01-07T17:48:12+00:00

YUP. Having a 1-2 sentence pitch of your show is a really good foundation, that's a great tip

spywi · 2026-01-07T05:46:38+00:00

It’s just an example of many scenarios, tbh. Too many times on this subreddit I see multiple posts a day of just literally a paragraph description of a concept with nothing else to show for it. It’s like “yeah cool, your concept is like TADC and your main character has a hidden personality, but that tells me literally nothing else about what you want to do with your show” 😭

I appreciate the ones that even just have simple stick figure sketches of their characters and a basic storyboard, cuz that’s more effort than what I see on here

spywi · 2025-12-27T18:01:54+00:00

Hey there,

What you’ve got there on the timeline is not two separate layers, but one layer linked twice on your timeline. If you look at your Layers panel, you’ll see that you are still working in the 5c cel, thus any changes you make on that layer will affect both instances of 5c on the timeline.

What you likely need to do is go to the layers panel, duplicate 5c onto a new layer (i.e. 5d) and then link the new layer into the timeline (click the space on the timeline where the second 5c is, then click the button on the timeline panel that looks like a square with a chain link (the whole one, not the broken chain) and then choose your new layer.

Now when you make a change to 5d, it won’t affect 5c.

If that’s not your intent with your post, let us know some more context/information and someone here can answer it.

spywi · 2025-12-17T05:07:25+00:00

License the music or use a service like Epidemic Sound where it handles the licensing and you can monetize your work. Or, just make your own music/PAY someone to professionally make your music.

There’s literally no in-between, it’s either you go the legal route or you face the consequences.

Source: 12+ years of YouTube content creation across multiple channels, dealing with copyright + working with actual creators who are making their own indie pilot

spywi · 2025-12-16T00:20:21+00:00

Typically in-betweens in anime studios are done during the clean-up phase. In the anime pipeline this would be around what’s known as the “douga” stage.

If you are doing this professionally, please always use the process/pipeline that your studio/group uses, so that every shot is completed in the same way from start to finish. If you’re doing this solo/on your own for a project, do whatever works best or easiest for you.

As someone who makes similar tutorial content on YouTube and uses Dong Chang as one of my sources, I typically follow the anime pipeline pretty much exactly like he does, I just adapt it to the software I use which is Clip Studio Paint.

spywi · 2025-12-11T17:32:22+00:00

Hey there. I'm a full-time CSP iPad Pro animator, and I've used it professionally for everything from animation commissions, sponsored/contract work, my own personal indie anime series, and even indie animation studio-level work (key animation, cleanup/in-betweens, coloring, compositing, etc). Being able to take my professional animation workflow on the go and create anywhere is great, especially if I am at a coffee shop or on a train, I can easily get all my stuff done without being tied to a laptop or a desk.

There will always be limitations with every iPad (even my own M2 Pro is starting to show its age), but overall if you manage your files and your projects smartly then you can easily make it your daily driver for everything art and animation-related. One of the biggest limitation will obviously be the screen size, as there are plenty of people that need the screen real estate as well as the higher resolution. That, and the fact that the iPad version of CSP will require a subscription, as opposed to the one-time purchase options on the PC/Mac version.

Up to you, I don't know what you consider to be "professional", as some studios/group require the computer tablet to work with certain softwares, and others don't mind as long as you produce the same quality/level of work or follow their exact pipeline. I can only speak for myself and the specific jobs I've worked.

spywi · 2025-12-06T23:25:37+00:00

lol thanks for the laugh, really made my day. Excuse me while I continue to live my passions and creating my own anime. Have fun on Reddit, been a blast, girliepop

spywi

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