Animation errors are mistakes and oversights affecting the visuals of an animated work. They are often subtle, being easier to notice with a trained eye, or on repeat viewings when narrative elements demand less attention.
A character being drawn off-model by accident is an example of an animation error. This is not to be confused with intentional use of off-model animation for comic effect, smear frames, or other techniques. Animation errors can also impede continuity, the height relations between characters, and so on.
In Cyberchase, animation errors may be particularly common in Season 1, due to the lack of practice drawing the characters and the show's general style; and in Season 5, due to its rougher animation.
With the switch to digital puppet-rigged animation in Season 6, traditional animation errors are less common, as the character models need not be redrawn for each pose. However, the automated thick outlines and shading are still left out of some scenes. Strange size relations can also occur due to the composition of a scene or background.
Animation or technical glitches[]
Coloring errors[]
Unfinished Coloring is an example
Perhaps the most common error is when a character is colored incorrectly. Sometimes they are colored like other characters mistakenly; other times the coloring is totally off, or unfinished painting.
A recurring coloring error in the earlier seasons is Inez's shorts being dark green, instead of teal. Another is Digit's legs and shoes being colored like Jackie's, with his shoes sometimes even drawn with a white toecap. These errors occur in scenes in multiple episodes.[1]
A coloring error specific to the cel-shading style of Cyberchase is the boundaries for shading being left in finished lineart[citation needed]. Similarly, in one scene in "A Day at the Spa", the shading for Inez, Matt and Jackie is left transparent, causing the background to show through. This may have been missed because the darker-than-usual shading, used when the characters are near the Crystal of Calamore's force field, makes the unfinished composite seem properly lit.
Facial animation[]
The animation for lip sync has been subject to errors. As an extreme example, in "Lost My Marbles", Digit has the line "Hacker's got Dr. Marbles!" while on-screen, but is not animated at all. A similar error occurs after Digit asks about negative numbers in "Less Than Zero"; Matt only starts lip-syncing once the camera starts panning to him, possibly indicating a change in scene composition.
Another recurring facial animation error has to do with using an unintended expression for a character, sometimes starting in the middle of a line. For Hacker, there are many cases[citation needed] where he is animated with a smile when this goes against the circumstances and tone of his dialogue, although it could be interpreted as an aggressive or disbelieving evil grin. However, the error is not limited to him. For example, during a line in "Secrets of Symmetria", "I'm thinking if we don't get the Symmetrizer away from Hacker — he could dismantle all of Cyberspace!", Matt abruptly switches from a concerned expression to an unfitting smile as he says "Hacker".
Production errors[]
Credits at the wrong time[]
When the screen fades in Act 1 or Act 2, the credits appear automatically.
Blank screen[]
At the start of an Act, the screen goes blank for 1-5 seconds.
Audio errors[]
Audio errors can be slowed down, sped up or missing audio for 1-5 seconds.
The most notable audio error is the slowed down audio in "Snow Day to be Exact" Act 3
These errors do not appear in full episodes.
Notable episodes[]
"The Poddleville Case" (Due to being a pilot)
"Snow Day to be Exact" (Due to the slowed down audio in Act 3.)
Gallery[]
- Main article: Animation errors/gallery
References[]
- ↑ Things — Ignore Digit the first one, that’s a sin though.... Tumblr. July 6, 2020.