What is Rotoscoping Animation?

Employee of the Year is being animated using a modern take on the classic technique of rotoscoping—a frame-by-frame process where live-action footage is transformed into stylized animation.

We begin by exporting the film at 15 frames per second, creating over 30,000 individual frames. Each of those frames is then rendered one at a time using custom BeFunky photo filters, which apply a vector-style aesthetic that reflects my own digital art style—bold, minimal, and emotionally expressive.

This isn’t AI-generated content. It’s not borrowing from any studio or pre-made template. It’s a handcrafted look built through artistic decisions and long hours.

I’m a digital artist by trade, and I animated my first short film, The Outcast, entirely by hand. But with Employee of the Year clocking in at over 30 minutes, time is of the essence—and I don’t have 30 years to finish it.

By using a carefully controlled tool-assisted method, I’m able to maintain the integrity of my vision while bringing the film to life at a pace that’s humanly possible.

The result: a unique, emotionally resonant animated film that looks like nothing else on Kickstarter.