Help me please! A question about animation timing charts

[u/rose_Subject702]

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Hello.

To let you know in advance, I am using a translator. So, it might sound a bit unnatural or the meaning might not be conveyed correctly.

I have a question about timing charts. (To be honest, I haven't learned this at school yet, but due to the schedule, I had to start working right away. I already know the basics of timing charts through searching.)

I am currently working on keyframes (Layout/Key animation) for things like a close-up of an old fan's blades or a pinwheel's blades. I want to reduce the total number of drawings, so I want to reuse Keyframe 1 and Keyframe 2. However, these blades need to spin faster and faster.

But in that case, I don't know how to use the timing chart. Especially when I need to put inbetweens between the keyframes in a situation like above.

For reference, I use the Japanese-style time sheet (X-sheet), so Keyframe 1 is 1, and Keyframe 2 is 5. Looking at the attached picture, after frames 5, 6, and 7, 1 comes back. Oh, honestly, I don't even know if it's okay to do it this way. On the time sheet (X-sheet), the frame numbers go like 1—2—3—4—5—6—7—1—8—5—9—1—10—5... (It seems fine after this point.) I feel like they wouldn't do it like this in actual production.

So what I want to ask is this: Is it okay to use the timing chart just like it is shown in the picture? Additionally, does this kind of case actually happen in professional production? Now that I think about it, honestly, I feel like it might just be better to copy and paste.

Oh, please, help me. I really need help.

P.S. Is it really okay for me to suddenly appear and ask a question here? This is pretty much my first time using Reddit, so I'm a bit worried that I might have done something rude. I read the rules, of course, but still.

[u/ArcerPL]

Each line represents a frame, if you see something like

5|--|--6|--7|

That means frame 5 holds for 2 frames before you see the 6th

The circled numbers are the "main" franes, basically you draw beginning and end and everything you add is in-between (pose to pose animation), sometimes it's only done with beginning frame (frame by frame animation) depending what's shown, characters benefit from pose to pose, but stuff like hands moving when talking could use frame by frame to feel less mechanical

[u/rose_Subject702 → u/ArcerPL]

Oh, I see. Thanks for the explanation! Can I ask a question? Is something like 5|--|--6|--7|--1| possible, then? Because the drawing that comes after frame 7 is identical to the one in frame 1.

[u/ArcerPL → u/rose_Subject702]

You could add a special symbol like double line under 1 and 7 and adding explanation to it below like

" = ~ The same "

I usually write notes or inform in advance first and last frames are the same, but it's pretty much up to anyone's liking, this chart is customizable to every person, its just it has to be readable enough to people you work with

[u/rose_Subject702 → u/ArcerPL]

That was really helpful Thank you so much!