TikTok has taken the social media world by storm, with over 1 billion active users worldwide as of 2024, according to data from WeAreSocial. A big part of the app‘s meteoric rise has been its ever-expanding library of filters and effects, which allow users to augment their videos in creative and attention-grabbing ways. One of the most popular and distinctive of these effects is the rotoscope filter.
What Is the TikTok Rotoscope Filter?
The rotoscope filter applies a striking, colorful animated outline effect to videos, making the subjects look like they‘ve been traced frame-by-frame. With its vibrant, neon-like color palette and bold black lines, the filter is instantly recognizable and impossible to scroll past without stopping to watch.
The rotoscope filter in action, transforming a dancer into a colorful animation. Source: TikTok
Rotoscoping is a classic animation technique that dates back over a century. Traditionally, it involved projecting live-action film onto a glass panel, which animators would then trace over frame by frame to use as a reference for hand-drawn animation. The technique allows for extremely lifelike movement, as seen in classic films like Disney‘s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).
Of course, TikTok‘s rotoscope filter automates this painstaking process, applying an animated effect in real-time using edge detection algorithms. With a single tap, anyone can transform themselves into a living, breathing cartoon character.
The Origin of TikTok‘s Rotoscope Filter
The rotoscope filter first gained widespread attention thanks to TikTok creator @icetut. An animator with over 2 million followers, he posted a mesmerizing rotoscoped dance video in late 2021 that went massively viral, racking up over 49 million views.
The original rotoscoped dance video by @icetut that caught TikTok‘s attention. Source: TikTok
What made @icetut‘s video so remarkable was that he created the rotoscope effect entirely by hand, drawing over each frame of the footage individually using digital animation software. The painstaking effort paid off, clearly inspiring TikTok‘s engineers.
In early 2022, not long after @icetut‘s video went viral, TikTok released their own automated rotoscope filter, letting anyone achieve a similar look with just a few taps. It was an instant sensation, appearing in countless dance challenges, music performances, and comedy skits on the platform.
How to Use TikTok‘s Rotoscope Filter
Using the rotoscope filter on TikTok is a straightforward process, but there are a few key things to keep in mind to achieve the best results:
- Open the TikTok app and tap the plus sign (+) to create a new video
- Before recording, tap "Effects" and search for "rotoscope"
- Select the rotoscope effect from the filter tray
- Position yourself so your whole body is clearly in frame
- Nod your head to trigger the effect, then start dancing or moving
- Make sure you‘re in a well-lit space for the clearest silhouette
- Record your video, then add music, text, and any other edits
- Post and watch those views roll in!
A tutorial showing how to find and use the rotoscope filter. Source: YouTube
Pro tip: The rotoscope effect works best when it can clearly see your whole outline, so make sure you‘re not too close to the camera. Use a selfie stick or prop your phone up further away to get your entire silhouette in the shot.
It‘s important to note that the strobing, flashing colors of the rotoscope filter can potentially trigger photosensitive seizures in some individuals. If you‘re sensitive to rapidly flickering light, it‘s best to avoid using this filter or watching videos that feature it heavily.
Removing the Rotoscope Filter From Your TikTok Video
But what if you change your mind after shooting a rotoscoped video? Is it possible to remove the filter before posting? The good news is yes, but you have to do it before you hit that "Post" button. Here‘s how:
- After recording your rotoscoped video, tap the back arrow to edit
- Tap "Effects" again and look for the rotoscope filter with a pink outline
- Tap the remove icon (the crossed-out circle) to delete the effect
- Alternatively, select a different effect to replace the rotoscope filter
- Continue editing as normal, then post your filter-free video
How to remove the rotoscope filter from a TikTok video before posting. Source: YouTube
Unfortunately, once you‘ve posted a video using the rotoscope filter, there‘s no way to remove it after the fact. Unlike a simple color filter, rotoscoping fundamentally alters the imagery by adding new lines and shapes. Even if you save the video and try to edit it outside the app, you won‘t be able to cleanly remove the effect.
Understanding the Viral Appeal of the Rotoscope Filter
So why did the rotoscope filter catch on so quickly and become a fixture of TikTok culture? For one, it‘s a bold and distinctive look that jumps out on the screen, demanding attention as you scroll through your "For You" page. In a social media landscape that moves at breakneck speed and rewards the eye-catching, rotoscope delivers.
But the rotoscope filter also taps into a larger trend on social media, particularly among Gen Z users: a love of the surreal, the nostalgic, and the not-quite-real. Similar to the A.I. avatars generated by apps like Lensa or the uncanny 3D animations of TikTokers like @kxrlxsxfficial, rotoscope blurs the line between the physical and the virtual, the human and the digital.
As Dr. Jennifer Escalas, a professor of marketing at Vanderbilt University who studies digital consumer culture, explains: "For young people who have grown up in an increasingly online world, there‘s a fascination with content that distorts or plays with reality. Filters like rotoscope allow them to transform themselves and their surroundings into something fantastical and unreal, which is exciting and novel."
Indeed, the rotoscope filter aligns neatly with the kind of surreal, glitchy digital aesthetic that‘s become a hallmark of Gen Z humor and creativity, from the absurdist memes of "deep-fried" internet comedy to the warped, nostalgic visuals of vaporwave music.
But rotoscope also hearkens back to an earlier era of internet culture, particularly the wild west days of Flash animation on sites like Newgrounds in the early 2000s. Many of the most popular genres on TikTok, from dance trends to lip sync challenges to irreverent skits, echo the blend of music, humor, and striking visuals that made Flash cartoons such an addictive part of millennial youth.
As digital strategist and TikTok expert Rachel Karten tells Wired: "TikTok has become this fascinating mix of past and future, where you have callbacks to bygone eras of internet comedy, but expressed through new technologies and put in front of a new generation. Something like the rotoscope filter is a perfect example of remixing a classic style with an innovative execution."
The Future of Filters and Effects on TikTok and Beyond
Looking ahead, it‘s clear that creative filters and AR effects will only become a bigger part of TikTok and other social video apps. As smartphone cameras continue to improve and machine learning algorithms grow more sophisticated, we can expect to see even more dramatic and reality-bending filters.
We‘re already starting to see the rise of real-time 3D filters that map virtual elements onto the world around you, like the popular "Invisible Character" effect that lets users interact with a seemingly empty space. As VR and AR devices become more widely adopted, it‘s not hard to imagine TikTok-style shorts shot entirely in virtual environments.
An example of an AR effect that maps 3D elements onto the real world, hinting at the future of filters. Source: YouTube
At the same time, as filters grow increasingly realistic, a debate is emerging around the responsible use of "beautifying" effects and the potential impact on mental health, particularly for young users. A 2021 study published in the journal Body Image found that frequent use of appearance-altering filters on social media was associated with greater dissatisfaction with one‘s own looks.
As Dr. Jasmine Fardouly, the study‘s lead author and a researcher at Macquarie University, notes: "While filters can be a fun form of creative expression, it‘s important for users to be aware of how they can distort their perception of their own appearance over time. Social media companies have a responsibility to consider the potential psychological impact as they design and deploy new effects."
Ultimately, as filters like rotoscope continue to evolve and push the boundaries of what‘s possible with short-form video, it will be up to creators and viewers alike to use them thoughtfully and with an awareness of their potential influence. When employed with care and creativity, these tools have the power to entertain, inspire, and bring people together in playful new ways. The key is to approach them critically and never lose sight of the human behind the filter.
