Hey, it's FoxTomas.
If you're reading this, you've probably seen Tomas and Timon pop up in your feed at least once. Maybe you laughed, maybe you related to a moment, maybe you just kept scrolling. That's completely fine.
But I want to be real with you for a minute.
The Math Behind "Free Content"
Same characters. Same idea. Different effort.
| Time | Views | Earned | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original animation | 6 hours | 272k | $36 |
| Same animation but with viewport BTS | 15 min | 21M | $1,923 |
The algorithm rewarded the 15-minute version 53x more.
RPM on Shorts: $0.20 — $1.67/hour of skilled work.
I'm not complaining. I knew what I was signing up for. But I want you to understand the math behind "free content."
The Algorithm Game
Here's the thing that keeps me up at night: the algorithm is unpredictable.
I can pour my heart into a complex animation, and the system decides it's worth $5. I can make something simple in 2 hours, and it somehow earns $2,000.
But the real pain? When the algorithm just... doesn't show my videos to you.
You're still subscribed. I'm still posting 3-4 videos every week. But the system decided you wouldn't like it, so it never reached you.
This pushes creators toward a dangerous mindset: stop making what you love, start making what the algorithm wants.
I refuse to play that game. But it comes with a cost.
Why I Keep Everything Free (For Now)
The people who message me saying my characters made their day better? We'd never have connected.
Free content gave me the audience. Free content built this community. Free content is why you're here right now.
I believe that if I'm going to charge for something, it has to be worth paying for. A 20-second Short? No. A full film or course? Absolutely. But my regular animations? Right now, they belong to everyone.
I want the kid who can't afford subscriptions to still laugh at Tomas and Timon. I want the person having a rough day to stumble upon my videos and feel a little better. I want animators in countries where $5 is a day's wage to still learn from what I share.
Money is just a tool. What matters is what it enables: taking care of family, improving my craft, creating without financial panic.
What Your Support Actually Does
When you support me, you're giving me something no algorithm can:
Time to focus on animation instead of worrying about rent. Time to experiment with ideas without fear that a "failed" video means I can't pay bills. Time to improve my skills instead of rushing to pump out content for the algorithm.
With stable support, I could:
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Spend 8-10 hours on a single animation instead of rushing it in 4
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Experiment with new formats without financial risk
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Invest in better equipment that speeds up my workflow
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Maybe even collaborate with voice actors and other animators (I've had people offer to help for free, but I refuse to devalue their work)
Right now, I'm balancing. Some weeks I focus purely on animation. Other weeks I'm buried in administration, promotion, searching for ideas, updating descriptions, responding to comments.
I want to spend more time doing what I love: bringing Tomas and Timon to life.
What Happens If You Support
Your $5 per month equals the revenue from 25,000 YouTube views.
That's
roughly what 2-3 of my typical videos earn combined.
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Your support covers my basic needs - so I'm not at the mercy of YouTube's unpredictable payouts
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Your support means I can prioritize quality over speed
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Your support gives me the freedom to take creative risks
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Your support buys me time for animation, not survival mode
You're not just a number on a counter. You're a person who looked at what I do and said, "I want this to continue."
That means everything.
Why This Matters to Me
A few years ago, my mother got sick. The first significant money I ever made from YouTube, I gave to her treatment.
She's no longer with us.
My love for animation is huge, but my responsibility to my family is bigger.
Money isn't the goal. The possibilities it creates are.The ability to support the people I care about. The ability to wake up and create without panic. The ability to say "I'm doing what I was meant to do, and I can sustain it."
That's what I'm working toward.
If You Made It This Far
Thank you.
Whether you've been watching since my first Blender experiments or you discovered me yesterday, whether you support financially or just by watching and sharing - thank you.
I started this journey because I loved the process. I was a kid who wanted a cool gaming intro, unexpectedly discovered the world of 3D and now I have two characters, 1.5 million people who watch them, and a choice:
I'm choosing the second option.
If you want to be part of that, I'd be honored.
Supporter 💜
- 📝 Monthly posts about animation process
- 👥 Access to supporter community
- 🦊 Help me animate full-time
Every time someone subscribes, I get a notification. And every single time, I stop what I'm doing and think: "Someone out there believes this is worth supporting." That feeling never gets old. If you decide to join, know that your name isn't just a number - it's a reminder that what I do matters to real people. 💜
- FoxTomas