Time Warp Scan

About

Time Warp Scan is a visual effect on TikTok which is presented as an alternate variation of the Time Warp Effect. When used, Time Warp Scan creates a blue line that scrolls across the screen in whatever direction the user chooses. As the line scans over the camera it creates a still image of whatever it passes, allowing users to create warped images.

Origin

On the week of May 12th, 2019, TikTok's Time Warp Effect went live on the platform. When used, the effect makes the subject ripple and bend across the screen. The effect went viral, with TikTokers making a variety of trends out of the effect (examples shown below).

On the week of September 15th, 2020, the Time Warp Scan effect was added to TikTok. Users began making videos with it immediately. An early example of the effect came on September 18th from TikToker jeremylynch, whose video received over 4.6 million views in under a month (shown below, left). On the same day, TikToker lucas_millership uploaded a video using the effect, garnering over 5.1 million views and 1.4 million likes in the same span of time (shown below, right).

Spread

On September 26th, 2020, Distractify^[1] and HITC^[2] published stories detailing the effect and its popularity, with HITC reporting that the effect had been used over 700 thousand times since the publication date. As the effect spread across TikTok, a number of popular trends utilizing the effect were created. As of October 20th, there are over 5.1 billion views attached to videos under the hashtag #timewarpscan.

Creepy Eye Effect

On September 15th, TikToker jay.berryy uploaded a video using the time warp scan effect to make it appear as if his eyes are pointing in opposite directions by moving his eyes in different directions as the scanner passes over each one (shown below, left). The video garnered over 1.9 million views in 35 days. On September 23rd, TikToker si_luki uploaded a video where he makes it appear as if he has one pitch-black eye and one reptile eye, garnering over 18.9 million views in under a month (shown below, right).

Tim Burton Character

In mid-October of 2020, TikTokers started using the effect to imagine what they'd look like as Tim Burton characters. This is done by pulling the bottoms of your eyes down as the scanner goes over your face from top to bottom. As the scanner trails down your cheeks, you gently push your cheeks in with your thumbs and move your hands down your face, just ahead of the scanner. This makes it appear as if you have large eyes and thin cheeks. On October 17th, TikToker phantomsigns uploaded a video performing this challenge, garnering over 11.4 million views in 3 days (shown below, left). On October 19th, TikToker juliabrads uploaded a video performing the trend among others, garnering over 17.7 million views in 1 day (shown below, right).

On October 19th, Distractify^[3] published an article on the Tim Buron trend.

Mirror Effect

One of the earliest Time Warp Scan trends sees users stand beside a mirror as the effect scans from left to right. The user faces the camera as it scans over their body, then turns around as it scans over their reflection, making it appear as if the reflection is also looking forward. On September 18th, TikToker seansedique performed the trend, garnering over 2.9 million views in a month (shown below, left). On October 18th, heefbeef5 uploaded a version of this trend, gaining over 20 million views in 2 days (shown below, left).

Drunk Face

To perform this trend, users set the time warp scan to scan from top to bottom. The user strikes a dead-eyed face until the scan passes their eyes, then smile wide. This is allegedly supposed to be your face when drunk. On October 3rd, TikToker spiderheadnoah uploaded a version of this trend, gaining over 10.9 million views in just over 2 weeks (shown below, left). On October 6th, schwegitron uploaded a version, garnering over 960 thousand views in 2 weeks (shown below, right).

Smoking Effect

This trend has users trace a zig-zag pattern down toward their mouth with a marker or similar object as the time warp scan travels from the top to the bottom of the screen. The user then positions the object in their mouth as if smoking and positions themselves to make it appear as if the trail is smoke. On October 14th, TikToker jduildiyyka uploaded a video performing this trend, garnering over 23 million views in 6 days (shown below, left). On October 18th, TikToker Addison Rae performed this trend, gaining over 34 million views in 2 days (shown below, right).

Giraffe

This trend has users position themselves all fours while the scanner scans from the bottom to the top of the screen. As the scanner travels upward, the user gets up on their feet, moves forward, and stretches their neck forward. This makes the subject appear as if they're a giraffe. On September 19th, seansedique uploaded a video performing this trend, garnering over 12 million views in 1 month (shown below, left). On October 9th, TikToker anna.zak uploaded a version of the trend, gaining over 6.1 million views in 11 days (shown below, right).

Demon / Baphomet

On November 9th, 2020, TikToker dj.awe02^[4] uploaded a Time Warp Scan video under an original sound "Trend by at. reno.lugo"^[5] in which by waving his hands above his head in a symmetrical pattern as the scanner trails downward he makes it appear as if he's Baphomet (shown below, left). The video garnered over 8.1 million views in 3 days and inspired other TikTokers to attempt it, often using the same original sound^[6] (example shown below, right).

Angel

The popularity of the demon trend also spawned an angel trend, where TikTokers use the Time Warp Scan effect to make it appear as if they have a halo and wings^[7][8] (examples shown below, left and right).

Missing Hand

On November 10th, 2020, actor and TikToker Milo Manheim^[9] uploaded a video in which he holds his hand up in the air with his middle finger raised, kneels to the ground as the scanner passes his wrist, then hides his hand in his sleeve as the scanner goes over his body, making it appear as if his hand is floating (shown below, left). The video gained over 10 million views in 2 days, and inspired other TikTokers to follow the trend^[10] (example shown below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References