Each sub-panel features nearly identical backgrounds but completely different character movements.
When it comes to animated shows like Rick and Morty, x265 has several distinct advantages:
Leo tried to yell, "Help! I'm being transcoded!"
I can provide more tips on: Software players that handle HEVC best. Comparing file sizes between 1080p x264 and 1080p x265. Setting up a home media server for high-quality streaming. rick and morty s02e01 x265 better
: As the trio becomes uncertain about their actions, time begins to fracture into multiple parallel realities. The screen physically splits into quadrants (and eventually up to 64 segments) to show different versions of the characters reacting to the same situation. Rick’s Sacrifice
Tiny sighed. "Four minutes."
Traditional encoders struggle when a single frame contains multiple independent sub-videos with different motion vectors. This leads to blockiness, muddy lines, and pixelation around the borders of the split screens. Comparing file sizes between 1080p x264 and 1080p x265
A 1080p x265 encode of "A Rickle in Time" will likely look better than a 1080p x264, while being significantly smaller, making it ideal for digital archiving, NAS storage, or streaming to devices. 4. Better Handling of Darkness
"A Rickle in Time" is a notoriously difficult episode for traditional video compressors to handle. As Rick, Morty, and Summer fracture reality, the screen splits into two, then four, and eventually sixty-four distinct, simultaneous timelines.
H.264 Framework [Fixed 16x16 Macroblocks] -> Struggles with high detail + split screens x265 Framework [Adaptive 64x64 CTUs] -> Dynamically scales down to capture fine motion Coding Tree Units (CTUs) The screen physically splits into quadrants (and eventually
The x265 codec uses Coding Tree Units (CTUs), which can process block sizes up to 64x64 pixels (compared to x264’s 16x16 macroblocks). This allows the encoder to recognize the static black lines separating the timelines as a single uniform area, reserving its processing power and bitrate for the intense, fast-paced animation inside the panels. The result is razor-sharp line art and pristine separation between the fractured realities. 2. Superior Color Depth and Contrast in the Void
A 10-bit encode effectively eliminates “banding,” which is those ugly, visible lines you sometimes see in smooth gradients, like a sunset sky or the transition of a portal in Rick and Morty . As one anime encoding enthusiast puts it, “Anime look best when encoded with higher bit depth. With 10bit you get nice and smooth gradients at much lower bitrates than 8 bit”. This is a major reason why many fan release groups have switched entirely to 10-bit x265 for their animation encodes.
Animation is highly susceptible to color banding, where smooth gradients of color (like the glowing purple hues of the timeless void) break into ugly, distinct steps or rings. Most x265 encodes are done in 10-bit color (HEVC Main 10), even if the source material is 8-bit. This extra bit-depth allows the encoder to calculate gradients with extreme precision, eliminating banding entirely.