Earning Money from YouTube Shorts by Creating Shorts from Long Cartoon Videos
Introduction
YouTube Shorts has become one of the fastest-growing content formats on the internet. Millions of users watch short videos every day, making it an attractive platform for content creators who want to earn money online. Many beginners believe that they can simply take a long cartoon video from YouTube, cut it into short clips, upload those clips as YouTube Shorts, and start making money. While this idea sounds simple, there are important rules, copyright laws, and monetization requirements that every creator must understand.
This article explains how YouTube Shorts monetization works, whether you can earn money by using cartoon videos from other creators, the risks involved, and the best ways to create legal and profitable YouTube Shorts content.
Understanding YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts are vertical videos that are usually less than 60 seconds long, although YouTube now supports longer short-form videos in some cases. Shorts are designed to provide quick entertainment, education, and engagement for viewers.
The popularity of Shorts has created opportunities for creators to grow their channels rapidly. Unlike traditional long-form videos, Shorts can gain thousands or even millions of views within a short period.
Because of this growth, many people search for easy methods to create Shorts content, including using existing cartoon videos from YouTube.
Can You Take Long Cartoon Videos and Upload Them as Shorts?
Technically, it is possible to cut a long cartoon video into shorter clips and upload them as Shorts. However, whether you can legally do so and earn money from it is a different matter.
Most cartoon videos on YouTube are protected by copyright. Copyright gives the original creator or company exclusive rights over the content. This means that other people cannot simply copy, re-upload, or redistribute the content without permission.
If you take a cartoon video created by another person and upload it to your channel without significant changes or permission, you may face:
Copyright claims
Copyright strikes
Video removal
Loss of monetization
Channel suspension or termination
Therefore, copying cartoon content directly is not a safe or sustainable strategy.
Understanding Copyright on YouTube
Copyright is one of the most important topics for YouTube creators.
Whenever someone creates an original video, animation, drawing, or cartoon, they automatically own the copyright to that content. Large animation companies invest significant amounts of money into creating cartoons, and they actively protect their intellectual property.
YouTube uses advanced systems such as Content ID to detect copyrighted material. Even a short clip from a cartoon may be identified automatically.
If copyrighted content is detected, the copyright owner may:
Allow the video to remain online and collect the revenue.
Block the video in certain countries.
Block the video worldwide.
Issue a copyright strike.
Three copyright strikes can result in channel termination.
This is why creators should be extremely careful when using content that they do not own.
Why Many Reuploaded Cartoon Shorts Fail Monetization
Many people upload cartoon clips and receive thousands of views. However, views alone do not guarantee income.
YouTube's monetization system evaluates whether content is original and adds value. Channels that primarily reupload existing content often face monetization problems.
YouTube calls this "reused content."
Examples of reused content include:
Reuploaded movie scenes
Reuploaded cartoon clips
TV show excerpts
Anime clips without transformation
Content copied from other creators
Even if such videos receive millions of views, YouTube may reject the channel's monetization application.
As a result, many creators spend months uploading content only to discover they cannot earn money from it.
What Is Transformative Content?
Transformative content is content that significantly changes the original material and adds new value.
Examples include:
Commentary
Analysis
Reviews
Educational explanations
Parodies
Reactions with meaningful input
Story breakdowns
For example, instead of uploading a cartoon scene alone, a creator might:
Explain the lesson behind the scene.
Analyze character development.
Discuss animation techniques.
Compare different cartoon episodes.
Add educational narration.
The more original contribution you add, the better your chances of complying with YouTube's monetization policies.
Requirements for YouTube Shorts Monetization
To earn money from Shorts, creators must join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
YouTube generally requires one of the following:
Option 1
1,000 subscribers
4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months
Option 2
1,000 subscribers
10 million valid Shorts views in the last 90 days
These requirements may change over time as YouTube updates its policies.
Meeting the requirements does not automatically guarantee approval. YouTube also reviews the channel for compliance with monetization guidelines.
How YouTube Shorts Revenue Works
Unlike traditional YouTube videos, Shorts revenue comes from a shared revenue model.
Advertisements appear between Shorts in the Shorts feed. Revenue generated from these ads is pooled and distributed among eligible creators based on their share of views.
Factors that influence earnings include:
Number of views
Audience location
Viewer engagement
Advertiser demand
Content category
Generally, creators with audiences in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia often earn more than creators whose audiences are located in regions with lower advertising rates.
Better Alternatives to Reuploading Cartoon Videos
Instead of simply cutting cartoon videos into Shorts, consider creating original content.
1. Cartoon Reviews
Watch cartoons and share your opinions.
Examples:
Episode reviews
Character rankings
Best moments discussions
Story analysis
This approach adds originality and value.
2. Educational Content
Use cartoon examples to teach:
Life lessons
Moral values
Communication skills
Problem-solving techniques
Educational content often performs well and is more likely to qualify for monetization.
3. Voice-Over Storytelling
Create your own narration and storytelling.
For example:
Summarize a cartoon episode
Explain character motivations
Describe the plot in your own words
Adding your own voice significantly increases originality.
4. Animation Facts
Many viewers enjoy learning behind-the-scenes information.
Topics include:
Animation history
Production facts
Character inspiration
Hidden details
This type of content can attract both children and adults.
5. Original Animated Shorts
Learning basic animation skills can help creators produce completely original content.
Tools such as animation software and mobile apps make it easier than ever to create simple animated videos.
Although this method requires more effort, it offers the greatest long-term potential.
The Importance of Building a Brand
Successful YouTube creators do more than upload videos. They build a recognizable brand.
A strong brand includes:
Consistent content style
Unique personality
Memorable channel name
Regular posting schedule
High-quality editing
Viewers are more likely to subscribe when they recognize a creator's unique identity.
Channels that rely solely on reuploaded content often struggle to build loyal audiences.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Many new creators make mistakes that prevent growth and monetization.
Uploading Copyrighted Clips
This is one of the biggest mistakes. Even if a video gains views, copyright issues can eventually affect the channel.
Ignoring YouTube Policies
Creators should regularly review YouTube's monetization and copyright guidelines.
Chasing Viral Trends Only
While trends can help growth, relying entirely on trends often leads to inconsistent performance.
Poor Editing
Low-quality editing can reduce viewer retention and engagement.
Lack of Consistency
Many channels stop uploading after a few weeks. Consistency is essential for long-term success.
How to Grow a Shorts Channel Successfully
Growing a Shorts channel requires strategy and patience.
Post Consistently
Upload regularly to increase visibility.
Use Strong Hooks
The first few seconds determine whether viewers continue watching.
Create Engaging Titles
Clear and interesting titles attract clicks.
Analyze Performance
Study analytics to understand which videos perform best.
Focus on Retention
The longer viewers watch, the better the video may perform in YouTube's recommendation system.
Experiment with Different Formats
Try:
Reviews
Storytelling
Facts
Commentary
Educational content
Testing helps identify what works best for your audience.
Is Reuploading Cartoon Shorts a Good Long-Term Business?
For most creators, the answer is no.
While some channels may receive temporary success by uploading cartoon clips, the risks are significant.
Problems include:
Copyright claims
Monetization rejection
Channel removal
Revenue loss
A channel built on original content has a much stronger future.
Creators who develop unique skills such as editing, storytelling, voice-over work, or animation are more likely to achieve sustainable income.
Conclusion
Creating YouTube Shorts can be an excellent way to earn money online, but simply taking long cartoon videos, cutting them into short clips, and reuploading them is generally not a reliable or safe monetization strategy. Most cartoon content is protected by copyright, and reuploaded videos often face copyright claims, monetization issues, or channel penalties.
The most successful creators focus on originality. By adding commentary, reviews, educational insights, storytelling, or creating entirely original content, creators can build audiences, qualify for monetization, and establish long-term success on YouTube.
Instead of searching for shortcuts, focus on creating content that provides real value to viewers. Originality, consistency, creativity, and compliance with YouTube's policies are the keys to building a profitable YouTube Shorts channel and generating sustainable income over time.
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