What is time skipping?

Time skipping, also known as time-jumping, is a storytelling technique where the narrative jumps forward or backward in time. This technique is commonly used in movies, TV shows, and novels to advance the plot, generate suspense, or show character growth.

A time skip can be a few minutes or several years; it can advance the story to a significant event or skip over a period of mundane activity. It can help the audience avoid repetition as well as allow them to focus on events of importance.

The use of time-skipping is popular in science fiction and fantasy genres. For example, in the movie "Interstellar", the characters experience a time skip while traveling through a wormhole that causes them to age differently than people on Earth. In the TV show "Lost", flashbacks and flash-forwards were used to show past and future events of the characters' lives.

While time skipping can be an effective way to tell a story, excessive use can be confusing and disorienting for the audience. It should be used judiciously and with a clear purpose in mind.