storyboard and goes into more detail as to how the characters will move and act in each scene. When doing background layouts, more detailed backgrounds are designed for each shot using the storyboard and the script as a guide; these maybe done at the same time as character layouts. The next then is the rough animation with pencil and paper. Voice recording may be done at the same time as the animating is being done. Music is often recorded specifically for each scene to make it more dramatic. The last step is creating the sound effects, which is done by Foley artists in a recording booth.- Script
- Storyboard
- Character Design
- Character Layout
- Backgrounds(Layout & Painting)
- Rough Animation & Cel Painting
- Shooting The Frames
- Voice Recording
- Music
- Sound Effects
The script contains basically the content of the animation in writing. Two things to keep in mind when writing a script: the target audience and the purpose of the animation, whether it is to entertain, to inform, etc.. Story conferences are held in which the writers gather together to develop the basic story. Often ideas are written on index cards and posted on a wall as a visual reference for all the writers. The ideas can then be moved around and manipulated to come up with the basic plot.
The storyboard is a rough visualization of the script, in which character gestures and backgrounds are only hinted at. It organizes the script into a sequence of scenes and shots and outlines, generally, the entire animation. Both the script and storyboard are used to create character and background layouts.
In this stage the visual representations of the characters are created. Once the character is developed, pencil model sheets are created. They consist of a group of pencil drawings that illustrate a character in many different poses and facial expressions which define how the character looks and acts. They are used as general guides for the animators.
Layout artists draw poses and facial expressions for the characters to define and broaden the actions shown in the storyboard. They create these key illustrations for each scene in order to guide the animators in how the characters will move within the scene.
Background artists, artists who design and create the backgrounds, study the script and storyboard to get ideas for the setting of each scene. They then create background layouts, are sketches used as the basis for a background painting. A background artist is like a set designer for a movie and backgrounds are like sets. Once the layouts are finished, backgrounds are painted.
The animators first draw each frame with pencil and paper before putting them on cels, clear plastic sheets. They often test their animations by flipping through the pages with their fingers. This is called a pencil test which is used to pinpoint in certain areas where animation is working and where it isn't. After the rough animation is done then all the frames are traced onto cels and painted. Cels are used so that the background can be seen behind the animated parts of a frame.
This stage can done as the cels and backgrounds are being created. Each frame is shot seperately one after the other. There are can be several different layers for each frame, including the animated parts and background. Each layer may be placed slightly apart in order to keep a certain layer in focus and the others out of focus.
Voice recording is often done as the frames are being shot. Professional voice artists are used to record the voices of the characters using the script. The voice artists say their lines in the recording booth while the voice director guides them from outside the booth with the sound technicians, who control the audio equipment.
Music is often composed specifically for the animation with an orchestra as the animation is being played on large screen. The screen is situated so that the composer can see it. The music is often used to make the animations more lifelike and dramatic.
The sound effects are created by Foley artists. Foley artists use many different objects in order to the right sounds. All of the recording is done in a recording booth. The Foley artist makes the sounds as the animation is playing on a large screen. Outside the booth are the sound technicians.
