Commissioning a typical animated film
A brief defines what will be delivered and when. It includes goals, target audience, key deadlines, delivery platform(s), delivery format, budget, animation length, alternative language versions, and anything else you need me to know.
I can help with outlining what is needed via email or a call if you are unsure.
Brief
A script is the skeleton around which a storyboard is designed. It’s generally best to keep your messaging concise. This keeps the audience engaged and is more cost effective; the length of an animation can have an impact on cost.
Script
A storyboard combines rough illustrations with the script. Its purpose is to work out the most interesting and effective way to get your messaging across before going into the full illustration and animation stages.
Storyboard
A style frame is a fully illustrated scene. It’s used to demonstrate the final visual style of the film. Once signed off, it is used as a reference for the rest of the illustrations.
Style Frame
An animatic is an animated storyboard. It’s a way to make sure the flow of an animation works. This stage eliminates sections that are too information dense and any awkward pauses.
Animatic
Sound is best added at the animatic stage, rather than at the final animation stage. Not all of the voiceover, music, and SFX have to be final, but putting placeholders helps to make the animatic more accurate. This helps establish a strong flow.
Sound
Pre-production is finished and now illustration can begin! It’s not just about making things look pretty - the illustrations need to be functional. Characters need to move, text needs to be ready to animate, and backgrounds may need to be sized differently to allow for camera movements.
Illustration
Now we can can animate! This stage is, quite simply, making everything move. This can include text animation, lip-syncing, character animation, etc… This is a wonderfully expressive and creative stage.
Animation
Once the first draft of the animation is done, it can be shown to all stakeholders who are involved in the sign-off. I take all collated feedback and implement the tweaks and changes that will make the film just right. This may take more than one round of amends.
Amends
Once all feedback has been addressed, the animation delivered and the video is ready for use!
Delivery
Get in touch!
If you’d like to find out more about the process or chat through an animation idea you have, send an enquiry to artyhunt@gmail.com or use my enquiry form.