Animation

What is Animation?
• Animation is a process of
creating an illusion of
moving shapes and pictures.
It has only been a century
since the technology
necessary in creating
animation became available.
 3 Categories of Animation

• 2D animation – hand-drawn animation

• 3D animation - computer-generated
animation
• Experimental Animation - an animation made
by real objects shot into film

Note: All animation categories use the

same process of animation.
Process of animation
Pre-Production
1. Script - Creating the script or the story is the first
stage of any animation or film production. The
script for animation is extremely important. An
animation script is very different from a live action
script. In a live action script, the dialogue is
important for the actor’s performance. However, an
animation script should be more “show, don’t tell”.
Scenes and actions of the characters should stand
out more than what is being said. The best
animation is achieved through a form of mimed
action where dialogue is nonexistent and visual
invention captures the imagination.
2. Storyboard -The artist or the director then
produces a series of drawn images that visually
portrays the action and scenes described in the
script. However, the discipline of creating
storyboards is different from creating comic
books or graphic novels. Storyboards are made
for the team or producer to visually see the step
by step shots, outcome, actions, and
content/elements of animated project based on
the story.
3. Soundtrack - After the script and storyboard are
completed, it’s time to record any dialogue or
background music required. The background music,
sound effects, and dialogue makes 50% of the
experience of the whole animation. Since animation
relies on perfect organization and synchronization
of the pictures to the soundtrack, the animator
must have the final recorded track before beginning
to draw. Without the soundtrack, the animator
cannot time the animation accurately. In some
modern animation style, soundtrack and dialogue
come after the “animatic”, wherein the soundtrack
or the recording caters more to the animatic timing.
4. Design - Here, the artist comes up with
concept designs and creates the visual
interpretation of all the characters, background,
color and elements featured in the film. When
the design is approved, each character,
background, color and element concept is
drawn from a multitude of angles and placed in
a model sheet for all the animators involved to
use as reference.
5. Animatic/track breakdown - The Animatic or
track breakdown is where the editor or the director
assembles the storyboard to create timing and
camera movements on every shot and scenes. This
is where the editor or the director notes the timing
of actions, film cuts and transitions on the X sheet
or time line. For example, a character begins to cry
after one second of film time, (24 frames per
second) the editor or director marks the start of the
teardrop from position A on the 25th frame and
indicates the subsequent frames through which the
tear drop falls to position B. The animatic is also
used to time the whole duration of the film.
Production
6. Animation - When everything in the pre-
production stage is set, this is where the
animators come in. In the Animation stage, the
artist creates a pose to pose action or key
frames limited to the timing of the animatic and
track break down.
7. In between - The in between artist adds
drawings to create a fluid animation based on
the animator’s pose to pose key frames.
8. Clean-up - The clean-up stage of production is where a set of
artists cleans up the drawings to give them a consistent visual
style. This is very important because there will be an inevitable
variation of look of the characters. After the entire clean up, it is
best to line test the drawings to see if there are no mistakes in
the animation.
9. Background - In modern animation production, a team of
artists produces the backgrounds while the animation is in the
process of in between. Each background must have a continuity
of style by producing work identical to the original film design.
10. Digital ink and paint- When the clean-up for animation and
back ground is approved, the animation and background is
transferred to the digital ink and paint department. Here they
color the animation and background using the color script given
during the design process.
 Post-Production
11. Composting and rendering- This is the final part
of the animation procedure. In the composting and
rendering process, the final animation and
background are stitched to each other creating a
fluidity and continuity of the film. It is in this
process where the effects such as blur, rain, glow of
fire are added, as well as other effects that can be
used for the final film. After everything is stitched
together, the render process will take effect. This
will take some time: the duration of the rendering
depends on the technical specs of the computer.
Note:

• Each animator has a specialty. However, the

best animators have the mastery of every step
of process of animation. Though it takes time,
there are animators who are capable of
creating a whole film all by themselves.
OBJECTIVE TEST:
1.What part of the 3-part animation production
flow is coloring the back ground and animation?
2 What comes first, the concept design or the
storyboard?
3 What is the process of creating moving
pictures?
4 The _______ Artist is the artist responsible for
making the animation smoother based on the
key frames/drawing.
5-8. (For 4 points) fill in the blanks. The
production process of animation first starts with
animation, followed by ______________ then,
_______________, then______________, and
lastly _____________
9. What is the golden rule when creating an
animation script?
10. ”The dialogue should always follow the
timing of the animatic.” Is the statement True or
False?
Rubrics:
Activity # 3:
• Using Adobe Flash, (or
Photoshop),
create/draw an image
of how you see yourself
5 years from now. Be as
creative as possible:
there are no
restrictions. Afterwards,
export your image as
jpeg. Document
Settings: 720 x 480 (720
height, 480 width)