Story Building for your Animation Series

The USP of any film is the story. Same for animated movies. And impediments galore obstructing ways for a good story animated movie. The creative black-out where ideas don’t leap. It is even harder to perceive an idea and on paper. The probable hack is to come up with multiple ideas. Not all the ideas will be mind-blowing and some may be just average. The trick is to create and re-create. The more you do the more you attempt perfection. This adds to the whole process. Indulging into an idea for a movie that adheres to your interest, and commitment to a project can take you a cut above the entire clan of animators. As you will devote huge time to the work it has to captivate the target audience.

Keep in mind that your range for the target audience has to grow every day. The deadlines have to be considered and met with priority. Selecting apt words for the dialogues or verses is equally important as the storyline. You may play a hunch by picking random words from the dictionary. Referring to varied works helps a lot at the initial level. Pick a word, colors or shapes and let it tickle your imagination. This can be your initiation point and improvisation to follow.

“Animation is not the art of drawings that move but the art of movements that are drawn.”

In the advanced stage, referring to online and printed articles, short stories, novels, and verses will help you to understand and create a lovely piece of artwork. There are many poems, folklores, and ballads that can constitute a fine story of the movie. Making précis of the existing examples can save time, energy and give a better impetus to your work. The other issue that comes across is the lack of clarity. The storyline somewhat babbles midway. Just after seeding the idea, branch it to the flow. A script develops over time.

There are a few steps one can follow while making a scene. 

1. Storyboard

A simple drawing is the first step. A graphical representation of how your video will unfold, shot by shot. Basically, it is the story of the movie drawn in pictures, very much like a comic strip. 

2. Concept art or color script.

This art will visualize & create the concept and color of the characters, creatures, vehicles, environments, and other creative assets. Concept art is not only used to develop the work but also to show the project’s progress to directors, clients and investors. 

3. Modeling process

At this stage, the technical directors (TD) create the character and include the shading to give it more dimension and that they do not look flat. The 3D modeling process produces a digital object capable of being fully animated, making it an essential process for character animation and special effects.

4. Design process

It is made entirely on a computer, a virtual camera is placed, the characters are placed on the base of the camera angle and animated.  

5. Animation and Simulation

This step brings the characters to life, textures and colors are added. It goes with the characters in the background to the movement of the slightest thing like hairs as it is meant to be real.   

6. Lighting

It is the last step, the most important and the most complicated, since the way the scene is illuminated will give a more natural structural aspect and that everything works in accordance.       

“A lot of the time in animation is spent getting the story right – that’s something you can’t rush.”

You need to define the idea of the story right from the start of your film. At the same time, indulge the audience into intriguing the climax. Inciting the audience is the key to success. A good story has a satisfying end. What’d clasp the audience from the Title to Credits is how you have weaved the idea top to tail. You need to have a clear picture of where to start and where to end.

Once you are sure of the beginning and the end sections, the rest becomes easy as it falls under organic logic. This way of working also means that you can jump around and work on different sections developing one, then leaving it to work on another, working in a bit more of an organic way. Yes, edits do take place. But when you work in a sequential approach, completing the job takes place. The elements of the plot need to tickle the curiosity of the spectator. Remember, your story can be about a ‘Letter’, but should not read as a letter.

There are certain steps if followed can make an animated series successful.

1. Focus on the story

Brainstorm your characters and expand a plot on your story. Sometimes it’s easier to focus on a terrific main man or woman and revolve everything around them. Who might be this character’s friends/enemies? Who would be their parents? What are their desires in life? What is their regular attitude? Try to add a topic to this individual’s life. Will this be comedy or tragedy?

2. Create a storyboard

Draw a precis of what will take region in your movie. This may be easy sketches given that it may not be in the very last film and may even be replaced or cut. Think of these as every page of a book. Don’t draw every detail but specific the point of every part.

3. Prepare a script

The scene heading, action, dialogue, character name, parenthetical, extensions, transition, and shots everything has to be written down in the script. Be sure to include everything. Every detail counts.

4. Define the character profile

A character profile is wanted to further expand the stars of your lively film. Include lots and lots of details. You can even consist of trends about your individual. Is your man or woman the comedian of the film or is your man or woman something else?

5. Animate

You have to have determined what animation method you’ll use through this point. Flipbooks are inexpensive and funny, however, they have several downsides (no sound, limited movie length). Traditional animation has brilliant quality, however, it takes an extended time, isn’t very efficient, and is pretty costly. You could constantly use an animation software program as well. It’s all as much as you, the creator!

6. Edit the film

Decide if there is anything you would like to change about your film or something you don’t like about the film. Crop it out if so. It is the creator who will decide how certain parts of the film will be directed to bring the most from the film. 

Whether you’re operating on an abstract animation or a complicated character-driven plot, you have to have a feel of what story your animation is telling well earlier of sketching out your initial idea. The design of your work will be one of the most important strengths or weaknesses of your film. Now whether it really works or doesn’t will come down to how well you have researched and evolved the idea.

 “Any storyboard or animation, even if it doesn’t have a voiceover or any text, should be able to be explained through words, like a story.”

If you are interested in the world of animation, you can train with us through the BVA Degree in Animation & Multimedia Design, it is a 4-year degree program. We are also affiliated to Bangalore Central University. There are also Diploma in animation and many other short term courses in animation offered by the institute. 

For more details please visit our website www.animaster.com

Published by animastercollegeblr

Animaster College of Animation and Design is a degree college which is affiliated with Bangalore Central University. We offer courses like BVA Degree in Product Design, Bva Degree in Animation & Multimedia Design, Bva Degree in Interior & spatial design, Bva Applied arts & Graphic design.

Leave a comment

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started