A lot of work can go into creating a short animation, and having a process in place to keep things on track is very
important to ensure the project is finished on time and within budget. Our process is flexible to accommodate a
variety of animation projects, but the overall structure remains the same.
Here's a look at our generic process for creating animation:
Define Goals: The desired outcome of the animation is defined first, and everything that comes after should work to
support that outcome.
Story/Script Writing: Depending on the piece, a script may be necessary; some types of animation do not need a script,
but will still benefit from a brief description of the story being told, action being illustrated, or simply the
themes of the project.
Design Sketches: This phase is optional, especially if the piece is to promote a product and the product design is
provided. For character animation, sketches are produced before the character is built in 3D so that the
character's design can be refined quickly and easily. Design sketches may also be produced to describe other
important elements in the animation, or to establish a certain mood or look before production.
Storyboarding: Any animation consisting of multiple shots and camera angles is usually storyboarded to plan the shots
ahead of time. This also saves time by providing information on what props may be required for the shots, and how
much of the environment will be visible (and needs to be modeled) for each shot. At the end of this phase the
planning is complete and the project is ready to move into producion.
Sound: This phase is optional, but if sound or music is going to be used it is generally planned before production
starts. That way the animation can be timed to coincide with the music, which is often easier than the reverse of
scoring music to match the timing of completed animation.
Production: Much of the work that goes into creating 3D animation is in this phase. Objects and characters are modeled,
given textures and materials, and set up for animation. Lights and cameras are placed. Shots from the storyboard
are executed, by moving the cameras and animating the characters and other elements needed to portray the
story.
Post Production: Frames are rendered, as computers calculate images from a camera's point of view that will blend
together to form movement and show action. Then any special effects are applied, such as compositing multiple
shots or images.
Editing: Since any unnecessary shots are generally eliminated in storyboarding or are simply not rendered, there is
usually little need to edit out extra footage. This phase does include creating transitions between shots, and
producing the final animation output in the format necessary for delivery.
