What is pre production in animation? Pre-production encompasses all activities required to prepare for the production phase, such as developing storylines and characters, designing scenes, creating storyboards, budgeting and scheduling tasks, etc.
In this article, we will discuss what pre-production in animation is and how to prepare it effectively.
What Is Pre Production In Animation?
Pre-production is an essential part of the animation process, and it’s something that Animade took very seriously when they created their award-winning short film, Tend.
Pre-production involves all the initial work needed to get your idea off the ground, and for Animade this was a big undertaking.
This project presented a lot of firsts for them as a studio; it was their first time working as a collective and the first time they found themselves hitting the festival circuit with a vengeance.
The Idea
The idea is the foundation of any production. It is the spark that ignites the creative process and sets everything in motion.
Without an idea, there can be no story, no characters, no world. Ideas are the building blocks of a production and without them nothing can be created.
Ideas can come from anywhere; they may originate from within your team or from outside sources. They may be simple concepts or complex stories; whatever they are, they will form the basis of your production.
It is important to recognize and nurture these ideas as they have the potential to become something great. With careful consideration and hard work, these ideas can take shape and become something truly special.
The Story/Concept — The Pitch
Animators need to properly document their ideas in order to communicate them effectively. This includes creating a synopsis with details such as who is involved, what is happening, why it matters, and how it will be achieved.
Documenting an idea properly can help ensure everyone has a clear understanding of the concept.
Storyboarding
Storyboarding is an essential part of the creative process, as it allows for a clear visual layout of all the elements that will be used in a project. It is the culmination of all the work up until this point, combining the visual styles and narrative that have been developed in previous steps.
Storyboards are also great for showing how a narrative progresses through composition and structure, as well as providing an opportunity to draft sound cues and dialog.
Animatic: The Rough Product
Animatics are used by filmmakers and animators to visualize their project before committing to full production.
It combines rough sound and visuals with timing to create a storyboard that can act as a proof of concept and make sure they stay on the right track before investing too much time or money into something that may not work out.
Revision/Redesign
Revision and redesign is an essential part of the production process. It allows artists to take a step back and evaluate their work, making changes based on constructive criticism from critics they trust. This process helps ensure that the final product is of the highest quality possible.
Citations, Quotes & Annotations
The two citations provided are for a digital painting from Concept Art World and a presentation from SlideShare.
The painting was created to help give insight into the game Dark Souls and how its environment was designed, while the presentation explains the different stages of producing 3D animations, from concept design to final rendering.
By studying both sources, one can gain a better understanding of how 3D animations are made and what elements make up a successful video game environment.
Conclusion
Pre-production in animation is the process of preparing for production, such as developing storylines and characters, designing scenes, creating storyboards and budgeting.
It consists of capturing ideas, pitching them, storyboarding, creating an animatic and revisions/redesigns to ensure a high quality product. Citations, quotes and annotations are also important parts of pre-production as they can provide insight into the creation process.
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