Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Pre-Production Booklet for Animation

Name:
Order of contents (italics show areas you must add in yourself)
Assessment criteria
LO2

Mind maps of ideas

Risk assessment

Format of your animation

Subject and storyline

Character notes and profiles

Movement of characters

Moodboard

Sets/backgrounds

Audio and soundtrack

Sound table

Props list

Audience

Storyboard and script (add script to booklet)

Frame rates

Lighting design

Production schedule

Crew details

LO3

Frame Numbers

Dope Sheets

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How to use this booklet

You will need to complete every page of this booklet, and all sections / questions
required.
Assessment criteria for Distinction grade;
LO2
Plans will show a full consideration of movement and continuity, perspective, point of view,
transitions and special effects.
Precise and workable planning of timing and synchronisation to a soundtrack will be
produced. It will be clear at this stage, from the documentation, what the finished piece will
look and sound like.
Learners will follow industry conventions and terminology used in storyboard production
correctly.
Plans for the construction of models, sets and props will be realistic and clear.
Drawings, script and storyboard will all show a creative interpretation of the idea.
LO3:
The documentation linked to the production will be full and detailed and there will be
evidence that the production management and scheduling of the project has been effective
and carried out in a professional manner. The techniques used in the production of the work
are likely to be related to an understanding of current trends in the industry.

Both LO2 and LO3

In all practical activity learners will be capable of working autonomously and effectively. They
will work on their own initiative, will not need constant support or supervision, will give the
work their full commitment, work positively and cooperatively with others, and meet
deadlines. In other words, they will have the kind of self-management skills that would be
expected of them in a professional context. Note also that this criterion should not be taken
to mean that learners do not seek advice or that they work without discussing things with
their tutor, but rather that they are not dependent upon the support of others and that when
they take advice they weigh it carefully for themselves.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Planning
Brainstorm / mind map (add extra pages if necessary)

Attach a 400 word treatment of your idea

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How will you meet the requirements of your brief?

Risk assessment: Are there any health and safety issues you may encounter?

Discuss any legal issues you may face. Eg; sound, plagiarism, age restrictions

Use of possible formats

Circle which of the following formats your animation will take;

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

stop-frame techniques
time lapse photography
plasticine animation
Claymation
using found objects
modelling
puppetry
combined formats

Why are you using that particular format?

What are the different possibilities you could explore using this format?

What are the limitations of using this format? (i.e what problems/ obstacles might you
have?)

What imaginative or inventive animations have you seen which use this format?
Add in links and screen shots of three examples of animations using this format.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Subject
What will the subject of your animation be?

Storyline
Describe the storyline of your animation. What events will happen to your characters?

Characters
What characters will be in your animation?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Complete the character profiles for each character in your animation

Name:
M/F:
Age
Costume:
Occupation:
Hobbies:
Character
Background:

Name:
M/F:
Age
Costume:
Occupation:
Hobbies:
Character
Background:

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Add in images and drawings/ sketches of what they will look like.

What will they be made of?

Movement of characters

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How are you going to make your characters move?

What is the purpose of an armature?

Will you use them for your characters?

If so, how will you make it?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Mood board
Create a mood board showing what look your animation will have. Add images showing
ideas of mise-en-scene, characters, costumes and colours that will be present in the
different shots.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Sets / backgrounds
Will your set be;

A three wall set

A blue/green screen

An existing location

A Combination of two or more of the above

Draw sketches of how your sets/backgrounds will look. Add in labels to your diagrams and
details of locations / lighting etc.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Add in photographs of your sets/backgrounds.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Audio and Soundtrack

What audio will you have for your animation?

Complete the sound list, detailing what sounds you will use, where you will source them,
what equipment you will need to record them and when you will use them in your animation.
You will need to design your own soundtrack. You cannot use copyrighted music, and it must
be more than simply adding a track.

What actions will need sound effects?

Think of the scenes in your animation. Each scene should have different sounds/music to
give information about the mood / emotions of the characters.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Sound Table
Production Name:
Producer:

Shot

Action

Props List

Description
of Sound

Diegetic/non/diegetic

Atmosphere
created

Musice type
and
atmosphere

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

What props / models / furniture etc will you need to make your animation?
PROPS LIST
Production Name:
Producer:

Item

Script page

Description

Character/location

Cigar

Large Cuban cigar,

expensive looking, 7 long

Craig Jennings

Audience
Define the following characteristics of your audience;
Gender

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Age

Interests

What forms of animation might they already watch?

What images do you think they enjoy watching?

What might they consider distasteful or offensive?

How will you ensure that your animation will suit your chosen audience?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How will they physically watch your animation? (i.e in an exhibition format, on screen,
projection, online?)

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Storyboard
Complete a storyboard for your animation.

And
then.?
What happens?
Describe the
action.

Camera?

Time?

What is the
camera angle?

Duration of the
shot / number
of frames
action is held
for.

Is there any
movement from
the camera?

Who?
Which
characters/
objects are in
the scene?

Say What?
Is there any
dialogue/text?

Where?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Think carefully about the shots you will be using. Consider the
range of shots/angles to give interest and perspective
You will need to convey all movements and actions. Copy and
paste the storyboard to make it as long as you need to show all
the detail of your animation.

Shots
Extreme long shot
Long Shot
Medium Shot

What is the
location for the
shot?

Lighting

Natural
Camera Angles
Ambient

Birds-eye view

Torchlight

Spotlight
High angle
Direction of

Eye-levellight?

Two Shot

Low angle

Movement
Over
the Shoulder

Editing

Pan
Medium
Close up

Montage

Tilt up
Close

Cross cutting

Tracking
Shotup
Extreme
close

Match cut
Shot, reverse shot
Eye-line match
Jump cut
Tracking shot

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

You will need to add pages to this section for your full storyboard

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame Rates
What is the duration of your animation in minutes? (minimum 30 seconds)

In seconds?

How many frames per second for video?

There are 60 seconds in a minute. How many frames (ie. Individual photos) will you
need to take?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Lighting Design

Where will you be photographing your animation?

Does it have natural daylight?

If so, you will need to block this out. Explain why.

Do you have a constant light source(s) such as a lamp?

Where will you place your light source(s) to create interesting effects?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

(LO3)

Frame numbers
You will need to label your images as frames
The first 24 frames will be written as;
0_1
0_2 etc etc

the following 24 will be

1_1
1_2
1_3
Ensure your clips are labeled as such. Screen shot the folder your clips are in, and copy the
image underneath.

Dope sheets

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

A dope sheet is an animation tool which helps a animator organise the animation shot-byshot.
This gives the camera operator instructions on each shot type and how many frames this will
be used for.
A dope sheet is usually split into 5 different sections.

To indicate what action occurs on which frame number

To see what action is happening in this shot.
To see what dialogue used in this scene.
To show what level of animation is happening.
To give camera instructions (angle).

For example;

Because you will be working with video, you will be using 30fps. You will need to complete a
dope sheet for EVERY SECOND of your animation.
i.e, if you make a 30 second animation, you will need to complete 30 dope sheets.
This will be a time-consuming task, but it will help you understand what will need to
happen in each of the shots you take. The higher marks will come from a detailed and
careful collection of dope sheets. For example, if your characters speaks, you will need to
show the mouth forming every shape in order to look effective.

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

0_1

Camera at the side

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Black Sabbath
Stood still
Close up
War Pigs

0_2
0_3
0_4
0_5
0_6
0_7
0_8
0_9
0_10
0_11
0_12
0_13
0_14
0_15
0_16
0_17
0_18
0_19
0_20
0_21
0_22
0_23

Camera at the front

Stood still

Mid shot

0_24

Camera at the front

aimed at feet.

Walking
forward and
then turns to
step upwards.

Close up

0_25
0_26
0_27
0_28
0_29
0_30

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0_31
0_32
0_33
0_34
0_35
0_36
0_37
0_38
0_39
0_40
0_41
0_42
0_43
0_44

Camera from the side.

Showing the feet

Stood on the
step.

Close up

0_45

Side on shot of his face

Looking out to
the road and
slowly turns his
head.

Mid shot/pans
round

0_46
0_47
0_48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59

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60

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70
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73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80

Camera on the other side

of his face.

Still looking at
the road, has
turned his head
180 degrees.

Mid shot

81

Camera behind him

Pat slowly turns

and steps off the
step. Starts to
walk

Mid shot/long
shot

82
83
84
85
86
87

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112
113
114
115
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117
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119

Camera from the side.

Walking off

Mid shot

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down the road
120
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125
126
127
128
129
130
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132
133
134
135
136
137
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140
141
142
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144
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147
148
149

Angled towards the gate

of the park

Walking into the

Establishing
shot

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150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157

Pat has walked out of the

shot.

Establishing
shot

158

Pat walking towards the

bench

Establishing
shot

159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
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180

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185
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187
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190
191
192
193
194
195

Pat sat on the bench with

his head in his hands

Mid shot

196

The angle changes

slightly, and as pat
stands up off the bench
the camera pans round to
the left and follows him
walking off down the path
before eventually
panning off screen

Mid shot

197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208

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249
250
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253
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255
256
257
258
259
260
261

The shot ends with pat

off screen. As it pans
round to the left

262

Pat is sat on the wall. He

checks his phone and the
answers it as he has a
phone call. He climbs
down from the wall and
walks off. Camera follows
him round

263
264
265
266
267
268

Pat walks off

screen

Mid shot

Mid shot

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270
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280
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285
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300

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333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347

Pat has walked off down

the path after climbing
down from the wall

348

Establishing shot. Pat

walking towards the
camera

349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362

Mid shot

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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367
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369
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372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382

Pat walks into the

camera so it blacks out

Extreme close
up

383

It starts off blacked out.

Pat slowly walks towards
a statue

Mid shot

384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392

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426
427
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439
440
441

Pat kneels down

Mid shot

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Liaising with client (write notes on discussions between you and your client)

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet