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Animation
to Production
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3
Introduction
Animation is a fascinating art form. Unlike
any other medium, it allows filmmakers to
have complete artistic control over each im-
age. This book is designed to help beginners
in getting started, and to provide those with
advanced skills and “old hands” with new and
surprising insights.
In order to best achieve this, the focus of this
volume has been clearly defined: It is about
the animator in the role of filmmaker - that is,
the methodology of using artistic concepts to
implement content-specific objectives. With
regard to its content, the book follows rough-
ly the general production process of an ani-
mation film and later explores the individual
major production techniques and animation
styles.
4
Introduction
Hannes Rall
only 300 pages also requires that it be limited tions, which I designed specifically for the
to the major points. Nevertheless, I hope that book, are complemented with relevant ex-
we have succeeded in bringing transparency amples from the work of other animators.
to complex correlations, while still providing Therefore, thanks also to the numerous ani-
detailed and practical information. mation film makers, studios and animation
students, who have made pictures of their
work available to us.
This book is not a software manual, and for
good reason. For one thing, it would go be- The high-profile interviewees, who include
yond the realm of possibility, and secondly, Annie Award Winner Hans Bacher, star ani-
software in the field of animation is chang- mator Andreas Deja and Oscar Award Winner
ing too quickly and cannot be reflected VFX Volker Engel virtually represent a trium-
adequately in just one book. I believe that virate of the German animation film. Then
understanding the basic design concepts is there is the internationally renowned com-
much more important than the knowledge puter animation expert Isaac Kerlow, who
of purely technological details. Other media provides some thoughts about the future of
are much better suited for teaching this kind the medium.
of information, and our work gives relevant
pointers by naming and describing the cur- I sincerely hope that this book will enthuse
rently most important programs for every and inspire many aspiring and established
technique. animators to implement, expand, and even
challenge the methods shown. Because an-
The main focus, however, is clearly on artistic imation, like almost no other medium, de-
themes, which will continue to be relevant pends on the continuous progression and re-
for years to come. I am pleased and proud to invention: We are just at the beginning of an
be able to feature excellent contributors for exciting development. To use the words of a
special topics: Guest author Kathrin Albers is famous spacefaring colleague: “To infinity and
a renowned and award-winning animation beyond.“ Or something like that.
filmmaker and stop-motion expert as well
as Assistant Professor at the School of Art,
Design and Media at Nanyang Technological
University in Singapore. I also wish to thank
Melanie Beisswenger for her chapter. She is a Stuttgart, December 2014
professor for 3D computer animation at the
University of Applied Sciences, Mainz. Hannes Rall
My book designer Thomas Silbereis and I
have placed great emphasis on the optimal
combination of text and image, an essential
approach for this topic. Numerous illustra-
5
Guest authors
Prof. Melanie
Beisswenger teaches
computer animation
at the University of
Applied Sciences Mainz
and works also as a free-
lance 3D character an-
imator, supervisor and
director. She has been
involved in a variety of
Melanie Beisswenger international animation
and VFX films, including
the Academy Award winner "Happy Feet" and its
sequel "Happy Feet 2", the TV clip for the BioShock
game as well as "Iron Man 3" (Oscar nomination
for the category "Best Visual Effects"), “Riddick",
"The 7th Dwarf" and "Sapphire Blue", where she
was the lead animator for the digital character.
Her animated short film "There's Bliss in the Kiss"
has won many international awards.
Technical terms that are not explained in the text and are highlighted
as follows– example term – (in the respective chapter color), are
explained in the glossary.
6
Guest authors/Overview
Overview
4 Introduction Hannes Rall
6 Guest authors
7 Overview
Pre-Production
Appendices
320 Glossary
328 Bibliography/Picture Credits
334 Recommendations for additional reading
339 Extra: Future Animation Projects by Hannes Rall
7
Chapter 1.1
The topic of developing and writing a story and form of writing largely depend on it. Like-
for animation film is so broad and complex wise, let us never forget that movies are not
that it would require a book of its own and primarily made for oneself, but for an audi-
cannot be covered in its entirety here. There- ence. (Exceptions prove the rule.)
fore, we have provided a list of recommended Therefore, my story has to communicate
readings in the appendix. something, that is, it has to be comprehensi-
Nevertheless, I want to share some important ble (more on this later).
thoughts and principles: Assuming that this
is an in-house development, it usually starts The majority of this book’s readers will de-
with an idea, the beginning or end of a sto- velop short formats, i.e. animated short films,
ry - maybe just an image, a visual or narrative whether in a degree program, as an indepen-
situation. Now, before proceeding with the dent animation filmmaker or for a commis-
actual writing, it is important to have a clear sioned work. An animated short film should
idea on a few things: meet certain criteria:
Which format? (short film, feature film, TV The story must be visually attractive: many
series) outstanding animation short films are
Which narrative format? (Linear narrative based on a basic concept that is relatively
or experimental) simple, but visually concise.
Which target group? (For whom do I Why as animation film? Or: What makes
write/develop the story - who is the audi- my story more special when it is told as an
ence?) animation film? In other words: Tell a story
What do I want to communicate? (Do I in such a way, that it can only be told effec-
want to thrill my audience with enter- tively as an animation film.
tainment or unsettle them with experi- Clear and simple: A short film of 2 to 10
ments?) minutes in length does not allow for a
complex introduction of characters or an
Of course, the idea or content also deter- overload with too many narrative threads
mines or leads to the format. Deciding on a and/or characters.
final format is very important, since the style
8
Script and Storyboarding
There is this widespread misconception - par- farm, it is marked with bizarre events. Cy-
ticularly among beginners - that complexity clical narrative structure, which returns to
equals quality, when the opposite is actually the starting point of the narrative.
the case! Cordell Baker: "The Cat Came Back" (1988)
Telling a simple story in a comprehensible You cannot kill a cat, and an attempt to do
manner is often most difficult. You can cer- so will only make things worse. The story is
tainly compare this to a well-prepared dish. resolved in a very striking visual gag - very
More ingredients don’t improve the recipe; it specific to animation film!
is all about the correct balance of a few, but Christoph und Wolfgang Lauenstein:
properly selected ingredients! "Balance" (1989)
As with anything, there are exceptions here A downright exemplary idea for animation
as well, but as a rule, such films are made by film: Five characters must keep a free-float-
professionals with years of experience in visu- ing platform in constant balance to keep
al storytelling. from falling. A visually very striking idea,
I think it is important that you first learn to and very well suited as an allegory!
master the smaller and simpler structure by
applying the proper rules, before being able Analyzing well animated commercials can be
to modify or break those rules. very helpful as well: It is amazing how well
you can tell a story in 30 or 60 seconds, if you
Some examples of well-designed animation stick to the right narrative economy.
shorts with a relatively clear and simple struc-
ture are: A story for animation film, particularly for the
short form, is rarely developed as a classic
Michael Dudok de Wit: “Le Moine et le script, but often comes about exclusively as
Poisson” (1994) a storyboard:
A monk chasing a fish (with the chase be-
coming increasingly surreal).
Mark Baker: “The Hill Farm” (1989)
A day on a farm: When visitors from the
city disrupt the everyday life on an English
9
Chapter 1.1
What is a storyboard?
A storyboard is often de-
scribed as the "comic strip
version" of the script - this
works for a quick descriptive
explanation, but it is actually
not quite accurate:
10
Script and Storyboarding
COMIC STRIP
Comparison of Story-
boards and Comic Strips
by Hannes Rall
11
Chapter 1.1
12
Script and Storyboarding
TV
13
Chapter 1.1
14
Script and Storyboarding
Due to the so-called projection cut-off area storyboard illustrator can take into account
for film projectors as well as different screen the important image elements such as heads,
dimensions and standards for TV formats, it is etc., making sure that they are not placed at
important to take into account a certain "safe- the extreme edge of the format. If the sole
ty clearance" when configuring film images: purpose of the storyboard is to develop the
important image elements or components of story, then such technical factors can be com-
titles should not be positioned outside this “ti- pletely ignored. If, however, the storyboard is
tle safe area". This does not necessarily have to adopted almost unchanged as a layout, or if
be observed precisely in the storyboard, if the individual storyboard drawings are adopted
positions of the image elements are exactly as key frames, then it is safer to consider the
defined in a layout stage later. However, the respective cut-off areas from the beginning.
15
Chapter 1.1
A storyboard translates or develops the story how choosing different camera angles for the
for an animated film into the drawn version of individual shots can create an entirely differ-
the individual shots: It is about visual narra- ent impression of the same story.
tion, visual storytelling. Here is an example of
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
There is hardly a change in the camera’s angle: Quite differently here:
Although the camera changes between long, medium Dramatic/extreme lighting (e.g. the classic “horror
and close-up shots, it always remains roughly at eye level under-lighting") and highly varied camera angles
to the viewer and never “tilts” in perspective. The lighting (from above/below) are used: this creates the im-
of the scene is also very uniform and lacks dramatic pression of threat (down-shot [1]), suspense (silhou-
accents. Since the stylistic means create an emotionally ette, lighting [3]) and shock/horror (under-lighting,
neutral effect, it leaves the viewer with a documenta- up-shot [4]).
ry-style impression.
16
Script and Storyboarding
Assignment:
Create two versions of an identical or similar story, for example a com-
edy and a horror version. Use the above-mentioned stylistic means
such as camera angles, shot sizes and lighting/light and shadow.
An example for such a story might be:
A man/woman walking with a dog. The man/woman throwing a ball
and the dog returning it (or something else?).
You can also experiment by changing place and time: City or nature?
Night or day?
But start with those versions, which are set in a similar environment
and time, and only later try out bolder variations: In this way it
becomes clear, how much you can greatly change the effect of visual
storytelling with only limited resources!
Why a Storyboard?
For live-action film, shots are usually repeat- approximately when still in the storyboard
ed and sometimes covered with multiple format. Continuity and transitions between
cameras or camera angles. During the editing individual scenes can already be defined in
process, the director can then select the de- the storyboard.
sired versions and continuity from a surplus Last but not least, the storyboard is often the
of footage. For animation film, the process is crucial communication tool between film
very different: The elaborate frame-by-frame producers/authors and potential investors, on
production process generally does not allow the basis of which the approval of financing is
for the repeated production of scenes for cost decided: A script alone is not sufficient to ap-
reasons alone. Therefore, the film has to be ply for granting subsidies for animation films,
planned visually exact in advance, in order the same applies to private and commercial
not to lose time and money during the ac- investors. The storyboard is a relatively inex-
tual production process. It is equally import- pensive way to present the visual implemen-
ant that an animation film be edited at least tation of the story the most precise way.
17
Chapter 1.1
Because of this precise planning method, the the other hand, like Pixar's "Brave" (Andrews,
storyboard has also been used in live-action Chapman, 2012) still use storyboards: This is
filmmaking since the 40s and 50s, mainly for probably due to the fact that drawings have
visually elaborate productions and those as- an original expressive power that can present
sociated with special effects. The use of sto- the charm of a story in a much more attrac-
ryboards is now standard in complex feature tive manner.
film productions, but it is also being widely
replaced by so-called previsualization (short: Historically, the storyboard has been a medi-
previz) when it comes to the planning of um that was first invented and used for ani-
elaborate effects sequences or hybrid forms mated film and later was used increasingly for
of CG animation and live-action film. live-action film as well. The name comes from
the original form, where many small draw-
An animated TV series such as "Star Wars: The ings in the format of the film are pinned to a
Clone Wars" (Filoni, 2008-2014) is now exclu- board with needles.
sively developed using previz - storyboards The drawings represented the various shots
are no longer used. Newer CG animations, on of the film and enabled the production staff
18
Script and Storyboarding
Example:
Excerpts from the previz version of the student
film "Daisy" by Renald Taurusdi and Michael King
to examine and exchange them, or to replace
Sutanto, School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang
them quickly with new versions. This allowed Technological University Singapore, 2010.
for a constant evolution of the story process,
in which the story was continuously evolving
until, ultimately, a final version of the story in
drawn form had emerged.
19
Chapter 1.1
If you want to tell a linear story through film It is an established cinematic convention that
that the audience can understand, it is nec- the close-up of a face is followed by a shot
essary to speak the same language the au- that shows what that person sees.
dience understands: Since the introduction If you want to tell a traditionally structured
of the film medium, certain conventions of story, you will stick to these established rules
visual language have been established that and expand/modify them in a playful manner.
the audience can understand. By adhering to There are, of course, numerous examples, es-
these conventions with regard to shots and pecially from the recent past and postmod-
editing, the audience can follow the action. ernism, in which these rules were deliberate-
If these conventions are violated, the under- ly broken in order to achieve a certain effect.
standing of the events on the screen is made Masters of cinematics are able to integrate this
difficult or impossible. in such a way that the story is still - or maybe
even better - understood. This works, because
the breaks with convention are used deliber-
ately to support a certain narrative statement.
For beginners, however, it is imperative to
first familiarize themselves with the estab-
lished rules of the film language before they
can begin to purposefully override them.
Starting out, it is difficult enough to combine
all the skills needed to draw an attractively
designed and narrated storyboard that is
clear and comprehensible. You can compare
this to a jazz musician, who must first mas-
ter all the scales before he can begin to im-
provise at all. If your work is about a purely
improvisational, i.e. experimental animation
film, which is not designed to tell a conven-
tionally structured and intelligible story,
then these rules can be ignored. However,
many experimental abstract animation films
by masters such as Oskar Fischinger ("Mo-
tion Painting No.1", 1947) or Michel Gagné
("Sensology", 2010) have a sequential graph-
ic structure - which can certainly be planned
in and with storyboards. Graphic contrasts
A classic example is the editing of shot and reverse shot. and tension and relief through rhythmic
20
Script and Storyboarding
Composition
It is important to show exactly, what the viewer Important image elements are placed on "thirds". Contrast between
the diagonal lines and the vertical line of the right figure.
will later see on a movie or TV screen!
PERFECT SYMMETRY
Symmetry can
work very well!
21
Chapter 1.1
If a strong base
composition forms the
basis, ...
22
Script and Storyboarding
It is important to understand that compo- line thickness, density of detail and scaling
sition can not be regarded in isolation: The are used to achieve this effect.
idea is to choose the composition of a scene
so that it supports and highlights the appro- This can be seen in the following example:
priate content of the story. The design should In Figure1 , objects are placed in the fore-
ultimately benefit visual storytelling. Form ground as silhouettes, there is more detail
follows function. If that is achieved, then this at the mid-ground, which decreases with in-
alone will often result in a good composi- creasing distance. Likewise, the line thickness
tion, since it is based on a well thought-out is varied to emphasize the essentials (thick
concept. Successful compositions are usually lines) and to mark the less important "acces-
based on an organized system for optimal sories" (thin lines, gray/blue outlines in the
communication of the image content: Artis- background).
tic styling means and tools such as lighting,
In Figure2, none of these sty-
listic means are used; each
element is treated the same
way: There is no system, the
composition appears confus-
ing and not well organized
- and was therefore not suc-
cessful.
Additional note:
Of course, there may be ar-
tistic reasons to have a shot
appear "flat" and "one-di-
mensional", perhaps even
Figure 1 confusing - there are excep-
tions to the rule.
Always important:
The compositional imple-
mentation must meet the
artistic/content-related in-
tention!
Figure 2
23
Chapter 1.1
FRAMING
24
Script and Storyboarding
Convex / Concave
Round / Rectangular
25
Chapter 1.1
Dynamic Composition
Animation film is not about static compo- moves through a scene, or the camera moves
sitions: A composition can change within a horizontally, vertically, or zooms: Ideally,
scene, be it through tracking shots or, in the there should always be a well-designed im-
case of animation film, by metamorphoses. age composition at any point within a scene.
Unlike, for example, in a comic, a character
26
Script and Storyboarding
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27
Chapter 1.1
Break in continuity:
Different clothing of the
same character for implied si-
multaneity and for the same
environment leads to irrita-
tion (= perceived as an error
by the audience).
Or:
Used deliberately by the film-
maker in order to suggest a
"leap in time" in contrast to
visual conventions.
28
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