Before the final animation is ready to be put on the screen, there is an important planning phase that helps animation artists conceptualize the animation, the pacing of the animation, and the overall storytelling aspect of the animation. This phase is called an animatic. An animatic is essentially a storyboard that has come to life with the use of frames, animation, sound, and transitions.
What Is an Animatic?
An animatic is a compilation of the storyboards in a video format. The frames are combined according to the timing, camera angles, and the story’s progression. At times, some voice-overs, sound effects, or background music may be added to the animatic. The images may not look great, but the emphasis is on understanding the story rather than making it look good.
Animatics enable the creators to visualize the progression of the story over a period of time rather than just viewing the story in static images.
Why Animatics Matter in Production
Animatics play an important role in the planning and problem-solving process. They can be used to identify pacing problems, awkward transitions, and unclear storytelling before investing heavily in the production. Any changes that are made at this point are extremely cost-effective when compared to making the changes during the actual production.
In a professional 3D animation pipeline process, animatics can be used as a way to ensure that all the people involved in the project, from the directors and animators to the clients themselves, are on the same page.
From Planning to Full Animation
While the focus of storyboards is on composition and camera placement, the addition of time is the key feature of animatics. They indicate the length of time that a shot is held for, how scenes transition into one another, and how movement is used in the scene. This is particularly important for commercials and animated productions.
Once an animatic has been approved, it can be used as a guide for the next phase of production. Animators can use it as a guide when creating motion, camera, and scene elements. This is a systematic process that is often employed in 3D Modelling and Animation projects.
Studios throughout the region, such as those within 3D Animation Malaysia, use animatics to ensure that the creative direction is always on track, as well as keeping the production schedule on schedule. To any professional Animation Company, animatics are not merely optional; they are a necessity.
Final Thoughts
Animatics assists in bringing ideas to life in the form of a visual roadmap that makes the story more understandable, fluid, and collaborative in the process. By animating the storyboard at the beginning of the process, the creators feel more assured about the story that is about to be created before actually investing in the production process. It is a small step, but it makes a big difference in the quality of the animation. Get in touch with our team to elevate your animation through thoughtful pre-production, ensuring your animated project flows seamlessly from start to finish.