ANIMATION SCRIPTWRITING

FADE IN. Welcome to your first class! Begin your journey by familiarizing yourself with the art of storytelling and the history and culture of the animation medium. Get your creative juices flowing with an interactive discussion of your ideas.

• The art of storytelling
• History & culture of animation & screenwriting
• Live action vs. animation
• Why animation?
• WORKSHOP: Brainstorming session - discuss original story ideas for feedback

ASSIGNMENT 1: Apply feedback from the workshop to original ideas.

Structure is the building block of any great story. Delve into core concepts from three-act structure, plot points, and the turning point to resolution. You will also explore effective scene sequencing and get a few tips and tricks for doling. 

• Structure: core concepts
• Scene sequencing
• Doling tips
• Film structural analysis
• MINI-WORKSHOP: Break a film and a scene down to their core structures

To create an intriguing and immersive world, you need to understand it! Dive into effective practices and conduct genre research through immersion. Go one step further and discover how to subvert expectations in stories.

• Effective research practices
• Genre research
• Subverting expectations
• Tone across story types

Who is your character? What makes them ‘tick’? This class will help you answer those questions as you gain a deep understanding of what drives a character, from motivations and intentions to conflicts. Learn how to further enhance characterization and convey subtext through dialogue.

• Character motivations, intentions, obligations, and conflicts
• Enhancing characterization
• Conveying subtext through dialogue
• EXERCISE: Look at clips of Tim Allen: Galaxy Quest vs Toy Story

ASSIGNMENT 2: Draw up a character profile using the knowledge gained from the class

When it comes to character arcs, consistency is key! Learn how to develop consistent character arcs and backstories across multiple episodes. You will also explore management of ongoing subplots and world development across a series.

• Feature films and serialized & episodic formats
• Consistent character arcs & backstory
• Ongoing subplots & world development
• Episodic stories & season-wide narratives
• Story types: scope & scale

ASSIGNMENT 3: Change the format of your original story concepts. E.g. feature film to TV.

Let’s get practical! Follow your instructor as he breaks down the pilot of Avatar: The Last Airbender and its overall arc to demonstrate what makes a good episode.

Delve into the uses of dialogue, how to make it compelling and believable, and the differences between dialogue and exposition. Further, explore when to and not to use narration and how to choose an effective narrator.

• Dialogue: purpose & use
• Believable & compelling dialogue
• Dialogue vs. exposition
• Animation dialogue vs live-action
• When to use narration & choosing a narrator

Get those creative juices flowing as you complete two exercises: first, rewrite bad scenes using improv pitches, and second, write scenes from an actual movie.

ASSIGNMENT 4: Write dialogue for an original animated character, focusing on the character’s design, personality, and the overall tone of the animation.

How do you translate the visual image in your head to the page? Discover how to compress large descriptions, write engaging action, and how to communicate through objects.

• Compressing descriptions
• Showing vs. telling
• Writing action & knowing your world
• Communication through objects
• Setting tone & mood

ASSIGNMENT 5: You will: 1.) Write a detailed description of a scene from your original story, then 2.) rewrite the scene using concise language.

Take a step into the real world. Explore the dynamics of working in a creative team, communicating your ideas, and managing multiple projects and deadlines.

• Creative team dynamics
• Effective team communication
• Time management & prioritization
• Problem-solving

The elevator pitch: quick, concise, compelling. Become a master of grabbing attention with loglines and hooks and tailoring pitches to specific audiences. Learn what studios and networks look for and how to use character sketches and concept art as visual assistants.

• Developing strong pitches
• What studios & networks look for
• Tailoring pitches to different audiences
• Visual aids

It’s the final episode! This class will prepare you for the animation industry, from exploring different career paths, developing a strong portfolio, and interviewing tips to building connections by attending workshops and online platforms. Now it’s your time to fly! ROLL END CREDITS.

• Animation industry landscape
• Portfolio development
• Professional networking
• Interview tips
• Final Q&A

FINAL PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT:
Create a pitch document for original concepts. Include an introduction, synopsis, discussion of characters, filmmaking elements, and conclusion.