STORYBOARDING FOR ANIMATION

Kick things off by connecting with Chris, aligning on class expectations, and mapping out the road ahead for your upcoming assignments.

• Instructor intro
• Class expectations
• Syllabus & assignments overview

See what it takes to thrive as a professional story artist and learn how to translate real-life observation into compelling visual narratives.

• Story artist roles
• Opportunities in animation & associated expectations
• Drawing from life
• Workshop: Telling your story

Assignment #1: Story Ideas
Think of at least three story ideas for the final project.

Learn the importance of creating compelling characters for any story and explore methods of tracking your characters’ emotional journeys while storyboarding.

• Well-defined characters
• Case Study: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
• How to track character arcs in sequences
• Case Study: Overwatch Short, The Last Bastion
• Capturing gesture & translating emotions
• Demo: Gesture drawing

Optional Assignment: Character Bio
For the final project, develop a main character bio and their character arc.

Learn how to create and use visual appeal for characters, settings, and compositions.

• Shorthand design
• Design principles for original characters
• Composition
• Workshop: Breaking down existing characters into shorthand designs

Optional Assignment: Character & Composition
Design your main character and create an interesting composition with them. Compare this to your first assignment.

Think like a director by decoding cinematic language, choosing impactful shots, and analyzing professional film sequences to command your audience’s attention.

• Cinema as art & expression for storytelling
• Shot terminology & examples
• Stringing shots together
• The importance of film study
• Workshop: Shot analysis

Assignment #2: Film Study
Complete a film study of the clip from the workshop or a scene of your choice.

Learn how to visually deconstruct a script, simplify complex characters into foundational shapes, and anchor your narrative using strategic beat boards.

• Approaching a script
• Gathering research & reference
• Beginning with beat boards
• Demo: Beat boards

Assignment #3: Beat Board
Create beat boards for at least one of your ideas for the final project.

Unlock the drawing techniques needed to nail depth and scale while learning how to tailor your thumbnail sketches to specific genres like action, comedy, or drama.

• Character & story analysis
• Point of view
• Styles: Action, comedy, drama
• Thumbnails & solving storytelling puzzles
• Perspective tips & tricks

Assignment #4: Shot List
Choose your final idea and develop a shot list for your final project.

See how storyboarding evolved from hand-drawn beatboards to digital animatics. No matter the medium, the art of pitching boards remains timeless.

• Brief history of storyboarding
• Importance of pitching
• Demo: Board pitch
• Photoshop & Storyboard Pro
• Being a team player
• Workshop: Story revisions

Optional Assignment: Story Revision
Use the files from the workshop and address the fixes.

Let’s simulate a real animation studio milestone by pitching your mid-way progress to peers, gathering constructive critiques, and refining your creative direction.

• Workshop: Thumbnail pitch
• Sharing your work
• Giving meaningful feedback

Embrace the iterative process by prioritizing narrative clarity over superficial polish as you elevate your initial thumbnails into rough storyboards.

• Sifting through notes & assembling an action plan
• Translating thumbnails into roughs
• Master shots
• Demo: Creating master shots
• Workshop: Reviewing thumbnails

Assignment #5: Action Plan
Write out your plan to implement the notes you’ve received from the last two workshops into your final project.

Learn high-level time management tips to prioritize your workload and apply final finishes to the most crucial moments of your story.

• Clear drawings
• Tips & tricks for final boards
• Time management
• Demo: Thumbnail to final
• Guest Speaker: Director/Head of Story

Optional Assignment: Polish the Moment
Pick the most important moment in your story and fully polish that section.

Curate a high-impact, quality-driven portfolio strategy that highlights your unique strengths and leaves a lasting impression on recruiters.

• Rules of thumb for portfolios & pieces
• Quality over quantity
• Website options
• Guest Speaker: Recruiter

Assignment #6: Portfolio Plan
Develop a plan for creating a portfolio website.

See the bigger picture of where storyboarding fits within the broader studio pipeline and explore how emerging industry trends will shape your future career.

• Storyboarding in the animation pipeline
• Casting story artists
• Studio & peer expectations
• Future of animation & storyboarding
• Guest Speaker: Manager/Producer

Assignment #7: Final Project – Storyboard Sequence
Prepare your final project for review.

Step into the spotlight to present your final project to the class, gaining critical final feedback in a collaborative, professional review session.

• Workshop: Final review

Celebrate the finish line, tie up loose ends, and pick Chris's brain during an open-floor Q&A about the industry and your next steps.

• What’s next?
• Workshop: Q&A