Animation – The production process
3D ANIMATION FILM MAKING PROCESS
PRE PRODUCTION
Concept: This is the total story of the film said in one word or a phrase.
Story Line: This is the total story of the film said in one Sentence.
Synopsis: This is the total story of the film said in one Paragraph.
Script: This is the total story of the film written in the form of a novel.
Screenplay: This is the total story of the film described with Cinematics. This is the blueprint of the film.
Shooting Script: This is where the total film is dismantled into shots. This is basically the process of the shot division with particular Camera Angles and Movements.
Storyboarding: The shooting script is visually represented on the storyboard.
Character Development:: This is where the total psyche of the character is studied and the character is modeled or sketched as per the requirement and the Model sheet is prepared.
Layouts: They are the functional platforms of the action in any shot. They are made according to the decided camera position or the movement with the perception in mind.
Scene Planning: This is where the action in a particular scene is decided and the reference point is the Art Directors Sketch.
PRODUCTION
Sound Break Down: In the animation film making it’s a reverse process of fragmentation of Music or dialogue as per the timing on the dope sheet.
Timing/Dope Sheet: This is the process by which the total timing of the film for every shot is decided and fragmented.
Art Director Sketch: Before beginning to work on the animation the ratio of the action is decided and planned here.
Staging: This is the where drawings of all the possible movements of a particular characters in the entire shot are made.
Extremes: These are the destination keys in a shot.
Modeling: This is a process where the models of the characters are made on computer generated software.
Texturing: Here the physical features of the model and the environments are given proper textures needed as per the requirement.
Preview: The animation is rendered in a low resolution to check the mistakes.
POST – PRODUCTION
Render output: This is the final output taken from the computer on a higher resolution base.
Keys: These are the frames where there is a motion or major changes in a shot.
Break Downs: These keys control minor changes in action or timing.
Sync: This is where actions are paralleled with the sound.
Rough Edit: This stage involves a preliminary film edit where probable cuts are lined up.
Visual Effects: Here the Computer generated effects are incorporated into the shots.
Final Edit: Final trimming and transitions are given while there is a final Cut.
Re-Recording: Audio special effects are given to the visuals.
Transfer: The Outputs here are transferred onto Celluloids / Film Strips.
Telecine: The Positives are made with gamma corrections.
Marriage Print: The final Print of the film is finalized.
Distribution: This is the commercial process where the film is sold to Distributors