Animation Unleashed Two Page Sample

CHAPTER 7: IDEAS, SCRIPTS, AND STORYBOARDS UNCOVERING CORE IDEAS LOOK FOR IDEAS WHICH INCORPORATE ANIMATION’S STRENGTHS. INTRODUCTION The first phase of creating an animation is exciting but a little scary: so many possibilities leading to so many decisions with so few markers to guide the way. Where does that first idea come from and what do we do with it once it’s been found? What’s the purpose of an animation script? And what goes into a storyboard? This section examines such questions and in so doing, uncovers key points to help you on your journey from raw idea to animation-ready storyboard. BASIC Ideas which take advantage of animation’s strengths (as shown in Part 1: General Principles) can be found all around you, literally right under your feet or lurking in your kitchen cupboard. These are the ideas which can be found in the hidden worlds of insects, animals, small appliances, etc. The discovery of an overlooked world is the beginning point of such films as Bug’s Life and Finding Nemo.

Hidden worlds have several built-in advantages. They automatically encourage fantasy by focusing on non-human characters. They allow us to see our own world from a new point of view. They often come with built-in analogies. And they inspire fanciful, unexpected action. For example, Finding Nemo explores the hidden world of fish, a world where open water equals danger; a fish tank is like a prisoner of war camp and a strong ocean current is as much an excuse for a joy ride as a way to travel from A to B. ADVANCED Acute observation can uncover even more obscure worlds: life in a drop of water, for example, or at the bottom of a handbag. You can also look for hidden facets of established fantasy worlds, such as the private lives of well-known characters like the Easter Bunny or Dracula. Sometimes the characters you uncover in a hidden world work better when placed in an alien environment. This “fish out of water” approach could give us an old-fashioned porcelain doll fighting for attention in the modern world of Bratz and Barbie

Hidden worlds encourage fantasy and allow us to see our world from a new point of view.

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