HOW TO MAKE AN ANIMATION MOVIE

Animation film making is a very long process which involves lot of manpower, resources, and efforts.

Animation film production is divided into 3 Stages:

1) Pre-Production 2) Production 3) Post Production

PRE-PRODUCTION

In simple words pre-production means planning. This is an important and most decisive stage in animation film production. If you lack in this process than film may face problems on later stages, so don’t skip any part of this stage this stage is the base for the animation film. This pre-production is further divided into parts:

Story development: Animation film production begins with a concept which is turned into a story where writer describes all the major scenes in an order.

Script: After story completion, script is created. Script is written document for the film in which Script writer defines actions, dialogues, camera angles, action sequence etc.

Storyboarding: Then next, script goes to the hands of storyboard artist. Storyboards are graphical presentation of the story such as a series of images or illustrations according to the script. In simple terms storyboard is like Comic that serves as the blueprint for the action and camera angles.

Concept Art: In this part of Concept Artists designs the characters, Sets, Props according to the script. In this stage only character design will be finalized and the blueprints/model sheets of the characters and sets will be sent to 3d modeling department.

Voice Recording: In animation voices are recorded before the animation process. Recording is done is earlier because it gives animators time duration that will be taken by the character to speak the dialogues or words.

PRODUCTION

Now that the pre-production stage is finished the film project enters the production phase. This is the stage where we take care of all the aspects designing and developing the models, props, sets, rigging, animation lighting and effects.

This stage is divided into following stages:

Modeling: The blueprints/model sheets designed by the concept artist are now turned into 3d model; in this process only a modeler will sculpt the facial expressions according to the characteristics of the each model. In this phase all the sets, props like chair, table etc are also sculpted. Once the models are approved it will be sent to the texturing and rigging departments.

Texturing: In this part, texture artist will paint colors and textures to the gray models either from scratch or using images.

Rigging: This is the process of adding bones to the characters, adding hinges (controllers) which the animator will use to make the character move.

Layouts: In this process, layout team will place Characters, sets and props according to the virtual camera to create a shot or you can say multiple versions of shots to the editors. Only after this stage the final cut is sent to the animation department.

Animation: Now the animators will start bringing characters to life, they will choreograph the moves using the 3d animation software’s like Maya, 3ds Max etc. They will animate the characters with the help of controllers and hinges created by the rigging artists.

Lighting: After the animation and camera moves is completed next step is lighting, every scene is lit according to the mood and emotions.  

Effects: The effects team will produce the effects such as fire, smoke, dust, water effects, explosions etc.

Rendering: This is the process where all the computer information from the 3d software is transformed into a single frame and each frame takes long time to render it can be 1hour to 1 day long depending on the complexity of scene and remember 1 frame is 1/24 of a second.

Post-Production

This is the final stage of Film making, in this step we take care of compositing scenes, sound and video editing.

Compositing: Compositing departments are responsible for combining render passes to create a final rendered image. Further they add some lighting and effects required for the scene.

Sound and Video Editing: In this final step all music designed, voice over (lip sync) and footage is arranged to create a flawless film or you can say the final product.

Software Used:

Graphics: Adobe Photoshop

2d animation: Adobe Flash, After Effects

3d animation: Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Houdini, Real Flow

Compositing: Nuke, Fusion, Shake, Autodesk Flame, After Effects

Images Used : Tata Elxsi Pvt Ltd., Film: Roadside Romeo