But first, what is a storyboard? It is a series of drawn panels that show the various aspects of an animated or live-action filmed sequence. For today’s purpose, I’m sticking with animation. From close-ups and camera movements, to special effects and character dialog, it is here that entire productions are produced before committing to any final work on a project. It could prove costly in the end if any sequence goes wrong (i.e. cut for time, problems arise, just doesn’t work or a multitude of other reasons).

In this case, Storyboard Pro is the solution.

This software helps anyone from amateurs to professionals layout their animated projects in a manner that will put their minds at ease. In this case, I will classify myself as “the aspiring storyboard artist” and will point out some “professionals” who have and will use this software for their creative projects.

Okay, it is time to be straight-forward with the readers of this article. For those of you who have read both INTRO articles, for Storyboard Pro and Harmony, for this one particular paragraph you might be experiencing deja vu. In this space would have been a couple of quotes from a talented animator/storyboard artist but he was called back to the drawing board. Literally. And he could not participate in this article at this time. But I am holding this spot when he will be available. I respect his abilities, time and talent. So, when he can and he will, I will update this article and place his thoughts here. Thank you for your patience in this matter, I now return you to your regularly scheduled reading on this subject.

I will admit I have not met any of the creators of the following shows I shall be pointing out but this list is quite impressive. From SpongeBob SquarePants, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, Archer, The Simpsons, South Park, Rick and Morty & even Hannibal (I sideswiped and slipped in a live-action show), storyboarding is essential when plotting out the story, gags, camera shots and pacing of a show. I have watched all of the TV shows over my years and I will say I have watched each and every one of these series (maybe not every single episode). And when I needed software like StoryBoard Pro, I can appreciate why these shows used this software.

Now, sit down and relax for a few minutes while I extrapolate some key features of the software. Are you comfy? Let me begin then. I will not ramble on. I’ll make them short and sweet, so you can spend your time using the software yourself.

Importing scripts make it easy to annotate dialogue in the panels, audio (albeit, scratch tracks or final audio) tracks and other Image files that will make up each panel.

Layers allow for the versatility to combine 2D drawings with 3D images or backgrounds, to give an extra layer of depth.

The drawing tools react naturally and are responsive to the user whether using a graphics tablet or a Cintiq. The drawing tools include brushes of all styles and are customizable. There is also easy color insertion/alteration and replacement of characters and objects created for the project.

Project management is a breeze with all the tools, layers and formats for exporting at your fingertips.

Outputting the completed animatics is easy. Editing camera angles, panels and timing are trouble-free so that it doesn’t bottle-neck you down during production.

Stream-lined, easy to access tools help creatives create without getting bogged down with having to learn all of the tools and menus just to get started on a project.

With a package like this, a storyboard artist never has to leave StoryBoard Pro, since it has all the tools one needs to start and finish the storyboard project. I know I’ll be using this, guaranteed. Okay, #BRADYtheBETTA, ready to get animated?

The post Part One: StoryBoard Pro: In The Beginning appeared first on essencecartoon.

But, first, what is animation? It is the concept of bringing still images to produce the effect of movement, or as some, if not all, in the industry say, the illusion of life. Series of drawings, which when filmed in succession, and replayed, bring forth action. When creating this illusion, I will have to point out a book; some call THE book for helping to create animation. It is called Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life, written by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas. They were Two of Walt Disney’s “Nine Old Men,” master animators who put together this great book that to this day is used as a reference and overall book to thumb through over and over. I know I wore out one copy and had to buy another as it almost fell apart in my hands from use. Okay, I got sidetracked. But I will add, if one is interested in doing digital animation all of the principles discussed in this book would be beneficial and should be on your shelf as a reference, regardless if doing 2D or 3D animation.

I have watched an impressive amount of hours of animation, and I am discovering more and more every day. With software, such as Harmony, and the help content online that can be found in this digital age, those hours increase, let’s me start with a thousandfold (Estimates could be much more). With a list of studios that utilize Harmony, it is mind boggling at the hours of content that they generate. The likes of FOX, Dreamworks, Film Roman, Nelvana, Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Universal, Lucasfilm, Ltd. Cartoon Network and Disney, have integrated this software into their daily workflow. And with these names on the list of users, it rates highly as an “industry standard piece of software.”

Okay, it is time to be straight-forward with the readers of this article. For people who have read both INTRO articles for Storyboard Pro and Harmony, this is one particular paragraph where you might be experiencing deja vu. In this space would have been a couple of quotes from a talented animator/storyboard artist but he was called back to the drawing board. Literally. And he could not participate in this article at this time. But I am holding this spot when he will be available. I respect his abilities, time and talent. So, when he can and he will, I will update this article and place his thoughts here. Thank you for your patience in this matter, I now return you to your regularly scheduled reading on this subject.

Harmony, software that brings together all of these aspects of traditional animation plus a multitude and more digital features and puts it into one animation package that is powerful yet easy enough to use for any scale project.

Harmony has an elegant User Interface and Tools. Sketching is as if you had a traditional animation desk with peg board disks (which can be digitally rotated) like that at classic studios of Disney Animation or Warner Brothers. Draw in layers help you simulate the flipping of sheets in an onion-skin interface to animate. Multi-plane and Camera Moves create amazing sequences all done within the software. Effects can be applied, enhancing the look of animation once initial sequences are done, to give it that extra flair of design. Rendering in popular formats gives it that full professional quality your project deserves. You can export formats to all popular viewing standards. Pipeline Integration allows for movement through the entire project that won’t cause a backlog because one part can’t handle the output.

And with a package like this, the animator doesn’t have to worry about needing multiple software to complete their creation. Here is where I’ll be getting into a groove and getting the movement I need to bring #BRADYtheBETTA to life.

Okay. What I meant to say was to give #BRADYtheBETTA, the finesse he so deserves for his animation debut.

Well, I better get back to the drawing board. The digital drawing board and draw some life into this smart aleck fish.

So long for now.

The post Part Two: Harmony: A Novice Approach To Animation appeared first on essencecartoon.