Short and simple, I'm a writer who knows nothing about the process of animation. I'de love to collaborate with you amazingly talented people and I want to get it right. When writing for an animator, what should I keep in mind to make sure my submissions are condusive?
What goes into planning as far as screen direction? Environment settings? Action? Are things like outdoor environments harder to do that indoor? Should I avoid explosions because they are difficult to animte?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Also, if anyone has ideas they want to flesh out let me know!
\Should I avoid explosions because they are difficult to animte?
now, i'm not entirely too experienced as an animator, but as a writer you should only consider the writing. any good animator can take your story and turn it into an animation, difficulty shouldn't have anything to do with it as long as time, and quality work is put into it.
I think it all depends on your styles and how they blend (animation and writing). If your animation is not great and you are trying daunting work such as explosions and car crashes, then perhaps you can play off of the lack of reality in the animation, like South Park for example.
As for myself, even though i'm just starting out, I try to keep little movement and if a character has to move, I will make him do it swiftly, more like jumping than actually cycling a walk. I would try to make your first script less than 3 pages, and for dialogue, try to be natural, maybe not following word for word but improving a little (too much is dangerous!) I think one of the hardest things is coming up with a 1 minute long story with the perfect amount of actual animation. Maybe start out with like a convo and end up with some quick action at the end. Also I would look at artists like SpeedoSausage or KawaiiPirhanna because they don't have too much complicated movements, but just enough to get their points across. If you have any more questions feel free in inbox me! :)
No crowd scenes, no car chases and you're good.
At 3/11/13 02:33 PM, hopeless87 wrote: Short and simple, I'm a writer who knows nothing about the process of animation. I'de love to collaborate with you amazingly talented people and I want to get it right. When writing for an animator, what should I keep in mind to make sure my submissions are condusive?
What goes into planning as far as screen direction? Environment settings? Action? Are things like outdoor environments harder to do that indoor? Should I avoid explosions because they are difficult to animte?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Also, if anyone has ideas they want to flesh out let me know!
Ive directed over a 60 episodes of an animated tv series. I can tell you that working with the animators/animation director can make or break a story/deadlines.
time is always a problem. Animators never have enough of it. They want to be challenged and try to push their skill levels, so they normally would automatically say yes to any request.
"ok so ninjas do backflips out of the eyes of a dragon who is made out of gnomes, while the dragon is riding a bicycle in hell... during a backstreet boy concert while its raining frogs....... can you animate that?
animator: sure!
tips:
1: save the amazing/difficult animation for the key scene in the script. plan this with your animator/director.
2: depending on the style of animation "talk is cheap" use (close up/over the shoulder) dialogue where possible its fun to animate and does not have to take a long time to produce.
3: "less is more" the less a character performs the more funny it is when he eventually does.
4: use establishing shots with limited animation to cut down on man hours.
5: dont change location unless its super important to the story or narrative. every new location requires design/layout/colour theory/continuity.
6: gags/punchlines can be subtle or extravagant have a good balance of both so as not to heap too much work on the animators.
7: go through the storyboards with the animators!!!! give the animators the first draft of the storyboard then help them massage the narrative back into the boards. Animators are masters of expression and timing so listen to them but make sure they dont loose your plot in the process.
8: dont write unnecessary action into the story unless you have studio ghibli making your animation. getting in and out of cars does not need to be seen as much as heard.
9: use multi-layered story gags; seen in background characters actions. the main character expresses concern for the safety of his men while a supporting character fumbles a grenade in the background.
10: write descriptive emotive scenes instead of using dialogue. man looks sternly at his daughter for a beat as we slowly zoom in on his face, as the room flickers with light from the fire.
11: dont use too many characters. "we have 10 pets for the 10 characters because the pets appeal to the younger demographic. "
12: write very descriptive scene descriptions. The characters find themselves in a room.
13: Animators make things better!!! animators have watched more cartoons than you, they have memorised thousands of gags/expressions and actions. They can mentally visualise what you cannot. They can turn a unfunny gag into a masterpiece. Let them try!
14: plan, plan then plan some more! no re-writes after the final draft!!! what might take you a few hours to edit might have taken the animators months to animate! be respectful to the labour of love
15: there is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid answers.
At 3/11/13 02:33 PM, hopeless87 wrote: Short and simple, I'm a writer who knows nothing about the process of animation. I'de love to collaborate with you amazingly talented people and I want to get it right. When writing for an animator, what should I keep in mind to make sure my submissions are condusive?
What goes into planning as far as screen direction? Environment settings? Action? Are things like outdoor environments harder to do that indoor? Should I avoid explosions because they are difficult to animte?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Also, if anyone has ideas they want to flesh out let me know!
Keep it simple, but fun for whoever you hire, yes i say hire cause that the other point, pay that person, at least a small amount, but pay him. The animation process is really long and tedious, people get bored easily so try to talk to that person a lot, and keep him or her interested in the project.
The planning will be up to him/her, whoever is animation or doing the main directing. Explosions, hard scenes and all that depends on the animator, i know some that love to animate hard stuff and time consuming stuff, but i know others that dont
At 3/11/13 02:33 PM, hopeless87 wrote: Short and simple, I'm a writer who knows nothing about the process of animation. I'de love to collaborate with you amazingly talented people and I want to get it right. When writing for an animator, what should I keep in mind to make sure my submissions are condusive?
What goes into planning as far as screen direction? Environment settings? Action? Are things like outdoor environments harder to do that indoor? Should I avoid explosions because they are difficult to animte?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Also, if anyone has ideas they want to flesh out let me know!
Write anything you want to happen an animator will bring it to life as long as they have the skill with a seasoned animator by your side it wont be a problem. Just find an animator look at his or her work and see if you like what they can do send them a draft of what you have written and be open to suggestions from said animator.
At 3/11/13 02:33 PM, hopeless87 wrote: Short and simple, I'm a writer who knows nothing about the process of animation. I'de love to collaborate with you amazingly talented people and I want to get it right. When writing for an animator, what should I keep in mind to make sure my submissions are condusive?
What goes into planning as far as screen direction? Environment settings? Action? Are things like outdoor environments harder to do that indoor? Should I avoid explosions because they are difficult to animte?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Also, if anyone has ideas they want to flesh out let me know!
I'm sure someone else said it, but it begs repeating. Don't sacrifice your story for the sake of easiness. If you have a story you believe in, find an animator who believes in it, and they will make it happen.
1. Keep your writing concise.
2. Everything has a meaning. Don't write any action or dialogue that isn't vital to the story in some way.
3. Minimize the amount of characters.
4. Minimize the amount of difficult scenes per project. Don't have 4 detailed dragon battles in the same project, for example.
5. Sometimes you don't need dialogue to convey a certain message or emotion.
6. Be very descriptive.
At 4/4/13 08:18 PM, SecBedProd wrote:At 3/11/13 02:33 PM, hopeless87 wrote: Short and simple, I'm a writer who knows nothing about the process of animation. I'de love to collaborate with you amazingly talented people and I want to get it right. When writing for an animator, what should I keep in mind to make sure my submissions are condusive?I'm sure someone else said it, but it begs repeating. Don't sacrifice your story for the sake of easiness. If you have a story you believe in, find an animator who believes in it, and they will make it happen.
What goes into planning as far as screen direction? Environment settings? Action? Are things like outdoor environments harder to do that indoor? Should I avoid explosions because they are difficult to animte?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Also, if anyone has ideas they want to flesh out let me know!
Despite what I just said, I also agree with this poster. My previous post was for adjusting to the needs of your animator. If you really, truly believe in your story, then make little to no sacrifices with the story itself and find someone who's willing to adjust to your own needs.
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