Storyboard Overview

About Storyboarding

Storyboards are a visual representation of the narrative, shot by shot. The anatomy of a storyboard is PROJECT -> SEQUENCE -> SCENE -> PANEL.

Who is part of the board team?

The Storyboard Artists are the individuals who will be creating and pitching the storyboards.

The Storyboard Supervisor is in charge of handouts, initial notes stages, and revisions made during editorial. The Supervisor exists to help bring the Director's visions come to life. Additionally, they will be executing boards alongside the Storyboard Artists. They will also assist during the animation process for reshoot discussions. This is the person that the Storyboard Artists will be directly reporting to.

The Directors will have final approval for finished boards to be sent to editorial and animatic lock. They make sure the vision of the production is solid and supervise across all departments. They have final say on decisions.

The Production Coordinator and Pipeline TD will be available for any production or technical needs.

What programs can be used?

Storyboard Pro and Photoshop are recommended, but not necessary. (If you have access to Storyboard Pro, it is highly recommended to use to make your life easier!) You are free to use whatever program you need, as long as you keep your boards in 16:9 and are able to export each panel individually. You may also do your boards traditionally if you need; just make sure that you are able to submit your files digitally with correct naming conventions.

Footage is all shot in 16:9 and then letterboxing to 1920x816 in post. Please refer to the Prop Safe template to make sure to secure the integrity of important elements and compositional layouts. If you would like to make certain scenes in different final resolutions for style and emphasis, please feel free! (A good example of this is Samurai Jack)

1. Initial Review - Storyboard Supervisor receives script and meets with Directors for specifics.

2. Handout - Storyboard Supervisor hands out sections of script to Storyboard Artists. The Storyboard Artists will then start work on thumbnails.

3. First Pitch - Storyboard Artists pitch their thumbnails to Storyboard Supervisor for notes.

4. First Notes Process - Storyboard Artists address notes given during first pitch and flesh out boards (making sure boards have as much clarity as possible)

5. Second Pitch - Storyboard artists pitch to Supervisor and Directors. Final notes are given.

6. Second Notes Process - Storyboard Artists address final notes given during second pitch and finish boards (finish final cleans)

7. Submit for Editorial - Final exports, batch send panels to animatic editor, turn in finished master file of board to Production Coordinator and Storyboard Supervisor.

Editorial Pipeline

8. Initial Editorial Cut - Animator Editors take submitted panels and cut together initial timing to dialogue, music, and sound effects available.

9. First Animatic Review - Storyboard Supervisor sits with Animatic Editor to review first cut. Notes are given in regards to timing and board revisions needed.

10. First Animatic Notes Process - Animatic Editors apply notes given by Storyboard Supervisor. Storyboard Supervisor sends over new panels of board revisions to Animatic Editors to be applied as well.

11. Second Animatic Review - Directors and Storyboard Supervisor sit with Animatic Editor to review second cut. Second round of notes are given.

12. Second Animatic Notes Process - Animatic Editors apply notes given by Directors. Storyboard Supervisor finishes and sends over new panels of board revisions to be included in final cut.

13. Submit for Final Editorial Animatic Lock - Animatic Editor submits final export of animatic for lock, turn in finished master file to Production Coordinator and Storyboard Supervisor.