MODULE 4

STORYBOARDING
WHAT IS STORYBOARD?

• A storyboard is a key part of animation and filmmaking. A key

step for any aspiring director with an idea in their head, a
storyboard should capture the essence and structure of the
planned animation in visual form
WHY DO WE USE STORYBOARDS?

• Tried and tested method. Animators and filmmakers started using

storyboards in the 1930s and continue to do so to this day.
Though the technologies involved have changed hugely, the basic
principle of an animated storyboard remains.
• Captures a vision. Until the storyboard stage, an animated film
exists largely in the heads and imaginations of its creators —
namely the director and scriptwriter. The storyboard is the first
time that vision is presented visually, as a basic narrative.
• Combines words and pictures. Films are made of words and
pictures. And at the storyboard stage, a story artist (as they’re
called at Disney) or board artist, can collaborate with a writer to
see how the two mediums will come together to match the
director’s vision.
WHY DO WE USE STORYBOARDS?

• Scene Planning: It provides guidance for scene composition, camera

angles, transitions, and character movements, streamlining the animation
workflow.
• Collaboration Tool: Storyboards facilitate collaboration between
departments like scriptwriters, animators, sound designers, and editors by
offering a clear framework to work within.
• Creative Exploration: Teams can experiment with different ideas, visual
styles, and storytelling approaches on the storyboard, ensuring the final
animation captures the intended vision.
STORYBOARD VS GRAPHIC COMIC

• Storyboard: Storyboards are functional tools used in pre-production to plan the

visual sequence of a film, animation, or game. They focus on storytelling
elements like camera angles, movement, and transitions to guide the production
process.
• Example: A storyboard for an animated movie showing rough sketches of
characters and environments with notes on camera pans, zooms, and dialogues.
• Graphic Comic: Graphic comics are finished works of art created for
entertainment, often as standalone stories or series. They focus on visual
storytelling with detailed artwork, dialogue, and captions that immerse the
reader in a complete narrative.
STORYBOARD VS GRAPHIC COMIC

• Storyboard: Usually presented in a grid format with simple sketches or drawings.

Each frame corresponds to a shot or scene and includes annotations about camera
movements, timing, and action.
• Example: A rough storyboard for a car chase sequence showing the car’s
movements and dynamic camera angles with directional arrows.
• Graphic Comic: Features polished illustrations arranged in panels of varying shapes
and sizes. Text elements like speech bubbles, thought bubbles, and captions are
included for story telling.
• Example: A page from Marvel's Spider-Man comic showing Spidey swinging through
the city in vibrant colors with dialogue bubbles.
STORYBOARD VS PRESENTATION BOARD

• Storyboard: A storyboard is a pre-production tool used to outline and visualize the sequence of
events in a story. Its primary role is to plan shots, camera angles, and transitions for production.

• Role in Visual Storytelling: It helps the team pre-visualize the narrative and test the flow of scenes
to ensure the story is cohesive.

• Example: A storyboard for an animation showing how a character moves across frames, with
annotations for camera pans and dialogue.

• Presentation Board: A presentation board is a polished, high-quality visual tool designed to pitch
ideas or concepts to stakeholders, clients, or teams. Its goal is to impress and effectively
communicate a specific vision or design.

• Role in Visual Storytelling: It focuses on showcasing key scenes, characters, or designs in an

appealing manner to convey the overall tone and style of a project.

• Example: A presentation board for a marketing campaign featuring stylized images and slogans to
capture the brand’s essence.
PRESENTATION BOARD
 Summary Table

STORYBOARD VS PRESENTATION BOARD

Aspect Storyboard Presentation Board

Visualize and plan Pitch ideas or concepts to
Purpose
sequences for production stakeholders
Sequential sketches with Polished visuals, often
Structure
functional annotations non-sequential
Internal team (directors, External stakeholders
Audience
animators) (clients, investors)
Minimalistic, focusing on Highly detailed, focusing
Detail Level
actions and movement on aesthetics
Concept presentation and
Creative Stage Pre-production planning
pitching
STORYBOARD
CAMERA SHOTS
Extreme Wide Shot (EWS) Establishes a broad setting, often showing landscapes
or cityscapes
Wide Shot (WS) Shows a subject from head to toe with some
background context.
Medium Shot (MS) Frames the subject from the waist up.
Close-Up (CU) Focuses tightly on a subject’s face or a specific detail.
Extreme Close-Up (ECU) Magnifies a particular feature, such as an eye, hand, or
object.
Over-the-Shoulder (OTS) Shows a subject from behind another character’s
shoulder.
Point of View (POV) Mimics the character’s perspective.
Two-Shot Frames two characters in one shot
OTS Extreme Wide shot

Two shot POV

Medium shot Wide shot

Close up Extreme close up

CAMERA MOVES
Pan Rotates the camera horizontally from a fixed position.
Tilt Moves the camera vertically from a fixed position.
Dolly/Tracking Moves the camera closer or farther from the subject or follows the
subject along a track.
Zoom Adjusts the lens to change the field of view without moving the
camera.
Crane/Jib Moves the camera vertically in a smooth, sweeping motion using a
crane or jib.
Steadicam Provides smooth, handheld-like motion, maintaining stability.
Handheld Moves the camera manually, often resulting in shaky footage.
Dolly Handheld
IMPACT ON VISUAL NARRATIVE
Emotion and Mood: Close-ups and ECUs intensify emotional connection, while wide
shots establish grandeur or isolation. Handheld moves create tension, while dolly
shots build emotional weight through gradual revelations.
Perspective and Engagement: POV shots draw viewers into the character's mind,
fostering empathy. OTS shots foster intimacy in conversations, making the
audience feel like part of the dialogue.
Pacing and Tension: Fast pans and quick cuts build energy in action scenes. Slow
dolly movements can create suspense, while rack focus guides attention subtly.
Narrative Clarity: Establishing shots clarify the setting and context. Crane shots
and long tracking shots can visually narrate complex sequences without cutting,
enhancing continuity.
EVALUATION OF DIGITAL SOFTWARE IN STORYBOARDING

Advantages of Digital Storyboarding

• Efficiency and Speed

• Enhanced Visualization

• Collaboration and Sharing

• Cost Efficiency

Challenges and Limitations

• Learning Curve

• Loss of Traditional Aesthetic

• Initial Costs
COMPARISON: TRADITIONAL VS. DIGITAL STORYBOARDING

Traditional
Aspect Digital Storyboarding
Storyboarding
Created using digital
Hand-drawn on paper or
Creation Process software on tablets or
physical media.
computers.
Requires Quick, non-destructive
Editing erasing/redrawing; time- editing with undo/redo
consuming. options.
Animatics, sound
Limited to static
Visual Enhancements effects, and transitions
drawings.
enhance visualization.
Physical meetings or
Real-time collaboration
Collaboration scanned copies for
and cloud sharing.
sharing.
Higher initial cost but
Low initial cost, ongoing
Cost lower long-term
material expenses.
operational expenses.
RENDERING TECHNIQUES AND STYLES IN STORYBOARDING

Rendering techniques and styles play a crucial role in determining the

clarity and effectiveness of a storyboard. They not only convey the
narrative visually but also influence how the story's tone, pacing, and
emotional impact are perceived by the team and stakeholders.

Importance of Rendering Techniques in

Storyboarding Enhancing Clarity
Communicating Complex Concepts
RENDERING TECHNIQUES IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS

Technique/Style Application Effectiveness

Provides a near-final visual
High-budget productions, representation, making it
Full-Color Renderings game cinematics, or more engaging and
marketing pitches. persuasive for
stakeholders.
Used for focus on
Helps in visualizing
Monochrome or composition, lighting, and
lighting setups and mood
Grayscale contrast without color
while maintaining clarity.
distractions. Speeds up the creation
Early concept storyboards
process but may lack
Sketchy, Loose Lines or fast-paced
clarity for precise
brainstorming sessions.
Commercials or films communication.
Enhances clarity, making it
requiring clear direction easy for teams to interpret
Clean Line Art
for animators or specific actions and
cinematographers. transitions.
Enhances drama and
Thrillers or action
Dynamic Lighting and emotional impact, guiding
sequences where mood
Shading the audience’s focus
and tension are critical.
through light and shadow.
Role of Perspective and Camera
Positioning in Framing Dynamic Scenes
within a Storyboard
Framing dynamic scenes in a storyboard involves deliberate use of
perspective and camera positioning to convey motion, emotion, and
narrative depth.
Role of Perspective and Camera
Positioning in Framing Dynamic Scenes
within a Storyboard
PERSPECTIVE: ENHANCING DEPTH AND SCALE
Creating Depth: By manipulating perspective, storyboards can
illustrate a sense of depth, making scenes more immersive. Linear
perspective (using vanishing points) is common for environments,
while foreshortening emphasizes objects or characters in the
foreground, making them appear closer to the viewer.

Establishing Scale: Perspective can emphasize the relative size of

characters or objects. For example, a low-angle perspective makes a
character look larger and more powerful, while a high-angle
perspective diminishes them, creating vulnerability.

Dynamic Motion: Using a forced perspective can simulate dynamic

motion, such as a character or object moving towards or away from
the camera, heightening tension or action.
CAMERA POSITIONING: DIRECTING THE VIEWER’S
FOCUS
Angles and Emotion:
Low Angles: Connote power, dominance, or intimidation,
useful in action or confrontation scenes.
High Angles: Imply vulnerable, fear, or isolation.
Dutch Tilt (Tilted Frame): Adds unease or chaos, perfect for
dynamic or disorienting moments.
Distance and Intimacy:
Extreme Close-ups: Enhance detail or create suspense by
isolating key elements.
Close-ups: Focus on character emotions, heightening
intensity or intimacy.
Wide Shots: Establish the environment, showing character
placement and movement.
Camera Moves:
Panning and Tracking Shots: Help convey continuous
movement, useful for chase scenes or action sequences.
Zoom-ins/Outs: Direct attention or gradually reveal
information to build tension.
EFFECTIVENESS OF USING A THUMBNAIL STORYBOARD IN EARLY PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT

A thumbnail storyboard is a simplified, small-scale

version of a full storyboard that serves as a preliminary
visual guide during the early stages of project
development. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to
rapidly convey the core visual narrative, pacing, and
composition without committing significant time to
detailed drawings.
THE IMPACT OF TRANSITIONS BETWEEN STORYBOARD
FRAMES ON NARRATIVE PACING AND FLOW

Transitions between storyboard frames play a crucial role in determining

the pacing and flow of a narrative. They guide the audience’s emotional
response, maintain engagement, and ensure the coherence of the story.
The type, timing, and frequency of transitions can either enhance or
disrupt the storytelling experience.
THE IMPACT OF TRANSITIONS BETWEEN STORYBOARD
FRAMES ON NARRATIVE PACING AND FLOW

1. Fast Transitions for Action-Packed Sequences

2. Slow Transitions for Emotional or Reflective Moments
3. Abrupt Cuts for Surprise or Shock
4. Smooth Transitions for Seamless Flow
USE OF TEXT AS AN IMAGE IN STORYBOARDING

The use of text as an image in storyboarding is a powerful tool that

enhances visual storytelling in animation and film by providing clarity,
context, and mood.
Conveying Context and Setting
Enhancing Emotional Impact
Indicating Sound Effects (SFX) and Dialogue
Bridging Visual Gaps