Stop Motion Animation Production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet
Pre-Production Booklet for Animation

Name:
Order of contents (italics show areas you must add in yourself)
Assessment criteria
LO2
Mind maps of ideas
Risk assessment
Format of your animation
Subject and storyline
Character notes and profiles
Movement of characters
Moodboard
Sets/backgrounds
Audio and soundtrack
Sound table
Props list
Audience
Storyboard and script (add script to booklet)
Frame rates
Lighting design
Production schedule
Crew details
LO3
Frame Numbers
Dope Sheets
How to use this booklet

You will need to complete every page of this booklet, and all sections / questions
required.
Assessment criteria for Distinction grade;
LO2
Plans will show a full consideration of movement and continuity, perspective, point of view,
transitions and special effects.
Precise and workable planning of timing and synchronisation to a soundtrack will be
produced. It will be clear at this stage, from the documentation, what the finished piece will
look and sound like.
Learners will follow industry conventions and terminology used in storyboard production
correctly.
Plans for the construction of models, sets and props will be realistic and clear.
Drawings, script and storyboard will all show a creative interpretation of the idea.
LO3:
The documentation linked to the production will be full and detailed and there will be
evidence that the production management and scheduling of the project has been effective
and carried out in a professional manner. The techniques used in the production of the work
are likely to be related to an understanding of current trends in the industry.
Both LO2 and LO3

In all practical activity learners will be capable of working autonomously and effectively. They
will work on their own initiative, will not need constant support or supervision, will give the
work their full commitment, work positively and cooperatively with others, and meet
deadlines. In other words, they will have the kind of self-management skills that would be
expected of them in a professional context. Note also that this criterion should not be taken
to mean that learners do not seek advice or that they work without discussing things with
their tutor, but rather that they are not dependent upon the support of others and that when
they take advice they weigh it carefully for themselves.
Planning
Brainstorm / mind map (add extra pages if necessary)
Idea 3: Create a
city out of
cardboard
showing a car
chase between a
robber and a
Idea 4: One mans

adventure travelling
around the world and
visiting different countries.
I can create different
landmarks using card, e.g.
Idea 1: Create a snow

scene with people
skiing down a slope
and ski lifts and a
snow yeti who
attacks a village of
Idea 2: Create a TV
ident of a snow slope
of people skiing
where their ski tracks
end up forming the
name of the channel,
e.g. E4
Attach a treatment of your idea

My stop motion animation will feature one thiefs adventure through the city just after he robs
a bank. Malcom thought his biggest robbery yet would go smoothly after his precise
planning, he soon finds this is not the case when he is chased by the Police in his getaway
car. His plan to escape through the busy streets of New York is shattered as he finds himself
outsmarted by Police officer Frank Rivers. If PC Rivers catches him, his thieving days could
be over once and for all.
I plan to film Malcom on his journey, showing the tranquil city from the first scenes as it
changes and gets a lot more exciting and dramatic through the dangerous car chase with
Malcom driving for his life from the police car behind him. He faces obstacles from
pedestrians, other cars and multiple tight corners. This thrilling adventure will be filled with
explosions and a shocking ending as Malcoms car crashes into a building and his is
arrested by PC Rivers. In the last scene we see him put into prison.
I will be meeting the brief of the Montreal Stop Motion film festival having no more than two
characters and using the genre of drama. I feel my brief will suit all ages because it is a
simple and very visual idea that many people will understand.
It will be about one minute and thirty seconds since I negotiated my brief to make it longer. I
will add sounds to build tension and make it more exciting and dramatic to watch. I feel that
lots of sounds will make it more interactive for the viewer and more realistic.
How will you meet the requirements of your brief?

I plan to meet my requirements by aiming it for all ages and genders as the brief entails. I
think I can suit all ages and genders by making it exciting, appropriate for everyone. My
story of the man robbing the bank and the car chase will be visually exciting and appropriate
for all audiences as there isnt too much dialogue, only action scenes and they are
cardboard cars which isnt too intense or frightening because it is quite clearly fake. Mine

meets the brief requirement because it tells the story of a mans escape from the police in a
car chase and eventually off the cliff and into the sea.
Risk assessment: Are there any health and safety issues you may encounter?
There might be health and safety issues from shooting it in the studio because there is lots
of heavy and expensive equipment that could fall on you and hurt you. There are also lots of
wires that are easy to trip up on, fall and hurt yourself. Furthermore, using lights mean they
can get quite hot so if you touch them you could face burning yourself on them. Using
cardboard as my material can be tricky to cut with scissors because it is a dense material so
the scissors could slip out of place and since you have to use lots of pressure to cut it, you
could slip and cut yourself. It is possible to get paper cuts from using cardboard and paper.
Discuss any legal issues you may face. Eg; sound, plagiarism, age restrictions
I must ensure that my sound is free of copyright because if it isnt I could face legal
problems, such as plagiarism for my sound and therefore it could be taken down from
YouTube. People could consider pressing charges if they are not happy with their media
being used. I must use all my own footage and create the whole sets and photographs
myself.
Use of possible formats

Circle which of the following formats your animation will take;
stop-frame techniques
time lapse photography
plasticine animation
Claymation
using found objects
modelling
Cardboard
puppetry
combined formats
Why are you using that particular format?

I am using cardboard as my material because I feel I can have a lot of detail in my stop
motion, since the scene is in a city, therefore I can create skyscrapers out of
cardboard, cars and add the details that the buildings have. I feel that cardboard
would work really well with my project and is quite easy to work with. I have seen
similar productions with cardboard used and I like how it looks and the effect it gives.

It is a good material because it is easy to access, I can get lots of it for the large scene
of the city and large models, whilst it staying cheap to use.
What are the different possibilities you could explore using this format?
The possibilities I could explore of using cardboard are photographing it from different
angles, e.g. from two dimensional angles as well as three dimensions. I can chose to colour
the cardboard, or keep it plain and cut it into various shapes. One thing about cardboard is
that it can be harder to create movement because you cannot easily remold it to show
movement of an arm like you can using clay. You would be forced to cut out a complete new
structure out of card. This is why I have decided to mostly focus on the car chase, because
these are easy to move without cutting out numerous models, as the wheels only really need
to turn.
What are the limitations of using this format? (i.e what problems/ obstacles might you
have?)
Limitations of using this format are that you have to cut out multiple versions of the character
with different positioning of the arm, rather than easily re-shaping the clay. It is hard to create
a 3-D structure of the person, so they would have to remain 2-D. However, it is possible to
create 3-D structures of cars and buildings because they are square shapes.
What imaginative or inventive animations have you seen which use this format?
Add in links and screen shots of three examples of animations using this format.
https://vimeo.com/81143989
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuukq9FTGmM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RFlc7UOJA0
Subject
What will the subject of your animation be?
The subject of my animation will be a male robber.
Storyline
Describe the storyline of your animation. What events will happen to your characters?
The animation will feature a city. There will be people walking, cars moving, trains and
buildings. The main character, the bank robber, will run out of the bank with a sack of money.
He will get into his car and charge off into the busy streets of the city. A police car will sound
and chase him. There will be a dramatic car chase as they hurtle around the busy city
streets. Eventually the car will chase him off a bridge and into the sea.
Characters
What characters will be in your animation?
The characters will be Malcolm, the bank robber and Frank Rivers, the police officer who
chases him.
Complete the character profiles for each character in your animation

Name:
M/F:
Age
Costume:
Frank Rivers
M
32
Police Uniform
Occupation:
Policeman
Hobbies:
Cycling
Character
Background:
He is relatively new to his career and has only very recently

obtained a promotion for his job so takes is very seriously.
Name:
M/F:
Age
Costume:
Malcolm Drean
M
30
He wears black trousers with the typical robbers black and white
striped top and a mask over his eyes.
Occupation:
Unemployed, criminal.
Hobbies:
Theft.
Character
Background:
He grew up in England with both his mother and father who were
quite neglectful but taught him that he could get through life
stealing. They taught him how to steal without getting caught, he
became much better than his parents and when they died he
decided that he would make them proud with the ultimate
challenge; robbing a bank.

Add in images and drawings/ sketches of what they will look like.
What will they be made of?

Paper and card
Movement of characters
How are you going to make your characters move?

I will move my characters by cutting out different shapes for the characters as they move,
e.g. their legs or arms and repositioning them.
What is the purpose of an armature?

The purpose of armature is that it makes it easier to move models by bending the limps
whilst holding the model together or it looking unnatural.
Will you use them for your characters?

I wont use armature for my characters because I am creating them out of paper and
armature is only used with clay or similar materials.
Mood board

Create a mood board showing what look your animation will have. Add images showing
ideas of mise-en-scene, characters, costumes and colours that will be present in the
different shots.
Sets / backgrounds
Will your set be;
A three wall set
A blue/green screen
An existing location
A Combination of two or more of the above
Draw sketches of how your sets/backgrounds will look. Add in labels to your diagrams and
details of locations / lighting etc.
Ligh
Lig
ht
Set
Location: Studio
Material: Cardboard
Lig
ht

Add in photographs of your sets/backgrounds.
Overview angle of set
Side angle of set
Audio and Soundtrack

What audio will you have for your animation?
Complete the sound list, detailing what sounds you will use, where you will source them,
what equipment you will need to record them and when you will use them in your animation.
You will need to design your own soundtrack. You cannot use copyrighted music, and it must
be more than simply adding a track.
What actions will need sound effects?
Think of the scenes in your animation. Each scene should have different sounds/music to
give information about the mood / emotions of the characters.
Sound Table
Production Name:
Producer:
Shot
Action
Description
of Sound
Diegetic/non/diegetic
Atmosphere
created
Malcom
running out
of bank
Running
footsteps
Diegetic
Tense
Malcom
gets into car
Car door
open and
shut
Diegetic
Tense
Car starting
Car engine
starting
Diegetic
Dramatic
Car driving
Car revs and

drives
Diegetic
Dramatic
People run
out the road
People
scream
Diegetic
Dramatic
Car
screeching
round
Car screech
Diegetic
Dramatic
Musice type
and
atmosphere

corners
7
Police car
Siren
Non- diegetic
Dramatic
Police car
crashed into
Malcoms
car
Crash
Diegetic
Dramatic
Car
explodes
Explosion
sound
Diegetic
Dramatic
10
Malcoms
car crashes
into a
building
Car crash
Diegetic
Dramatic
11
Police car
breaks
Car breaks
Diegetic
Dramatic
12
Police man
walks
Footsteps
Diegetic
Dramatic
13
Malcom
gets
arrested
Handcuffs
tightening
Diegetic
Dramatic
14
Put into
prison
Prison bars
moving down
Diegetic
Dramatic
Props List
What props / models / furniture etc will you need to make your animation?
PROPS LIST
Production Name:
Producer:
Item
Script page
Description
Character/location
Notes
Cigar
Large Cuban
cigar, expensive
looking, 7 long
Craig Jennings
Is not lit is
held in actors
mouth
Car
Yellow taxi cab

and black and
white police car
Frank Rivers and

Malcom Drean
Swag bag
Large black
sack full of
money
Malcom Drean
Handcuffs
Silver handcuffs
Frank Rivers and
Buildings
Frank places it

Malcom Drean
around
Malcoms
wrists
Jail cell
Black bars
Malcom Drean
Move down as
he is placed in
prison
Audience
Define the following characteristics of your audience;
Gender
Male
Age
10-15
Interests
Cars, crime dramas
What forms of animation might they already watch?

Teenage boys would be interested in watching cartoon animations such as comedies like
The Simpsons, South Park or Family Guy because they target a similar young audience. In
terms of stop motion animation, they would probably watch Wallace and Gromit because it
suits all ages.

What images do you think they enjoy watching?
What might they consider distasteful or offensive?

I think my audience would find extreme gore, nudity and violence offensive. I think anything
that is unsuitable for under 18 year olds is distasteful as my audience will be under 18, such
as offensive language.
How will you ensure that your animation will suit your chosen audience?
My target audience is all ages and genders according to my brief so I have included a drama
storyline to suit females and kept the plot quite simple so that younger ages are capable of
understanding it. The drama of the police catching the robber suits female audiences
because they like to watch more storylines in comparison to males who would appreciate the
car chase.
How will they physically watch your animation? (i.e in an exhibition format, on screen,
projection, online?)
My animation will be displayed online, on YouTube. This is good for my wide audience range
because most ages have access to the internet and a smart phone or computer.
Storyboard
Complete a storyboard for your animation.
And
then.?
What happens?
Describe the
action.
Camera?
Time?
What is the
camera angle?
Duration of the
shot / number
of frames
action is held
for.
Is there any
movement from
the camera?
Who?
Which
characters/
objects are in
the scene?
Say What?
Is there any
dialogue/text?
Where?
Think carefully about the shots you will be using. Consider the
range of shots/angles to give interest and perspective
You will need to convey all movements and actions. Copy and
paste the storyboard to make it as long as you need to show all
the detail of your animation.
Shots
Extreme long shot
Long Shot
Medium Shot
What is the
location for the
shot?
Lighting
Natural
Camera Angles
Ambient
Birds-eye view
Torchlight
Spotlight
High angle
Direction of
Eye-levellight?
Two Shot
Low angle
Movement
Over
the Shoulder
Editing
Pan
Medium
Close up
Montage
Tilt up
Close
Cross cutting
Tracking
Shotup
Extreme
close
Match cut
Shot, reverse shot
Eye-line match
Jump cut
Tracking shot

You will need to add pages to this section for your full storyboard
Frame Rates
What is the duration of your animation in minutes? (minimum 30 seconds)
1 minute and 30 seconds.
In seconds?
90 seconds.
How many frames per second for video?

10 frames per second
There are 60 seconds in a minute. How many frames (ie. Individual photos) will you
need to take?
900 frames in the whole production.
Lighting Design
Where will you be photographing your animation?

In my house.
Does it have natural daylight?

Yes
If so, you will need to block this out. Explain why.

You must block it out because natural light is unreliable and not constant, therefore the
production could look unrealistic and not like one continuous frame.
Do you have a constant light source(s) such as a lamp?

I have lamps that I plan to use.
Where will you place your light source(s) to create interesting effects?
I will place my lamps above the set to replicate the sun like how it would shine in a real city. I
wont create interesting effects because I want it to look realistic.

(LO3)
Frame numbers
You will need to label your images as frames
The first 24 frames will be written as;
0_1
0_2 etc etc
the following 24 will be

1_1
1_2
1_3
Ensure your clips are labeled as such. Screen shot the folder your clips are in, and copy the
image underneath.
Dope sheets

A dope sheet is an animation tool which helps an animator organise the animation shot-byshot.
This gives the camera operator instructions on each shot type and how many frames this will
be used for.
A dope sheet is usually split into 5 different sections.
To indicate what action occurs on which frame number

To see what action is happening in this shot.
To see what dialogue used in this scene.
To show what level of animation is happening.
To give camera instructions (angle).
For example;
Because you will be working with video, you will be using 30fps. You will need to complete a
dope sheet for EVERY SECOND of your animation.
i.e, if you make a 30 second animation, you will need to complete 30 dope sheets.
This will be a time-consuming task, but it will help you understand what will need to
happen in each of the shots you take. The higher marks will come from a detailed and
careful collection of dope sheets. For example, if your characters speaks, you will need to
show the mouth forming every shape in order to look effective.
Frame
Path of action
Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue
Animation
Camera
instructions

Swoosh sound
N/A
Camera pans
effect
down, high
angle
0_1
Camera pans down
0_32
Camera zooms out
N/A
N/A
Zoom out, high

angle
0_38
Camera stationary
Footsteps
Character
walks to the left
High angle
0_70
Camera stationary
Car engine
Car moves to
the right
High angle
0_83
Camera stationary
Footsteps
Malcom walks
out of bank
Low angle
0_86
Camera stationary
N/A
Malcom walks
up to taxi
High angle
0_99
Camera stationary
N/a
Malcom gets
into taxi
Over the
shoulder, shot
0_137
Camera stationary
Car engine
Taxi moves to
the left
High angle, wide

shot
0_146
Camera stationary
Footsteps
Policeman
walks straight
ahead.
High angle
0_171
Camera stationary
N/a
Policeman
looks around
Low angle
0_238
Camera pans to the right

and zooms out from the
taxi
Engine
Taxi moves
ahead
Low angle
0_266
Camera stationary
Engine
Taxi moves
ahead (towards
screen)
High angle
0_299
Camera stationary
Engine
Taxi and police

car move down
street
Low angle
0_314
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Taxi and police

car move down
street
High angle
0_327
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Taxi and police

car move down
street
High angle,
canted view
0_340
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Taxi and police

car move down
street
Low angle
0_380
Camera move to the left
Engine & siren
Taxi moves
across left of
screen
Low angle,
close-up
0_409
Camera zoom in
Engine & siren
Mid shot, zoom

close-up
0_434
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Taxi drives
ahead
Mid shot from

back of taxi
0_447
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Taxi drives to
the right
Close-up on tire
0_452
Camera zoom in
Engine & siren
Malcolm moves
steering wheel
Close-up mid
shot
0_456
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Malcolm moves
steering wheel
Birds eye view,

high angle
0_482
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Taxi moves
Close-up of tires
0_491
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Malcolm moves
steering wheel
Birds eye view,

high angle
0_499
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Taxi moves
towards
building
Birds eye view,

high angle
0_503
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Malcolm
steering wheel
Close-up
0_512
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Taxi moves
Low angle
0_518
Camera stationary
Engine & siren
Malcolm moves
steering wheel
Birds eye view,

high angle
0_523
Camera stationary
Tire skid and

siren
Taxi moves
towards
building
Birds eye view,

high angle
0_538
Camera stationary
Tire skid and

siren
Taxi moves
towards
building
Close-up of tire
Frame
Path of action
Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue
Animation
Camera
instructions
1_550
Camera stationary, out of

focus
Tire skid and

siren
Taxi moves
towards
building
Birds eye view,

high angle
1_578
Camera stationary
Siren
Tire flies off taxi
Low angle shot

of side of taxi
1_609
Camera stationary
Siren
Police car
drives to taxi
Low angle shot

of side of police
car
1_628
Camera stationary
Siren fading out,

footsteps
Police man
walks over to
Malcom
Mid shot
1_635
Camera stationary
Footsteps
Police man
walks over to
Malcolm
Long shot
1_674
Camera zoom in and to
Handcuffs sound
Police man
Long shot zoom
the right of Malcolm

effect
arrest Malcolm in to close-up
1_707
Camera stationary
Detective music,
prison cell sound
effect
Jail cell bars

come down
over Macolm
Long shot, fade

out and unfocus
1_708
N/A
Detective music
Title the
getaway and
Holly Smith
pans on screen
from bottom to
top
N/A
Path of action
Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
/A1_9
1_10
1_11
1_12
1_13
1_14
1_15
1_16
1_17
1_18
1_19
1_20
1_21
1_22
1_23
1_24
1_25
1_26
1_27
1_28
1_29
1_30
Frame
Animation
Camera
instructions

2_1
2_2
2_3
2_4
2_5
2_6
2_7
2_8
2_9
2_10
2_11
2_12
2_13
2_14
2_15
2_16
2_17
2_18
2_19
2_20
2_21
2_22
2_23
2_24
2_25
2_26
2_27
2_28
2_29
2_30
Copy and paste as many dope sheets as you need. Remember to change the frame
numbering so that the first number refers to the second of animation ie, 1_24 is the 24th
frame of the first second, 3_17 is the 17th frame of the 3rd second.
Liaising with client (write notes on discussions between you and your client)

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Pre-Production Booklet for Animation

Mind maps of ideas

Format of your animation

Subject and storyline

Character notes and profiles

Audio and soundtrack

Storyboard and script (add script to booklet)

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How to use this booklet

Both LO2 and LO3

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Idea 4: One mans

Idea 1: Create a snow

Attach a treatment of your idea

How will you meet the requirements of your brief?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Use of possible formats

Why are you using that particular format?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Complete the character profiles for each character in your animation

He is relatively new to his career and has only very recently

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

What will they be made of?

How are you going to make your characters move?

What is the purpose of an armature?

Will you use them for your characters?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

A three wall set

A Combination of two or more of the above

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Side angle of set

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Audio and Soundtrack

What actions will need sound effects?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Car revs and

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Yellow taxi cab

Frank Rivers and

Frank Rivers and

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

What forms of animation might they already watch?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

What might they consider distasteful or offensive?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How many frames per second for video?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Where will you be photographing your animation?

Does it have natural daylight?

If so, you will need to block this out. Explain why.

Do you have a constant light source(s) such as a lamp?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet