Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Dope sheets
A dope sheet is an animation tool which helps a 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.
STARTS AT 15 SECONDS

Frame

Path of action

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Dialogue /
Camera
Animation
Soundtrack cue
instructions

0_1

Walking to door

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Music
Walking
Static from
corner of room

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Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

1_1

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Path of action

Dialogue /
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Animation

Camera

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

cue
instructions
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Path of action

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Dialogue /
Camera
Soundtrack
Animation
instructions
cue

2_1

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Music

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

cue
instructions
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Frame

Path of action

2_1

Arives at door

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Dialogue /
Camera
Soundtrack
Animation
instructions
cue
Music

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Stops walking

static

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

6
Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

2_1

Opens Door

Music

Arm Raises

Static

2_2

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Music

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7
Frame

Path of action

2_1

Black Fade in, Character

at door

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Music

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Animation

Camera
instructions

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Music

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8
Frame

Path of action

2_1

Character walks to set

left

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Music

Walking

Static

2_2

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Music

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Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

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Music

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instructions

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Path of action

Dialogue /
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cue

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instructions

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Path of action

Dialogue /
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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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15
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Path of action

Dialogue /
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cue

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Fade to night time

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

2_1

Character walks to door

Music

Walking

Static wide shot

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Path of action

Dialogue /
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cue

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Path of action

Dialogue /
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cue

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Path of action

Dialogue /
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cue

2_1

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instructions

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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20
Frame

Path of action

2_1

Character stops and

looks at light

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Music

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Animation
Character stops
walking

Camera
instructions
Static Wide Shot

2_13

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Character turns to light

Music

Character turns

Static wide shot

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Music

Static

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21
Frame

Path of action

2_1

Camera changes focus

on light and character

2_2

Music

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High angle
down on
character next
to light

2_10

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

2_1

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Animation

Camera
instructions

2_9

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

2_1

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Animation

Camera
instructions

2_8

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

2_1

Music

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Animation

Camera
instructions

2_7

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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25
Frame

Path of action

2_1

Cut back to character in

wide shot, walking to
door

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Music

walking

Startic wide shot

2_2

Music

2_3

Music

2_4

Music

2_5

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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26
Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

2_1

Music

2_2

Music

2_3

Music

Animation

Camera
instructions

2_4

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Music

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27
Frame

Path of action

2_1

Character walking in
room to door

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Music

Animation

Camera
instructions

2_2

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Music

2_3

Music

2_4

Music

2_5

Music

2_6

Music

2_7

Music

2_8

Music

2_9

Music

2_10

Music

2_11

Music

2_12

Music

2_13

Music

2_14

Music

2_15

Music

2_16

Music

2_17

Music

2_18

Music

2_19

Music

2_20

Music

2_21

Music

2_22

Music

2_23

Music

2_24

Music

2_25

Music

2_26

Music

2_27

Music

2_28

Music

2_29

Music

2_30

Music

28
Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

2_1

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Music

2_2

Music

2_3

Music

2_4

Music

2_5

Music

2_6

Music

2_7

Music

2_8

Music

2_9

Music

2_10

Music

2_11

Music

2_12

Music

2_13

Music

2_14

Music

2_15

Music

2_16

Music

2_17

Music

2_18

Music

2_19

Music

2_20

Music

2_21

Music

2_22

Music

2_23

Music

2_24

Music

2_25

Music

2_26

Music

2_27

Music

2_28

Music

2_29

Music

2_30

Music

29
Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack

Animation

Camera

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

cue
instructions
2_1

Character stops at door

and opens

Music

2_2

Music

2_3

Music

2_4

Music

2_5

Music

2_6

Music

2_7

Music

2_8

Music

2_9

Music

2_10

Music

2_11

Music

2_12

Music

2_13

Music

2_14

Music

2_15

Music

2_16

Music

2_17

Music

2_18

Music

2_19

Music

2_20

Music

2_21

Music

2_22

Music

2_23

Music

2_24

Music

2_25

Music

2_26

Music

2_27

Music

2_28

Music

2_29

Music

2_30

Fade to black

Music

Arm raises

Static, from
corner of room

Static

Static

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Liaising with client (write notes on discussions between you and your client)