The animation production pipeline is the path by which a creative project, game, short film, or full-length movie comes to life. The animation pipeline can best be understood in the following steps.
Pre-Production
- Story: This is the vision and reference point for the project. Creators will need to develop and write a script at this stage.
- Storyboarding: The script is broken down into scenes drawn out into panels like a graphic novel.
- Editorial: An animation reel of the finalized storyboards is created using scratch voices, sound effects, and temporary music. The scratch dialogue is eventually replaced with the finalized dialogue.
- Visual Development: Concept artists create what the film will look like using color pallets, backgrounds, and character designs.
- Pre-visualization: Artists work with the storyboards and script to create a 3D environment on the computer.
Production
- Modeling and Animation Preparation: Modelers turn 2D concepts such as characters, sets, and props into 3D models.
- Surfacing: Surfacing artists create textures, colors, and shading for characters, props, and sets.
- Rigging: 3D skeletons are built and attached to the characters to help animators bring the characters to life.
- Character Animation: 3D animators use the rig to bring 2D characters to life.
The animation production process additionally includes character effects, FX animation, matte painting, and lighting, all of which are overseen by technical and creative directors.
Post-Production
- Compositing: The final look of the film starts to come together. Additional elements such as lighting and atmospheric effects are brought together with final rendered frames.
- Music and Sound Design: Sound effects and music edits are finalized and added.
- Editorial: The editorial team keeps everything in sync whenever new animation, sound design, or lighting changes are made to the film.
- Color Grading: Color graders make sure the picture is consistent throughout the film sequences to make sure there’s nothing jarring about the look or lighting.
Artella’s software can give you the ability to manage your animation production pipeline in a way that’s effective and collaborative. For more information about how we can help ease the animation production process for your creative team, contact Artella today for a demo.