Animation has always been a topic of interest for the man. We all engage and love animated movies and series. Though the entire process of how animation is made is quite long and draining, it’s worth the hard work.

Research:

The main step of animating starts with research. This includes finding a thorough information on what project to work on, its purpose; which includes any message to be conveyed, timelines, budget and any specific requirements if necessary.

Story boarding:

A storyboard is a document that breaks down your animation scene by scene. Storyboards computer software has been far more widely deployed to create storyboards. These sketches help you visualize the script, the scenes, and the flow of the animation.

This can be called the core of animation as the actual process starts from here. It also includes, idea developing – the theme or the narrative of animation and script writing.

A storyboard should capture the essence and structure of the planned animation in visual form.

It is essentially a series of sketches that maps the key events of the narrative, presented chronologically. This provides a visual bridge between the script or overall concept and the finished animation.

Character design:

Character design is the process of creating characters, from protagonists to supporting cast, to drive the narrative and engage the audience on an emotional level.

A well-designed character possesses a unique visual aesthetic that instantly captivates the eye from their distinctive physical features to their attire and accessories. Every aspect is meticulously crafted to convey their personality, background and purpose within the story. 

Modeling and texturing:

Modeling is a basic phase involved in animation. During this stage, models for surfaces, characters, background, weapons, buildings etc. are prepared. For preparing models, different types of specialized software technologies are used. Things or characters whose models are to be prepared depend on the theme on which the movie is to be created. Modeling phase also includes studying the topological aspects.

Texturing is the next phase involved while creating an animation. It includes creating a texture from the base, editing an existing texture for reuse, etc. It is the phase where the background is made to resemble the background of the real world. Using texturing, one can create brick walls, stone walls, flooring, etc. Shading intensity is to be decided during the texturing phase and textures are developed like maps and then assigned to a particular scene or model.

Lighting and rigging:

Lighting is a very important part of animation and it can add life to a particular scene in an animated movie. Shadows, what kind of light effects, angles from where lights fall, the intensity of light, and a lot more is the responsibility of a light artist. 

Rigging is a phenomenon using which bones are added to a character or an object to be used in animation. During the lighting stage, all the elements created as part of the other stages are brought together into the picture. Rigging is done mainly to define movements or different postures that an animated character can exhibit like rotating their arms, moving his or her fists, etc.

Sound design:

Sound design refers to the creation and integration of audio elements to enhance the visual storytelling experience―including music, dialogue and sound effects.

It plays a pivotal role in enhancing the viewer’s immersion and emotional engagement with the story by establishing the auditory environment of a scene. It brings life to characters and environments, making them feel more tangible and believable.

The sound designer is responsible for conceptualizing and creating the overall sonic vision of the animation.

Illustration:

During this stage, style frames are really useful. Style frames are simple, visual representations that aim to capture what a scene or a prop in the final animation will look like. The art direction that best matches the tone of the script, communicates the purpose of the animated video and appeals to the target audience is chosen.

Each sketch usually represents a crucial shot or a frame. These are known as panels and they can also capture technical details, usually in separate boxes.

Animation:

The whole animation process culminates in this step where it is finally time to animate the project. The animation process is highly technical and dependent on the tools, programs and processes you use.

Movements are a key part of animated video. They give the animation life. Getting character and object movements right, will decide whether the animated videos you create are going to be high-quality or not.

Correctly and seamlessly transitioning from one scene to another is what binds animated videos together. There are many tricks and techniques you can employ here, but what’s important is the transitions help make the animation video whole.

The process of making animation concludes with editing and final output. All the elements—animation, sound, and effects—are assembled into the final sequence and then the completed animation is exported to different platforms. This final stage ensures that the animation is polished, cohesive, and ready for audiences to enjoy.