The first step to creating a video is scripting and storyboarding. A storyboard is essentially the breakdown of different scenes of a video into image format, the key scenes are highlighted and a visual representation is created so that the video makers have a brief to follow. All good videos, be it a travel video, animated video or films, require storyboarding.
Storyboard from Harry potter – the order of the phoenix
Storyboard of Kung Fu panda
Storyboard of Colgate toothpaste advertisement
Storyboards may look like a hassle, and you may have an urge to skip it altogether, but as an animation video maker company, we advise you to never skip the storyboard or let us do it for you.
It might look tedious, with having to draw up images to match the narrative, to depicting how the camera would move, storyboarding combines a lot of work and imagination. There are various applications available to make your storyboard easier for you like, Storyboarder, Plot, Studiobinder etc.
HOW TO MAKE A STORYBOARD
1. Create a template
Choose a template design that suits your needs. There are a variety of templates to choose from, but the basic design of a storyboard looks like the above image. You can use online templates or draw your own storyboard templates. If you are hand drawing your storyboard keep in mind that the ratio aspect of all the templates should be the same.
2. Decide on the details
Choose the important scenes of your script or storyboard frame by frame, the creative liberty is yours. Mostly going frame by frame becomes a hassle, so storyboarders prefer to choose key scenes of a script and create a visual representation of that. Decide what details you want to include in the storyboard. If you want to include camera angles, lighting, camera movement, dialogues, in the textual part, you can do that. The more detailed a storyboard is, the better it is for the final video outcome.
Frame by frame storyboard for the movie “UP”
Key scenes storyboard for the movie “sound of music”
3. Follow the script and create the images
You can either draw your storyboard or use images or characters, or even represent with stick figures. The drawing does not have to be perfect but the right depiction of the storyline is of utmost priority. The storyboard has to follow a linear method of storytelling, as per the script. Remember, your storyboard is to be followed while shooting so you have to incorporate camera angles and how the frame will be shot.
4. Think with a director’s eye
A storyboard’s work is to help the cinematographers understand the camera angles and how the script will look visually. While doing a storyboard represent scenes the way it will look in the video. Think in a three-point perspective and incorporate those in your drawings. If two characters are talking and you want an over the shoulder shot, draw an over the shoulder frame. The camera work will follow the visual storyboard and get a better grip on the desired frames.
Psyco storyboard of the famous Shower scene
A storyboard might seem unimportant and frivolous, but trust our words, it’s not. It’s the backbone of a video and without it, the video production will not go smoothly. You do not have to be a great artist to draw a storyboard, as long as you can make it clear what all actions and frames you require. A basic sketch with stick figures works just as well. Trust your instincts and go ahead, create your storyboard. If you feel lazy, we are always there to help you.
