Animatic

An animatic is a preliminary version of a film or animation, consisting of a series of still images or rough animations arranged in sequence, often accompanied by a voiceover or sound effects. This tool is employed primarily in the animation and film industries to visualize and refine the narrative flow, pacing, and key scenes before the actual production begins. Animatics allow creators to explore storytelling elements, identify potential issues, and make alterations before committing time and resources to fully animated sequences.

Animatic meaning with examples

• During the pre-production phase of our animated feature, we created an animatic to help visualize the flow of the story, ensuring that the pacing felt right before we began full animation work. This process allowed us to address any narrative issues and fine-tune the character interactions effectively.
• The director presented the animatic to the studio executives to illustrate the vision for the film. By providing a clear sequence of scenes, along with voiceover and music cues, the animatic enabled the team to grasp the tone and emotional beats of the final project, fostering valuable feedback.
• As we were developing a new short film, the animatic proved invaluable in illustrating complex action sequences. By sequencing the key frames and adding temporary sound effects, the animatic kept the crew aligned on the project’s dynamic moments and assisted in meeting our production timelines.
• Creating an animatic for our web series helped us experiment with various comedic timing and visual gags in the script. This rough animation served as a vital tool to pitch our concept to potential collaborators and gauge audience reactions to different characters and scenes.