Storyboards Storyboard for Animation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of 'action panels' in an animation storyboard?
- To depict the main physical actions or story beats of a sequence in key poses (Correct answer)
- To schedule which scenes are to be animated on which day
- To show only the background without characters
- To indicate which scenes require visual effects
Correct answer: To depict the main physical actions or story beats of a sequence in key poses
Action panels capture the critical poses and movements of a sequence, communicating to animators the key story beats they need to bring to life.
Question 2: In TV animation storyboarding, what does 'act out' mean as a direction on a panel?
- The character should perform an exaggerated physical or emotional performance in that shot (Correct answer)
- The scene should be cut from the final edit
- The voice actor should re-record their lines
- The background should be replaced with a simpler design
Correct answer: The character should perform an exaggerated physical or emotional performance in that shot
'Act out' instructs the animator that the character needs to deliver a broad, expressive performance in that shot — going beyond subtle gestures to clearly convey emotion or action.
Question 3: What is a 'push-in' camera move in animation storyboards?
- The camera slowly moves forward toward the subject, increasing the subject's size in the frame (Correct answer)
- A character physically pushing another character into frame
- A quick cut from a wide shot to a close-up
- A side-scrolling camera move following a running character
Correct answer: The camera slowly moves forward toward the subject, increasing the subject's size in the frame
A push-in (or dolly-in) is a gradual camera movement toward the subject, creating intensity, drawing focus, or indicating emotional significance of the subject.
Question 4: Why is 'secondary action' important to indicate in animation storyboard notes?
- To add detail and believability by showing smaller actions that support the main action (Correct answer)
- To identify the secondary character in a scene
- To mark backup storyboard panels in case the primary is rejected
- To indicate camera movements that occur after the main action
Correct answer: To add detail and believability by showing smaller actions that support the main action
Secondary actions (like hair swaying while a character walks or hands moving while talking) reinforce the main action and add depth and realism to the animation.
Question 5: What does 'follow-through' mean in the context of animation storyboard directions?
- Parts of a character or costume that continue to move after the main body has stopped (Correct answer)
- Completing all remaining storyboard panels before the deadline
- Following through with a camera pan after the main action ends
- The continuation of a storyline into the next episode
Correct answer: Parts of a character or costume that continue to move after the main body has stopped
Follow-through refers to loose parts (hair, clothing, tail) that continue moving after the main body stops due to momentum, adding realism and physical weight to characters.
Question 6: What is a 'layout drawing' in animation production and how does it follow from the storyboard?
- A detailed, to-scale drawing of camera framing, character placement, and background used as a guide for animators (Correct answer)
- A rough sketch of the scene before storyboarding begins
- A digital map of all scene file locations on the production server
- A drawing showing where each animator sits in the studio
Correct answer: A detailed, to-scale drawing of camera framing, character placement, and background used as a guide for animators
Layout drawings are precise, detailed interpretations of storyboard panels that establish the exact camera angle, character sizes, and background composition for the animation team to follow.
Storyboards Storyboard for Animation 2
What is the purpose of 'action panels' in an animation storyboard?