What Makes a Good Story Board

A good story board conveys a story clearly using pictures to time out the memorable actions, so that when they are put to animation the acting is clearly staged. Using pictures to show a story instead of words allows understanding of the animation from an actor’s perspective. The story board can be used to show camera angles and editing techniques for different shots of the animation. Simplicity is a key to good story boards, if a scene is too complicated it will be difficult to see what the animation is trying to convey. Continuity is important to avoid errors when animating as well as to keep the flow of the story. The story should be set out as follows, first introduce your story through the character and the conflict they end up in as well as what starts off the conflict. Next set up the gags and story beats to add character and emotion. Lastly subvert the audiences expectations, doing something unexpected will surprise the audience, a twist in the story. Focus on the animation principles and where they can be used to create a more fluid and well timed animation. Lastly the principles as well as clever psychological gestures and mannerisms will bring the animation to life through the storyboard.