Animation and Storyboarding
Animation is the art of making still images appear to move, and storyboarding is the planning tool used to map out each scene before animating.
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Animation is created by drawing or photographing a series of images that change slightly from one to the next. When those images are shown quickly in order, your brain blends them together and sees smooth movement. Before animators begin that work, they use a storyboard — a grid of sketched panels, like a comic strip — to plan what will happen in each moment of the animation, including camera angles, character positions, and actions.
Remember the rule
Plan before you draw: Storyboard FIRST, Animate SECOND. Every panel = one key moment.
Key words
- Frame
- One single drawing or photo in an animation. Many frames shown fast make movement.
- Frame Rate
- How many frames are shown per second (fps). Movies usually use 24 fps to look smooth.
- Storyboard
- A sequence of drawn panels that plans out the scenes of an animation before it is made.
- Panel
- One box in a storyboard that shows what the scene looks like at that moment.
- Persistence of Vision
- The way your brain holds onto an image for a split second, which makes fast-moving pictures look like they flow together.
- Flip Book
- A small book with slightly different drawings on each page that seem to move when you flip through them quickly.
- Key Frame
- An important drawing that shows the start or end of a major movement, like a character jumping up or landing.
- Scene
- A section of an animation that takes place in one location or time before cutting to something new.
Worked examples
A student wants to animate a bouncing ball. How many key frames do they need at minimum?
→ At least 3 key frames: (1) ball at the top before it drops, (2) ball squished flat at the bottom when it hits the ground, (3) ball back up in the air after bouncing. · These three positions capture the full movement; in-between frames can be added later to make it smoother.
You are storyboarding a 10-second scene of a dog running to its bowl. How many panels should you draw?
→ Draw at least 4–6 panels: (1) dog sitting, (2) dog starts running, (3) dog mid-run close-up, (4) bowl comes into view, (5) dog arrives at bowl, (6) dog eating. You do not need to draw every single frame — just the key moments. · Storyboard panels show major actions and camera changes, not every tiny movement.
A flip book has 30 pages. If you flip through all 30 pages in 2 seconds, what is the frame rate?
→ 30 frames divided by 2 seconds equals 15 fps. The animation runs at 15 frames per second. · This is below the 24 fps of movies, so it may look a little choppy but still works as animation.
What should a storyboard panel include besides the sketch?
→ Each panel should include: a small sketch of the scene, a note about camera angle (close-up, wide shot, bird's-eye view), a description of the action happening, and any important dialogue or sound effects written below the box.
A student draws all their animation frames the exact same size but forgets to think about camera angles in the storyboard. What is missing?
→ The storyboard is missing variety in camera angles. They should plan shots like: a wide shot to show the whole setting, a close-up to show a character's feelings, and a medium shot to show action. Without this planning, the animation will look flat and boring. · Camera angle choices are one of the most important things a storyboard helps you plan.
Common mistakes
- Drawing animation frames that are too different from one frame to the next, causing jumpy, hard-to-follow movement instead of smooth action.
- Skipping the storyboard and jumping straight into drawing animation frames, which leads to confusion about what happens next and wasted work.
- Forgetting to number frames in order, then mixing them up and losing track of the sequence.
- Making every storyboard panel look exactly the same with no change in camera angle or character position, which makes the animation feel static.
- Trying to make every single movement perfect on the first try instead of roughing out key frames first and adding details later.
FAQs
How is a storyboard different from a comic strip?
They look similar, but a storyboard is a planning tool just for the animator — it does not need to be pretty or finished. A comic strip is a final product meant to be read by an audience. Storyboard panels often include notes about camera angles and movement arrows that would never appear in a comic strip.
Do real professional animators actually use storyboards?
Yes, every major animated movie and TV show starts with a storyboard. Studios like Pixar and Disney have entire teams called story artists whose only job is to draw storyboards before any animation begins.
How many frames per second do I need to make something look like real animation?
A good rule is 12 fps for basic animation and 24 fps for smooth, film-quality animation. A flip book at even 8–10 fps can still look like movement, though it will appear a little jumpy.
What is the difference between a key frame and a regular frame?
A key frame shows the most important positions in a movement, like the very top of a jump or the moment a character lands. Regular in-between frames fill in the motion between those key poses to make the movement smooth. Animators always plan key frames first.
Can I make animation without fancy computer software?
Absolutely. A flip book made with sticky notes and a pencil is real animation. You can also use free apps like FlipaClip or even take photos of drawings with a tablet camera and string them together. The concept works the same no matter the tool.
What makes a storyboard panel clear enough to use?
A good panel has a simple sketch (stick figures are fine), a label for the camera angle, a one-sentence description of the action, and any key sounds or words. It does not need to be detailed art — it just needs to communicate the idea clearly to anyone who reads it.
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