At Prolific Studio we are all about bringing ideas to life through the magic of animation.
Our animators follow a series of 10 crucial steps to make great animations. Starting from concept development, all the way up to the final product. As an animator, following each step is essential. It ensures the final animation connects with the audience on an emotional level and makes the desired impact.
Whether you are an aspiring animator, business owner, or a marketer, this blog will equip you with the knowledge of what goes behind this ‘magic’ that is helping brands stand out in the industry.
Here are the 10 key steps that our animators follow to make outstanding animations for our clients.
Step 1: Research
When searching for “how to create animated videos”, the first step many forget to talk about is “research”. For an animator, understanding the client is just as important as understanding their target audience.
This information helps you create animations that make a big impact and increases the chances of success. That’s why we start off by setting an initial meeting with our clients to learn about their goals, interests and desires.
We also guide them regarding budget and what’s trending to help them make the right decision, so they get the results they want within their budget.
Step 2: Concept Development
The next step is to start generating ideas and creating a script. You can use techniques like mind mapping and brainstorming to explore themes, characters, and storylines. This process gets your creativity running and sparks new ideas.
You can take assistance from existing animations, cultural references, and trends for inspiration. And establish themes and messages to develop strong character profiles that connect with the audience at an emotional level.
Finally, create a concept document to keep everyone aligned. Gather feedback and iterate to refine your concept and generate a script.
Step 3: Storyboarding
Next up is storyboarding. A storyboard is like a visual blueprint of your animation. It looks like a comic strip which shows each scene with key actions, camera angles, and transitions.
It helps animators visualize the story’s flow and spot any pacing issues. Storyboarding not only makes your vision clear but also helps everyone on your team stay aligned.
Step 4: Animation Techniques
Next is choosing the right animation style. There are different animation techniques, each offering unique styles and effects.
The most common ones are 2D animation, 3D animation, and stop-motion. 2D animation uses hand-drawn or digital images, 3D animation creates characters and settings in three dimensions, and stop-motion uses real objects and puppets.
Step 5: Character Design
Designing characters is a fun and necessary part of the animation process . You need to create characters that portray the brand and are memorable. Start by sketching different ideas for your characters, focusing on their shapes, colors, and unique features.
Think about how these elements show their personalities. Make a character sheet with different poses and expressions for consistency. Well-designed characters can attract viewers and strengthen your story.
Step 6: Background and Environment Design
The setting of your animation sets the mood and context for your story. Designing backgrounds involves creating the places where your characters live and act. Look at real-world locations or art styles that fit your story for inspiration.
Use techniques like layering and perspective to add depth and create detailed environments. A good background supports your characters and makes the animation more intense.
Step 7: Creating the Animation
This is where we answer the question of “how to make a animation.”
This step entails animators combining all the research, and other design elements and create the close to ready version of the animation.
They use animation techniques like rigging, and key framing to create a draft of the final animation. This animation process helps see the timing and flow of your animation.
Step 7: Adding Sound and Music
The next animation process is finding sound and music. They make your animation more exciting, complete and memorable. And set the emotional tone and pacing. Just Make sure the sound effects fit the on-screen actions.
Step 9: Editing and Refining
The stage of the animation process is all about editing and refining. Watch your animation to find any mistakes or areas to improve. Get feedback from friends or mentors for new ideas.
Edit, cut scenes, improve transitions, and add visual effects. Pay attention to the flow and emotional impact.
Final touches like color correction and sound balancing can make your animation look professional and refined.
Step 10: Rendering and Exporting
The last step of this animation how to is rendering and exporting your animation. Rendering turns your animation files into the final video, which can take time and computer power.
Make sure your settings are right for the final format, whether it’s for online sharing, film festivals, or your portfolio.
Common formats include MP4, MOV, and AVI. Check the final product to make sure it looks and sounds good. Export it with the correct resolution and audio sync.
Once your animation is done, you can share it with the world and show off your hard work and creativity.
From Ideation to Success
We hope this animation answers your query “how to create animation videos”. The animation process has 10 key steps that take you from coming up with an idea to finishing your project. Each step is important for making a great animation that connects with audiences.
If you are learning how to start animating, or how to make film animation, be creative, seek feedback, and keep improving your skills. Try starting a small animation project to apply what you’ve learned.
Whether you animate a short scene or a character, the experience will help you grow as a creator.
If you are looking for experts to create result-driving 2D or 3D animations for your business. We have an in-house team of expert animators who have over 5 years of experience helping brands make an impact. Contact us today.
