Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features and Shorts

471 Pages·2017·18.79 MB·English

by  Nancy Beiman

PREPARE TO BOARD!
THIRD EDITION
NANCY BEIMAN
PREPARE TO BOARD!
THIRD EDITION
CREATING STORY AND CHARACTERS FOR
ANIMATED FEATURES AND SHORTS
CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Beiman, Nancy, author.
Title: Prepare to board! : creating story and characters for animated films / Nancy Beiman.
Description: 3rd edition. | Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2017. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016035596 | ISBN 9781498797009 (pbk. : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Animated
films--Authorship. | Animation (Cinematography) | Cartoon characters.
Classification: LCC NC1765 .B38 2017 | DDC 791.43/34--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016035596
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Dedication
This book is dedicated to A. Kendall (Ken) O’Connor—a brilliant layout man, designer, draftsman, story
man, art director, and teacher who was able to explain everything from how a caterpillar’s muscles move to
why a 1926 trash can silhouette differs from that of a modern one. In story, these things matter! Ken was
also learning about computer graphics when he was in his eighties. He was always seeking better ways to
tell a story. So this is once again for you, Ken. “Circumstances alter cases!”
Contents Acknowledgments
Author
Introduction to the Third Edition
Section I Getting Started
1 First Catch Your Rabbit: Creating Concepts and Characters
Logging In: Finding an Idea
Walking the Story Line
Story Outline and Character Explorations
Shopping for Story: Creating Outlines
Where and When Does This Story Take Place?
Getting the Treatment and Beginning Character Development
A Story Should Always be Told by the Most Interesting Characters
Nothing Is Normal: Researching Action
2 How Storyboard Took Over the Movies (and Television)
Live-Action and Animation Boards
The Hybrid Film
Graphic Novels: Shaping the Frame
Screen Ratios: The Fixed Frame
Television Boards and Feature Boards
Commercial Storyboard: An Interview with Elliot Cowan
Who Loves Short Shorts?
3 Putting Yourself into Your Work
Symbolic Animals and Objects
See You Later, Allegory
The Newsman’s Story Guide: Who, What, When, Where, and Why
4 Situation and Character Driven Stories
Linear Stories
Character Arcs and Story Subtexts
Nonlinear Stories
Formulaic Characters and Stories
“What If?” The Possible Story
Defining Conflict and Story Arcs
Stealing the Show
Parodies and Pastiches
Beginning at the Ending: The Tex Avery “Twist”
5 Treat ‘em Rough: Beginning Character Design and Setting Story Rules
The Line of Beauty and the Line of Action
Establishing Story Rules
6 Appealing or Appalling? Designing Characters with Personality
Form Follows Function
Size Matters: The Importance of Scale
Reading the Design: Silhouette Value
Scale and Storytelling
Getting Into Character
Foundation Shapes and Their Meaning
Evolving the Characters
The Shape of Things
7 Working with Multiple Characters
Triple Trouble: Contrasts in Design
Tying It Down: Standardizing Your Design
My Good Side: Choosing the Best Angles
Getting Pushy with Prop Designs
Designing Locations with the Characters
8 Beauties and Beasts: Creating Character Contrasts in Design
I Feel Pretty! Changing Standards of Beauty
A Face That Only a Mother Could Love?
Gods and Monsters: Contrasting Appearance and Personality
9 Color and Design in Storytelling
Location, Location, Location
Establishing Shots
Colorful Characters
Symbolic Colors
I Can See Clearly Now: Reference and Atmosphere
Section II Technique
10 Starting Story Sketch: Thumbnails and Tonal Sketches
All Thumbs: Quick Sketches and Thumbnails
How and Why Do You Thumbnail a Sequence for a Storyboard?
Reality Is Overrated
Graphic Images Ahead!
The Drama in the Drawings: Using Contrast to Direct the Eye
The Best-Laid Floor Plans
11 Boarding Time: Getting with the Story Beat
Working to the Beat
Sizing Things Up
Beat Board to Storyboard
How Many Panels in a Story Beat?
12 Roughing It: Basic Staging
Made You Look: Directing the Eye
I’m Ready for My Close-Up: Storyboard Cinematography
Structure: The Mind’s Eye
The Wonderful World of Color Accents and Color Keys
13 The Big Picture: Creating Story Sequences
Types of Sequences
Story and Character Arcs in Longer Films
Sequential Construction in Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Act One
Act Two