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What is an Animatic?
James Chambers, Boords Founder
Updated 7 October 2022
An animatic is defined as series of images played in sequence, often with a
soundtrack. In essence, it's an animated storyboard.
What's the definition of an animatic?
Animatics in pre-production
Animatic vs Storyboard - what's the difference?
Animatic vs Animation - what's the difference?
What are the benefits of an animatic?
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What's the definition of an animatic?

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An animatic vs a finished animation
The goal of an animatic is to define the timing for a piece of moving image. When
used with a soundtrack, they're a quick and easy way to get a sense of a finished
piece of moving image.
Animatics are created by playing a series of images in order and changing the
timing on each frame. Timings changes are used to create a sense of pace.
Originally, animatics were created by filming drawings with a camera, then editing
the film to various scenes. Today you can create an animatic in Photoshop, After
Effects, or specialist animatic software like Boords.

An animatic from Tend, made using Boords

Animatics are at the heart of the pre-

production process
Pre-production is the multi-stage process which happens before a film or animation
comes to life. Animatics are made after storyboarding, but before the design phase:
Name Purpose
Stage 1 Concepting Define your idea
Stage 2 Scripting Draft your story
Stage 3 Storyboarding Plan your scenes
Stage 4 Animatic Define pace & timing
Stage 5 Design Define visual approach
Stage 6 Logistics Plan the production process

Animatic vs Storyboard
Animatics use the same images as storyboards, but stitched together in sequence
and rendered as video.

A storyboard becomes an animatic in Boords

Although animatics and storyboards share the same images, there are some
fundamental differences between the two:
Animatic Storyboard
Low-res images ✅ ✅
Written frame descriptions ✅
Subtitles ✅
Video output ✅
Varying frame lengths ✅
Audio/Soundtrack ✅

Animatic vs Animation
Animatics are used to plan an animation, and use low-resolution images to convey
timing, rather than the look and feel of the final piece. An animatic is the pre-cursor
to the final animation, and is a key part of the planning process.
This example from Tend shows how an animatic is used to guide the final animation.
The key scenes have been sketched (or 'scamped') and timed out. These timings are
then used as a guide by the animators working on the final piece.
The animatic vs the finished animation

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What are the benefits of an animatic?

Animatics are quick to produce

If you've already created a storyboard for your film or animation, it's easy to make
an animatic using your storyboard images. Specialist software like Boords allows you
to turn your storyboards into animatics automatically.
Animatics are a reference point

When working on your final animation, you can refer back to your animatic to get a
reference for frame timing. Without this, it's easy to get lost in the detail of your film
and lose sight of the overarching story you're telling.
Animatics help you make quick changes

Because animatics use working sketching, not final images, you won't feel bad about
ditching a scenes if it doesn't work. Saying goodbye to a cherished piece of
character design in a finished animation can be much more difficult.
Animatics create consensus

An animatic is the first time your team wil have seen your film in motion. It's the
perfect opportunity for stakeholders to air their thoughts on how the piece feels,
and for the creative team to make changes.
Animatics save you time (and money)

Animatics are useful because you can get a sense of the timing of a piece, without
spending hours filming (or in the case of animation, drawing) the finished piece. They
help you decide what works, and what doesn't before you commit time and
resources. Creating film or animation is an expensive business. An animatic is the
most efficient way of bridging the gap between planning and production.
Related links

How to Make an Animatic Photoshop Animatics

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The Shortcut
to Effective
Storyboards
Boords is an easy-to-use storyboarding tool to
plan creative projects.
Get started for free
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 ONLINE STORYBOARDING SOFTWARE

The Shortcut
to Effective
Storyboards
Boords is an easy-to-use storyboarding tool to
plan creative projects.
Get started for free
FREE FOREVER – NO CREDIT CARD

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