Storyboard
Visual pre-planning of scenes through sequential drawings showing key moments and compositions.
What is Storyboard?
A storyboard is a sequence of drawings or images displayed in order to visualise a motion graphics project, video, or animation before production begins. Each frame represents a key moment, showing composition, camera angle, character positions, and text placement while notes provide information about action, dialogue, and timing.
Storyboarding is a critical pre-production tool that saves significant time and resources by identifying problems and gaining approval before expensive production work begins. A well-developed storyboard serves as a visual script that guides the entire production team and ensures everyone shares the same vision for the final product.
In motion graphics specifically, storyboards may include more technical annotations than in narrative film production. Motion direction arrows indicate animation paths. Notes describe timing and easing. Effect treatments are sketched to show intended visual style. This additional detail helps translate the storyboard into animation accurately.
While storyboard quality varies from simple sketches to polished illustrations, the primary purpose is communication, not artwork. The best storyboards clearly convey intent regardless of artistic refinement. That said, client-facing storyboards often benefit from more polish to help stakeholders visualise the final product.
How Does Storyboard Work?
The storyboarding process typically begins with a script or brief that defines the content. The artist reads through the material, identifying key moments that need visual representation. These moments become individual frames in the storyboard sequence.
Each frame is sketched to show composition, subject positions, and significant elements. Drawing quality varies by purpose and time available. Presentation storyboards for clients receive more polish; working storyboards for production teams may be quick sketches.
Annotations accompany each frame. Dialogue or voiceover is written below or beside the frame. Action descriptions explain movement. Technical notes specify camera moves, transitions, or effects. Arrows may indicate motion direction.
Review and revision follow initial creation. Directors, clients, or team members provide feedback. Changes are incorporated through new frames or annotations. Formal sign-off establishes the approved storyboard as the production guide.
Key Benefits and Importance
- Identifies potential problems before production begins
- Provides clear communication tool for teams and clients
- Enables accurate scheduling and resource allocation
- Creates shared vision among all project stakeholders
- Saves money by reducing revisions during production
- Documents approved creative direction for reference
Common Use Cases
- •Commercial and advertising pre-production
- •Explainer video planning and client approval
- •Film and television production planning
- •Animation project development
- •Client presentations and pitches
- •Internal team alignment on creative direction
Best Practices for Storyboard
Read and understand the entire script before beginning storyboards
Sketch rough thumbnails first to plan overall sequence before detailed frames
Maintain consistent character design and scaling across frames
Include establishing shots and transitions between scenes
Label all frames with scene and shot numbers for clear reference
Keep copies of approved storyboards for post-production reference
Industry Applications
Advertising agencies create storyboards as standard practice for commercial production. Client approval of storyboards precedes any production spending. Animatic testing of storyboard sequences validates concepts before commitment to full production.
Animation studios use extensive storyboarding throughout development. Feature animation projects may produce thousands of storyboard frames. The storyboard becomes the primary document guiding all subsequent production work.
Corporate video production uses storyboards to align stakeholders before filming or animation. For projects with multiple approvers, storyboards provide a concrete reference point that reduces miscommunication.
Explainer video companies rely on storyboards to translate client messages into visual narratives. The storyboard review process ensures the explanation is logical, complete, and engaging before animation begins.
Technical Details
Traditional storyboards use paper frames arranged on boards. Digital storyboarding uses software ranging from simple drawing apps to specialised tools like Storyboard Pro, Boords, or FrameForge.
Standard storyboard frames use aspect ratios matching the intended output. A 16:9 production uses 16:9 frames. Maintaining correct proportions ensures compositions translate accurately to final output.
Frame numbering conventions vary but typically follow scene-shot-frame format (e.g., 2-5-A indicates scene 2, shot 5, frame A). This system allows easy reference and clear communication about specific moments.
Digital storyboards may include video elements, temporary audio, or basic motion. The line between detailed digital storyboard and animatic blurs as tools enable more dynamic presentation of storyboard content.
Pro Tips and Common Mistakes
- →Focus on communicating ideas clearly rather than artistic perfection
- →Include all essential information: action, dialogue, timing, transitions
- →Number frames for easy reference in discussions
- →Create additional detail frames for complex sequences
- ✗Spending too much time on artistic quality at the expense of productivity
- ✗Omitting important technical information that affects production
- ✗Creating storyboards without understanding the script thoroughly
- ✗Not getting formal approval before proceeding to production