Animatics are an essential tool in the pre-production process of a commercial, allowing filmmakers and advertisers to visualize and refine their ideas before committing to a full-scale shoot. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of creating an animatic and provide tips and best practices for making an effective one.

Step 1: Storyboarding

The first step in creating an animatic is to create a storyboard, which is a series of sketches that outline the action and dialogue of the commercial. Storyboards help to visualize the commercial and plan out camera angles, movements, and timing. When creating a storyboard, it's important to keep it simple and focused, using clear and concise storytelling. We like to include notes for timing and dialogue and think about how the story will unfold in relation to the audio and music. There are a variety of animatic illustrators available for storyboarding, and it’s important to leverage the use of an storyboard illustrator that is specifically for animatics. This can often be overlooked and why Creative Taco can provide the right illustrator for your spot.

Step 2: Scripting

Once the storyboard is complete, the next step is to write a script for the animatic. A good script should be clear, concise, and focused, using active verbs and avoiding jargon. Typically this comes from the agency and the creatives. It's also important to consider the tone and style of the commercial and how the script will support that.

Step 3: Voiceover and Sound Effects

Voiceover and sound effects are an important part of an animatic, adding depth and emotion to the story. When selecting voiceover talent, it's important to choose a voice that matches the tone and style of the commercial and that can deliver the script effectively. When recording the audio, be sure to use high-quality equipment and minimize background noise. There are a variety of tools and software available for adding voiceover and sound effects, such as Adobe Audition and Pro Tools. Sometimes the agency has in house resources or leverages a proper sound facility. Often times to speed things along Creative Taco will provide a scratch track for timing purposes so we can hit the ground running for animation.

Step 4: Animation and Editing

Once the VoiceOver, or scratch track, and sound effects are added, the next step is to animate the storyboard and add transitions and effects to bring the animatic to life. This can be done using tools like Adobe After Effects, C4D, Adobe Premiere and other supporting software. When animating, it's important to use keyframes and easing to create smooth and seamless movement and to choose the right frame rate for the commercial. This is where a specialty animatic animator AND editor really shine. This is a dual discipline of understanding how to animate and then edit along the way. Animatics are a unique creative process and having a skilled, experienced animator / editor is essential to storytelling when it comes to animatics.

Step 5: Review and Iteration

The final step in creating an animatic is to review and iterate on it to ensure it meets the client's expectations and goals. This may involve getting feedback from the client and making changes based on that feedback. Tools like Trello and Asana can be helpful for managing revisions and tracking progress.

In conclusion, creating an animatic for commercial production involves several steps, including storyboarding, scripting, adding voiceover and sound effects, animating and editing, and reviewing and iterating. Each step is important in its own right and helps to visualize and refine the final product. By following these steps and using the tips and best practices outlined above, you can create an effective animatic that helps to bring your commercial vision to life.