Top 10 Production Terms To Create Animated Videos
When working in animation, whether it’s your first or 100th project, there is terminology that a studio will use to describe the process and technical aspects of how your video is created.
Every team member can utilize a few key definitions in an animated production.
1. Creative Pipeline
This is the term animators use to describe the process by which animation is created. Typically, it will refer to how we plan to achieve the specific style of a project.
2. 2D
Technically, the D refers to the ‘dimensions,’ and you use two of them (X and Y) to create your images. These days though, “2D” refers to an applied visual style where objects' perspective and shape have been removed.
3. 3D
Three-dimensional (3D) images use digital versions of real-world light and camera settings to create digital 2D images that look like they have depth and perspective. In our book, “3D” refers to an applied visual style where we see an objects' perspective and shape. It also hints at the type of pipeline we need to use.
Did you know? 💡
Three-dimensional (3D) rendered images can be made to look two-dimensional (2D) and vice versa! These images all contain 3D characters that were made to look 2D.
4. AV Script
This document describes the Audio (A) and the Visual(V) components of the story. AV Scripts help plan your animation in two dimensions and answer some fundamental questions: What will your audience see? What will your audience hear?
5. Concepts
This is both the name of a stage in our creative pipeline and the name of a document. Concepts refer to the first time you will see a visual representation of your script within a specific style. Sometimes more than one style can be presented at the Concepts stage using a “concepts document”. Tricky, right?
6. Assets
These are typically images, icons, designs, models, or other elements used throughout a project.
Did you know? 💡
Many of these terms are similar across the industry, but every studio will have a different process and internal terms. If you are ever unsure about one of our terms, just ask!
7. Mood board
This document describes visually what the video will “feel” like. Typically, it’s a collage of different reference images that give a sense of color scheme and “tone.” Sometimes, it will include a description of the style, and how it will be achieved within your specific project.
8. Storyboards
This is a document that describes visually what the story will be. Typically, It’s broken down by shots or panels, or frames. Sometimes, it will be accompanied by a description of what the audience will hear.
9. LookDev or VisDev
These terms are short for “Look or Visual Development.” Concepts and/or Style Frames are created to showcase what objects, characters, or other assets will look like. In larger productions, a section of time in the creative pipeline is dedicated to discovering the “look” of the project.
10. Deliverables
These are the documents, files, or elements we will give you at specific points in our creative pipeline. Typically they are associated with milestone dates.