Animating Ideas: The Pre-production of Motion Graphics
Even the simplest animations or motion graphics start with many planning and pre-production steps. Whether creating a character-driven story through animation or designing a motion graphic for content promotion, a preliminary phase is essential for success. There are 3 critical stages within the setup process for an animation or motion graphic project: concept development, pre-visualization, and asset building. By harnessing these methods, one can easily create a fantastic motion piece.
Concept Development
The first step in pre-production involves developing your ideas. Put it all out on the table. There are no dumb ideas in concept development. One way to kickstart this is to start with a creative brief. When working with a client, a creative brief should be given by them to you, and it should detail the client's aims and objectives for the project. However, if there is no client and this is a school or personal project, try to construct your own creative brief. Start by defining the 5 W's:
What is it? Short film, PSA, advertisement, trailer, documentary, etc.
Who is it for? Adults, children, demographics, etc.
What is the objective? How will this affect the audience?
When is it due? Use a calendar to help plan benchmarks
After completing this, you should now have a better idea of what your project is. Even though you may have a good idea of what your project is already, getting this all out on paper can help tremendously and act as a guide for you later on.
To further expand your ideas, try to create a mind map. Start with a general big idea that encompasses the essence of your project. Then, begin writing everything that pops into your mind related to that big idea. You can branch off and write down ideas related to ideas, whatever gets your mind going. From here, circle a few standout phrases or words from your mind map. These words will be a guiding force throughout the animation process. This practice is also most effective if done on paper, but whatever materials you have should create a similar effect. After completing these exercises, the tone and plot of your project should take shape.
Pre-visualization
Now that you have a general idea of what your animation or graphic is about, it is time to start visualizing its content. There are many ways to dive into pre-visualization, with some involving personal sketching or character rendering. However, if you are not an artist, no worries! Start off with references and research to help your ideas come to life. Collecting an assortment of typefaces, motion references, and color palettes can help you experiment with visual direction, bringing you closer to that final product.
Using internet sources like Google Images and Pinterest is a great start. However, you can also use the world around you as your personal inspiration bank. If you are at the mall and spot a typeface you like, snap a pic of it! The same goes for color palettes and any stylized items you come across. The world is truly your oyster when it comes to finding visual inspiration.
Asset Building
Once you have completed the pre-visualization process, you can now move on to asset building. Your assets will be all finalized versions of what you plan to use to build your project. This, again, includes a final color palette, typefaces, and any motion plan you have. It would help if you aimed to complete all of your assets before the animation process. This will ensure you have everything you need without having to go backward once you are in the thick of things.
It is essential that with asset building, there is clear organization. Keeping well-marked files and storing them on an external drive will ensure there are no lost files once you get to animating.
Final Comments
In conclusion, motion graphics and animation require a thorough pre-production phase consisting of concept development, pre-visualization, and asset building. Even the most straightforward animations should follow these methods in order to create a seamless design. With a well-organized and thought-out approach, one can create impressive motion graphics.
Hi! My name is Kristin Ardese and I am a professional Graphic Designer and Marketing Strategist. I hope that by sharing some of my expertise, I can help offer valuable insights and build an engaging community.
