How Animated Movies Are Made

Animated films can take years to make. Hundreds of artists work together, and every second of the final film is carefully planned.

Step 1: The Story

Every film begins with an idea. Writers shape it into a script, and artists make a storyboard, which is a comic-strip version of the film showing each important moment.

Step 2: Design

Artists design the characters, settings, and colors. They draw characters from many angles so everyone on the team keeps them looking the same.

Step 3: Voices

Actors record the dialogue, often before the animation begins. Animators can then match a character’s expressions to the performance.

Step 4: Animation

There are three main styles:

• Hand-drawn (2D): Artists draw each pose, and the drawings are shown quickly to create movement.
• Computer (3D): Characters are built as digital models and moved by animators on computers.
• Stop-motion: Real models are moved a tiny amount and photographed, again and again.

Step 5: Lighting and Effects

Artists add light, shadows, water, smoke, and magic sparkles to make scenes feel real or fantastical.

Step 6: Music and Sound

Composers write the score and sound teams add footsteps, wind, and other effects.

Try This at Home

Draw a stick figure on the corner of each page of a small notebook, changing it slightly each time. Flip the pages fast to make your own flipbook animation.