Glossery of Animation terms

Under Construction bunny
  • Animatic - A series of storyboard images (Normally accompanied by Audio) stitched together into a video. Most often Animatics are used to plan animation and pace timing. They do not normally define the look or feel of the final piece.

  • Asset - This is how we describe any and all elements in a given scene. Characters, Props, Backgrounds and Environments are all considered different assets.

  • Asset Assignment - Most commonly used on Rigged animation productions this is the process of linking assets to the specific scenes/cuts they are used in. This can be done in a production/asset tracking software like Flow (formally shotgrid,) or Reel in Motion, but it can also be done in free spread sheets. It lets anyone looking at the shot information know what rigs are meant to be in the shot so that there is no confusion when interpreting the storyboard/animatic.

  • ADR - Stands for Additional Dialogue Recording. At different points in a production we may need audio re-recorded. It can be that the take was not hitting right, or we need a new take to fit the animation due to a change. In the later we will have done some scratch audio on our side and the voice actor will have to try and match to the animation.

  • Alts - We use this as a short form for alternative, referring specifically to the voice actors performance. Sometimes we will ask for alts of different line readings to provide different nuances on things like emotions. Can we get an alt -take that is more cheerful?

  • Blocking Pass - The blocking / layout pass is your first stage in animating. Normally only consisting of key posing.

  • BG Plate - A painted element intended to be used in a 3D environment. The goal is to utilize these where we can to cut down on what needs to be modeled. Often for things that don’t require character interaction.

  • Storyboard - this is the process of taking the script (and often voice recording) into a panel by panel.

  • Screen Left/Right - We use SL and SR in order to give specific notes. If someone gave the note, Character turns right it could cause confusion. Is it the characters right? Or is it the viewers right? Characater turns SR is definitive on what the intent is.