Storyboard sketches

Storyboard sketches are sequential drawings that plan scenes for films, animations and commercials, serving as a visual script.

About this subject

Storyboards are essential tools in audiovisual pre-production. First created by Disney animators in the 1930s, they allow visualization of the narrative before filming. Each panel represents a shot or camera change, including notes on dialogue, movement, and timing. Directors like Alfred Hitchcock used detailed storyboards to control tension in scenes such as the shower in "Psycho".

In contemporary cinema, storyboards have evolved into animatics (animated storyboards with audio). They are crucial for budget and logistics: a complex action scene, like car chases in the "Fast & Furious" franchise, requires precise storyboards to coordinate stunt performers and visual effects. Even in the digital age, many directors prefer hand-drawn sketches for speed and expressiveness.

Trivia: the storyboard for Steven Spielberg's "E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial" had nearly 3,000 drawings. In animations like "Toy Story", each second of film required about 12 storyboard panels to define key poses. Storyboard artists typically work with pens and markers, using quick shading to indicate lighting and emotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a storyboard and an animatic?

A storyboard is a set of static sequential drawings. An animatic is the animated version of the storyboard, with real-time cuts and temporary audio, used to test pacing and sound.

What materials are used to create storyboards?

Traditionally, pens, pencils, and markers on paper. Today, graphic tablets with software like Storyboard Pro or Photoshop are also common.

Are storyboards only used in films?

No. They are also common in commercials, music videos, video games, architecture (to explain projects), and even in event or show planning.