Anime

Everything starts with an idea, which is then shaped into a screenplay by writers. This phase includes outlining the plot, developing characters, and writing dialogue.

Concept artists and painters establish the look and feel of the film. They design the characters, environments, props, and color palettes, translating the script into visual concepts.

Storyboard artists take the script and draw sequential panels (like a comic book) to map out every shot in the movie. This is where the pacing, camera angles, and action staging are determined.

Voice actors record their lines early in the process. Animators use these vocal performances as a guide to time their animation and match mouth movements. (Temporary voice tracks, called "scratch," are often used initially and later replaced by professional actors or stars).

The storyboards are edited together with the scratch audio and temporary sound effects into a video reel. This acts as a working blueprint of the entire movie, allowing the director to cut scenes, change pacing, or rewrite jokes before spending money on animation.