The first step to getting an animation underway is the script. It is the foundation that everything else gets built upon. It usually takes a few revisions to refine the language ready for the next step—storyboarding. But before you fire up Word, read our top tips and get started the right way.
Start with bullet points and determine your key messages. Then flesh out those bullet points with a start and end to help frame and structure the information.
Reduce the jargon and keep it conversational, with clear language. This helps the audience engage with the key points and makes the information more accessible.
What tone are you trying to get across? Warm…Lively…Authoritative?
A voiceover helps give tone to the animation – but voiceover artists are guided by what is written. Are you getting across the feeling you want through your language?
Read the script aloud, or get a colleague to read it to you, and time it. How does it sound? Are your points clear and engaging? Are you keeping to your time limit? There will likely be extra space and pauses in the final animation, so keep that in mind.
People have short attention spans and you want to keep them interested. Make sure you are getting across all the key messages you want in a brief and focused way.
Generally speaking, the length of a script impacts the cost of animation. The longer the script, the longer the animation takes to make: more storyboarding, more illustration, and more animation… If budget is of concern, keeping the script short helps to keep costs down.
And remember, if you need help, we are here to help guide you through the process.