Where do I start?

Build your skills in the development of story ideas that will command an audience for your 2-5 minute animated short. Packed with illustrated examples of idea generation, character and story development, acting, dialogue and storyboarding practice this is your conceptual toolkit proven to meet the challenges of this unique art form. The companion DVD includes in-depth interviews with industry insiders, 18 short animations (many with accompanying animatics, character designs and environment designs) and an acting workshop to get your animated short off to a flying start! With Ideas for the Animated Short you'll learn about: Story Background and Theory * Building Better Content * Acting: Exploring the Human Condition * Building Character and Location * Building Story * Dialogue * Storyboarding * Staging * This unique creative toolkit for idea generation and refinement is short and to the point, focused on the basic principles you need to know * The companion DVD contains professional and student animations (including preparatory sketches and storyboards) to demonstrate effective techniques and imaginative results * Packed with inspirational interviews and behind-the-scenes work from top professionals from Sony, Pixar and Disney

Francis Glebas, a top Disney storyboard artist, teaches artists a structural approach to clearly and dramatically presenting visual stories. They will learn classic visual storytelling techniques such as conveying meaning with images and directing the viewer's eye. Glebas also teaches how to spot potential problems before they cost time and money, and he offers creative solutions on how to solve them. * Uses the classic story of '1001 Arabian Nights' to show how to storyboard stories that will engage an audience's attention and emotions. * With 1001 drawings in graphic novel format plus teaching concepts and commentary. * All of the storyboarding examples have a real project context rather to engage a very visual audience on their own terms and teaches through demonstration.