A story-board is a sequence of events, characters and situations of a story explained in the form of sketches.
A story may be told verbally or in written script. A graphic presentation of story is usually called a picture story. If the picture story is made specifically for a feature film or animation movie with details of camera, action, BG, dialogues, music and duration of each scene, then it is described as a story board.
Story- boards assume complexity if they are specially made for animation. Each scene is indicative of length of the movie in terms of frames. The number of frames that are required for a scene, the special effects and the action etc. described in the story make the story- board all the more detailed and exhaustive.
To understand the basics of a story-board let us take the story, “Slow and steady wins the race”.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
A rabbit invites a tortoise for a running race. The tortoise knows that he is not the right match for the rabbit. Yet he nods his head. The rabbit being a natural sprinter starts off very fast. He even takes rest midway and dozes off. By the time he realizes, it is too late. The tortoise is already at the finishing point and is declared the winner. Though slow, the steady tortoise wins the race.
The story –board for the above story should be constructed for the following scenes. For each scene four basic questions need to be answered.
Who, Where, When and Why? The four ‘W’s constitute the essentials of any storyboard.
Scene # 1
- Who:
Rabbit and tortoise in conversation.
- Where:
On a green turf, near the Start-line.
- When:
Day-time, at sun rise.
- Why:
(Story: A rabbit invites a tortoise for a race)
Scene # 2
- Who:
Rabbit and tortoise start off.
- Where:
They are at the Start line.
- When:
Morning time
- Why:
(Story:The tortoise nods his head)
Scene # 3
- Who:
Rabbit is off to a quick start(Front view) Tortoise is far behind.
- Where:
On Race Track.
- When:
Morning time
- Why:
(The rabbit is a natural sprinter)
Scene # 4
- Who:
Rabbit is far ahead.
- Where:
On Race Track
- When:
Noon Time
- Why:
(Rabbit takes off very fast)
Scene # 5
- Who:
Tortoise walking (Back view of tortoise) Rabbit not visible
- Where:
On Race Track.
- When:
Noon Time.
- Why:
(Rabit is far ahead)
Scene # 6
- Who:
Rabbit is resting.
- Where:
Under a tree.
- When:
Noon time
- Why:
(Rabbit dozes off)
Scene # 7
- Who:
Rabbit sleeping (Close up).
- Where:
Under a tree.
- When:
Noon time.
- Why:
Tortoise in the foreground enters frame and exits
Scene # 8
- Who:
Rabbit gets up (close up).
- Where:
Under a tree.
- When:
About to dusk.
(The time of day following sunset).
- Why:
(Rabbit realizes)
Scene # 9
- Who:
Rabbit is surprised (close up).
- Where:
Under tree.
- When:
About to dusk.
(The time of day following sunset).
- Why:
- - - -
Scene # 10
- Who:
Rabbit moves off the frame in a hurry (close up).
- Where:
Away from tree.
- When:
About to dusk.
(The time of day following sunset).
- Why:
- - -
Scene # 11
- Who:
Tortoise (mid close up).
- Where:
At the finishing line
- When:
Sun about to set.
- Why:
( Tortoise is declared the winner)
Scene # 12
- Title:
The End.
Moral of the story:
”Slow and steady wins the race!"
The picture story can be presented in 12 boxes each box representing a scene.
This is a rough story-board.
With the characters well designed, colorful back ground layouts, action details, dialogues and duration of each action specified by number of frames, the rough story-board can be further enhanced for animation.
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