Animatics Definition / Commercial Animatics
In essence, animatics are moving storyboards—but so much more. They are a powerful pre-production tool that maps out the visual flow of storytelling in a tv commercial, film or video. In advertising, commercial animatics are created and delivered for testing purposes before a concept goes into production. This deliverable is typically in video form with audio and moving images.
Animatics at ASB
At Animated Storyboards (ASB), there are many deliverable types to choose from. The base of deliverables typically fall into three main categories: storyboards, boardomatics and animatics/cinematics. Storyboards are individual static images. These files can be delivered as individual jpegs or placed in storyboard format, like comic books, webtoons and manga/manhwa. Boardomatics are storyboards arranged in an edited video sequence with audio. Zooms and pans are then incorporated to give the illusion of movement instead of animating the isolated pieces within the frame. These deliverables are similar to slideshow presentations with music and motion applied to the elements. Animatics/Cinematics are fully animated storyboards delivered as a video file, like cartoons and animated shorts/movies. The difference between Animatics and Cinematics is how the files are animated. Animatics typically use 2D Animation for flatter movement, while Cinematics utilize 3D motion-capture, which allows for fluid 360 degree movement.
We also offer different styles for each deliverable type: 2D, 3D and AI. For the 2D style option, you can choose from our roster of professional illustrators for a traditional, hand-drawn look. We offer the 3D style option in three looks—Realistic, Illustrated and Hybrid. 3D Realistic deliverables use 3D models and backgrounds with a realistic look. 3D Illustrated uses the same 3D models and backgrounds but applies outlines and shading for a more illustrated look. 3D Hybrid includes 3D illustrated models against 3D realistic backgrounds and elements.
Lastly, the AI option enhances our 3D capabilities, delivering a premium, ultra-realistic aesthetic. What sets us apart is our proprietary AI tools, developed in-house and trained on years’ worth of our own 3D material. This ensures all aspects of our work are rooted in our own content, eliminating any potential legal issues often associated with external sources or open software platforms. Essentially, we leverage your ideas, combine them with our expertise in animation, and execute the entire process offline and in-house, providing comprehensive support for full animation implementation.
Let’s dive into the specifics for each of these deliverables below.
Animatic Styles: Pros & Cons
If a hand-drawn look is a priority, we can offer 2D storyboards, 2D boardomatics or 2D animatics. For creative with complex actions, props and backgrounds, we can visualize and deliver your concepts as 3D storyboards, 3D boardomatics or 3D cinematics with AI enhancements if needed.
Professional Storyboards
Storyboards are the most recognizable and familiar pre-production tool—any industry involving creative production will typically require basic boards. Storyboards are delivered as individual static image files and therefore do not include any audio. Our 2D traditional boards are hand-drawn by a storyboard illustrator. Our 3D storyboards are composed of characters and backgrounds built out in 360, then arranged in desired positions for each frame. For 3D storyboards, ASB can also use our exclusive AI tool to generate characters and backgrounds.
Professional Storyboards: Pros & Cons
For 2D storyboards, we have over 50 illustrators on our roster to choose from. However, depending on the creative, 2D storyboards may take longer to deliver—revisions need to be hand-drawn and if consistency between multiple spots are desired, then only one illustrator can work on a given set of commercials or video. These potential limitations don’t apply for our 3D storyboards, which we can revise more quickly since we don’t rely only on one person—we have teams of animators working on each spot.
Boardomatics
In comparison to static storyboards, boardomatics are video deliverables that serve as a more enhanced pre-production tool. The difference is the addition of audio and motion—pans, zooms and basic cuts are applied to simulate movement within the frame, similar to the look and feel of an advanced slideshow presentation or moving picture book.
Boardmatics: Pros & Cons
2D boardomatics are also hand-drawn by a storyboard artist and have the same potential limitations as 2D storyboards. 3D boardomatics, like 3D storyboards, again use 3D modeling or AI to create each shot/frame, providing more flexibility during revisions. While more expensive than storyboards (given the audio and motion elements), boardomatics are the most cost-efficient option if video is preferred as the final deliverable. It also allows for better storytelling compared to still storyboards, since the audience can follow along at the pace and speed of the edit. Adding audio elements further enhance the visuals, setting the intended mood through voiceover tones and selected music.
2D Animatics and 3D Cinematics
Both 2D animatics and 3D cinematics are video deliverables with full audio and animations applied. Our 2D animatics most resemble cartoons and old Disney movies—simple animations are applied to custom illustrations by unique storyboard artists of your choosing from our roster. For our 3D cinematics, our motion-capture team records actions at our studio in New York City (the largest mocap studio on the east coast), then applies advanced animation to 3D and/or AI-generated models, elements and backgrounds. 3D cinematics have fluid, life-like movement and look most similar to animated shorts and movies, resulting in the most realistic visual map of your creative concept.
2D Animatic Pros & Cons
2D is the more traditional approach to animatics, where the test audience is less likely to confuse it for the final spot. With ASB, you get to select the exact type of illustrated look by choosing an artist from our roster. However, since 2D animatics rely on 1 artist for the entire animation (as opposed to 3D with teams of people working on each spot), the process can be slower, particularly if large revisions are needed, which could mean big schedule delays. While it may cost more than storyboards or boardomatics, 2D animatics are the most comprehensive and premium representation of a creative concept that requires a traditional, hand-drawn look.
3D Cinematic Pros & Cons
3D cinematics allow more flexibility and speed during revisions since instead of 1 professional storyboard artist, we have multiple teams working on each spot simultaneously. We can however still achieve an illustrated look by adding outlines and shading to the 3D/AI-generated elements and backgrounds, which are built from scratch by our 3D modelers. During motion capture, real-life movement is recorded, which is then applied to these 3D characters, resulting in fluid, life-like actions. Furthermore, 3D allows for better taste appeal since we can play with particle animation, adding steam to food or condensing to cold glass.
Conclusion
Some ideas are powerful as they are simple, and storyboards or boardomatics could be enough. For more complex and nuanced ideas, animatics or cinematics may be the only way to accurately convey them. Regardless of style or option, animatics are an important tool to ensure the success of your creative concepts.
