What is a Storyboard?

A storyboard is a graphic tool that consists of a sequence of drawings, with corresponding descriptions or comments, that represent the scenes planned for a movie, television program, animation production, video game, multimedia presentation, commercial, among others. It serves as a visual guide to visualize the sequence of the narrative, helping to preview the transition between scenes and describe specific details.

The main purpose of a storyboard is to provide a visual representation of how the content will be developed, helping production teams to organize and plan the recording or animation of scenes.

Elements of a Storyboard

The storyboard is usually composed of a series of key elements, which we will briefly describe below:

• Illustrations/Images: these represent the main actions of the scene. They do not necessarily have to be detailed drawings, but are often quick sketches showing framing, characters and key elements.
• Notes or Descriptions: Next to each illustration, annotations can be added to describe what is happening, any key dialogue, sounds, music, camera movements, etc.
• Transitions: Indicate how you move from one scene to another, such as a fade or cut.
• Camera angles and movements: You can specify details such as close-ups, wide shots, pans, zooms, among others.

The process of creating a storyboard helps identify potential problems before production begins and allows everyone involved in the project to have a clear understanding of how the story should develop visually.

what is the Storyboard for?

During the production process, the storyboard serves multiple purposes:

• Visualization: Before production begins, the storyboard provides a graphic representation of the project, allowing you to visualize how the narrative will unfold from start to finish.
• Production planning: Production teams can plan precisely what scenes need to be shot, what elements or props will be needed, and in what order to shoot or animate the scenes.
• Saving time and resources: Identifying and fixing problems at the storyboard stage can prevent costly mistakes during production. For example, if a scene is unnecessary or redundant, it is easier and cheaper to eliminate it at the storyboard stage than after it has been shot.
• Communication and collaboration: It serves as a communication tool between all parties involved in the production. Directors, producers, writers, art directors, animators and other team members can refer to the storyboard to make sure everyone is on the same page about the direction and vision of the project.
• Creative decisions: The process of creating a storyboard allows creators to make decisions about things like composition, lighting, camera movement and transitions between scenes well in advance of the actual production.
• Pacing and timing: For productions such as animations, where timing and pacing are critical, the storyboard helps establish the pace of the story, determining how long each scene will last and how they will relate to each other.
• Guide for animation: In the world of animation, the storyboard is especially important because it acts as a roadmap for animators, showing them exactly how characters should move and how the action unfolds.
• Presentation to Stakeholders: For those seeking funding or approval for a project, a storyboard can be a valuable tool for presenting the idea to investors, producers or clients, visually showing how the story or concept will develop.

How to create or design a Storyboard

Designing a storyboard involves turning a story idea or script into a series of visual images. While each person or team may have their own methodology, here are guidelines for a general process for creating a storyboard:

Read and understand the script

Before drawing any images, it is essential to thoroughly understand the script or concept. Identify key moments, emotions and transitions.

Make a list of the scenes

Divide the script into logical scenes or sections. This division will help you organize your ideas and decide how many panels you need for each segment.

Decide on the format

Depending on the type of production (film, commercial, corporate video, animation, etc.), the storyboard may require more or less detail. Decide if you only need basic images or if you also need to include camera movement, dialogues, sounds, among other details.

Draw a quick sketch

Before you do the final storyboard, do some quick sketches to get an idea of how the scenes will look and how they will flow together. These sketches don’t need to be perfect.

Create the storyboard panels

• Draw the images: Use the sketches as a guide and start drawing the scenes in detail. You don’t need to be an expert artist; the images just need to be clear and communicate the essential idea of each scene.
• Add annotations: Write notes about camera movement, transitions, special effects, dialogue or any other relevant details.
• Indicate movement: If something is moving in the scene (characters, cameras, objects), use arrows or lines to indicate the direction and nature of the movement.

Review and adjust

Once you have completed your first draft of the storyboard, review it and make adjustments as needed. It may be helpful to get feedback from other team members or people familiar with the story.

Finalize the storyboard

Based on the comments and revisions, make final adjustments to your storyboard. Make sure everything flows smoothly and that the visual narrative is consistent.

Share and communicate

Present the storyboard to the production team and anyone else involved. Make sure everyone understands the flow of the scenes and the creative decisions made.

Storyboarding Tools and Resources

While many artists prefer to work on paper, there are numerous digital tools that can make storyboarding easier. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Storyboard That, and Toon Boom Storyboard Pro are popular choices. Some programs are designed specifically for storyboarding and offer additional features that can be useful.

Regardless of the medium you choose, the most important thing is that your storyboard clearly communicates your ideas and serves as an effective guide for production.

Differences between a Storyboard and a Moodboard

Both the storyboard and moodboard are visual tools used at different stages of the creative process, but they have different purposes and characteristics. Here are the main differences between these two tools so that you are clear on both concepts:

Purpose

• Storyboard: Its main purpose is to present a narrative or story in a sequential way. It is a visual guide that shows how a scene or series of scenes will develop in an audiovisual production, such as a movie, commercial or video game.
• Moodboard: A collection of images, textures, colors, typographies and other elements that represent a certain style, atmosphere or mood. It is mainly used to capture and communicate the stylistic or emotional direction of a project.

Structure

• Storyboard: It is structured sequentially. Each panel represents a specific scene or moment, and together, the panels tell a story in order.
• Moodboard: It does not have a sequential structure. It is more of a collage of elements that, together, capture a certain aesthetic or emotion.

Usage

• Storyboard: It is mainly used in audiovisual production to plan movies, TV shows, commercials, animations, etc.
• Moodboard: Used in a variety of disciplines, from graphic design and fashion to interior design and branding, to establish and communicate a visual or emotional direction.

Elements

• Storyboard: Contains illustrations or drawings depicting specific scenes, often accompanied by annotations about dialogue, camera movement, sound, etc.
• Moodboard: Contains images (whether photographs, illustrations or prints), color swatches, textures, typography and any other elements that help evoke a certain “mood” or style.

Development

• Storyboard: It is usually developed after having a script or a clear idea of the story or content to be produced.
• Moodboard: Can be one of the first steps in the creative process, helping to define and communicate the stylistic or emotional vision before the actual design or production begins.