Concept Art

This stage runs throughout the development process. Character art is often produced before storyboarding to get an idea of what the main characters are going to look like. As the boards are developed further concept art is produced by presenting the sets, props and characters in more detail.  This often begins with simple hand drawn sketches and then goes on to more detailed coloured renders. An ‘Art Director’ would often head up the design and look at the whole production, choosing colour palettes and a unique style for the entire animation.

Simple Animation?

When we are producing even the simplest of animations it is still important to have all the concepts and ideas planned out in detail.  Even a simple animation can go wrong when the people involved don’t know exactly what it is going to look like or if nothing has been reviewed or approved throughout the process by the whole team.  The more complex and detailed the productions the more concept art is required, ensuring that every aspect of the production is meticulously planned out and approved well before any modelling or texturing takes pace. This obviously helps the modellers, texture artists and lighters match up with the direction dictated by both the storyboard and concept art.