Ideas for the Animated Short: Finding and Building Stories

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

Karen Sullivan is faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design, teaches courses in history, concept development, and preproduction practices for animation. She has lectured internationally on story development for the animated short, written articles and guest-edited SIGGRAPH issues on concept development for animation.
Karen Sullivan is faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design, teaches courses in history, concept development, and preproduction practices for animation. She has lectured internationally on story development for the animated short, written articles and guest-edited SIGGRAPH issues on concept development for animation.
Gary Schumer, faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design, teaches courses in traditional animation, storyboarding and concept development for animation. He worked for Walt Disney Feature Animation from 1996-2004, as Effects Animator, Assistant Animator, Manager of Training and Training Coordinator. He also worked on Brother Bear, Mulan, Tarzan, and Lilo & Stitch.
Kate Alexander is Associate Director at Florida Studio Theatre. She developed an acting method for youth which serves as the foundation for the FST School, pioneered the highly-regarded Write A Play program that has reached over one million young people internationally, and designed master classes on The Art of Gesture. She is the recipient of numerous acting, directing, and public service awards.
Gary Schumer, faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design, teaches courses in traditional animation, storyboarding and concept development for animation. He worked for Walt Disney Feature Animation from 1996-2004, as Effects Animator, Assistant Animator, Manager of Training and Training Coordinator. He also worked on Brother Bear, Mulan, Tarzan, and Lilo & Stitch.