Telling stories in animation

About this course

Learners develop an original short story for animation, exploring character design, expression, world-building, visual tone and setting. They work with story structure and storyboarding before applying timing, movement and basic animation principles to create a rough animatic and two polished animated clips. Teaching combines tutor explanations, demonstrations, group discussion, practical exercises and feedback from the tutor and peers. Later work introduces sound, emotion, simple editing and finishing, leading to a presentation of the completed animatic.

What you'll learn

• Develop a short narrative idea for animation
• Plan visual storytelling through storyboards
• Create a rough animatic that communicates narrative and timing
• Apply basic animation principles to character movement and rhythm
• Use sound and simple editing to support emotional impact

Is this course right for you?

This beginner-level course is intended for learners with an interest in animation or visual storytelling, and no previous animation experience is required. Participation combines group discussion and feedback with practical project work, including developing an individual story between sessions.

• Basic drawing ability may be helpful, but technical drawing skill is not the main focus
• Learners are encouraged to work at their own pace and level
• Some work between sessions is encouraged, including story development, storyboarding, sound and animation

Before you go

• Learners need an iPad or Android tablet with a stylus.
• Access to the Rough Animator app is required.