Storyboarding—From Idea to Animation by Benjamin Cerbai

Ready to make animations that wow? This course dives into storyboarding, the secret sauce behind your favorite animated films. Think of it as a visual blueprint, turning raw ideas into a scene-by-scene comic strip that guides your entire animation project. It’s the crucial first step that even the pros can’t skip, and now you can learn it too.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Turn your ideas into visual stories that hook viewers.
• Sketch scenes quickly and expressively for dynamic action.
• Use cinematic techniques like camera angles and framing to direct attention.
• Manipulate mood and emotion through visual storytelling.
• Create characters with personality and lively poses.
• Avoid common beginner mistakes that slow down your workflow.
• Build a moving animatic from your storyboards.
• Apply professional storyboarding methods to your own work.
• Control pacing and tension using visual elements.
• Add depth and drama with shading and contrast.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: A good grasp of sketching.
• Tools: Pencil & Paper, or animation software like Callipeg (or similar).
• Hardware: None specified, but a drawing tablet is recommended for digital tools.

📝 Description

This course is your gateway into the world of animation, starting with the absolute essential: storyboarding. Benjamin Cerbai breaks down how Disney and Pixar use this technique to plan their masterpieces. You’ll learn to translate your imagination into dynamic, scene-by-scene visuals using rough drawings. It’s more than just sketching; it’s about mastering visual storytelling, using camera angles, framing, and composition to evoke emotion and guide the viewer’s eye.

Benjamin will walk you through designing captivating shots, creating expressive characters, and avoiding common pitfalls that beginners often face. You’ll even learn to transform your static boards into a moving animatic, giving your animation a professional pace and polish. The course is designed for absolute beginners, offering simple, step-by-step guidance.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Anyone new to animation who wants a solid foundation.
• Individuals looking to visualize their stories on paper before animating.
• Artists interested in composition, scenery, and visual narration.
• Existing storyboard artists seeking to refine their skills and learn new techniques.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Benjamin Cerbai is a seasoned 2D animator, illustrator, and video creator hailing from France. He’s also a co-creator of the innovative animation app Callipeg. With his practical industry experience, Benjamin brings a wealth of knowledge to teaching the fundamentals of animation, making complex concepts accessible to aspiring artists.

🏁 Final Result

By the end of this course, you’ll have a completed storyboard and a basic animatic for a short sequence, demonstrating your ability to plan and visualize animation scenes effectively. You’ll also have a strong understanding of cinematic principles and visual storytelling applicable to future animation projects.