Academic Catalogs

ART A127: Introduction to Storyboarding

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 12/08/2021
Top Code 061440 - Animation
Units 3 Total Units 
Hours 108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 27; Lab Hours 81)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)

Course Description

This course is designed to equip the art student with a functional understanding of narrative composition, storytelling, sequence design, and production skills for feature film storyboarding through focused study on narrative design and illustration, script breakdowns and storyboard development and formatting. ADVISORY: ART A121. PREREQUISITE: ART A110. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Create work that exhibits a strong sense of composition
  2. Create work that exhibits a strong sense of storytelling
  3. Employ narrative sequence design skills
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the materials and methods used by Story Artists

Course Objectives

  • 1. Create work that exhibits a strong sense of composition
  • 2. Create work that exhibits a strong sense of storytelling
  • 3. Employ narrative sequence design skills
  • 4. Demonstrate an understanding of the materials and methods used by Story Artists

Lecture Content

I. Explore the concepts of narrative composition. Execute compositional silhouette drawings. Study the arrangement of formswithin the frame, using abstraction. These will be the basis of the rough drawing,which will be the basis of the finished frame. Study single image illustration examples of established professionals andmasters work to further understand composition in a single image. (Framed Ink,Picture This, and assorted illustrators). II. Discuss Beat-sheets Discuss and practice the principles of creating a beat-sheet. Develop a list of bullet-points derived from a script or verbally conveyed story, of the boiled down essentials for the artist to storyboard. Whenever there is a change that the camera will see within frame or a transition to the next frame, a new bullet-point or “beat” is marked down. Edit to become the scene descriptions. III. Explore sequence design. Explore sequence and what makes a sequence work through examples i.e. flip books/comic strips/comic books/animation/live action/video games. Design sequences as directed by the instructor. Design sequences from scripts. IV. Camera language Study and discuss the terminology a storyboard artist uses to describe how the cam era will be directed. Discuss the difference between a pan and a tracking pan, pans vs. zooms, and the difference between zooming in and pushing in. A quiz will be given on the proper terminology.

Lab Content

Format storyboard Transfer your beat-sheet to your storyboard template using proper camera terminology and screen descriptions,

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • Lab (04)

Instructional Techniques

Lectures and drawing demonstrations. Homework assignments drawing and written identifications of key story beats and camera movements.

Reading Assignments

Assigned Script reading,

Writing Assignments

Analysis of scripts for key story beats and moments to represent in storyboards.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will spend 3-4 hours a week of homework. Assignments include researching and analyzing professional storyboards and reading scripts to prepare for assignments. They will also complete assignments of storyboard art begun during the lab portion of class.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students will analyze scripts for best solution for visualizing thge story for camera.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will use writing to analyze scripts and drawing for the visualization component.

Eligible Disciplines

Commercial art (sign making, lettering, packaging, rendering): Any bachelors degree and two years of professional experience, or any associate degree and six years of professional experience.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Mateu-Mestre, Marcos. Framed Ink, ed. Design Press, 2010 Rationale: This is a classic book in a field without rapid change.