Commonly Asked Questions about Producing Animation   7

What Is an Animation Producer?   21
   Executive Producer   23
   Producer   23
   Line Producer or Co-Producer   24
   Associate Producer   24
   Producer's Responsibilities   25
   Our Philosophy of the Ideal Producer   27
What Makes a Good Animation Producer?   29
The Producer's Thinking Map   59

Sources for Ideas   63
The Buyer   71
   Creative Executive   72
   Production Executive   73
Preparing a Pitch   73
Pitching   74
Representation   75
The Negotiation Process   76

An Overview of the Core Team   79
The Role of the Director   80
   Director's Responsibilities   82
Visual Development Artists   83
Business Affairs and Legal Departments   84
The Technology Department   85
   Technical Direction   86
   System Administration   86
   Information Systems   86
   Research and Development   87
Production Accounting   87
Human Resources   88
Recruiting   89
Training   90

Development Process Overview   91
The Role of the Producer During Development   91
Visual Development   94
The Writing Process   95
   Script Stages   96
   The Feature Script   98
   Writer's Deals   98
   Production Scripts   99

Production Plan Overview   101
List of Assumptions   101
Getting Started: The Production Plan   102
   Delivery Date   102
   The Schedule   103
   Project's Format, Length, and Techinque   112
   Complexity Analysis   113
   The Crew Plan   115
   The Level of Talent   117
   The Role of Key Personnel   117
   Creative Checkpoints   119
   Buyer's Responsibilities   119
   Marketing, Licensing, and Promotions   119
   Payment Schedule   119
   The Physical Production Plan   120
   Training   120
   Relocation Costs   122
   Reference and Research Material   122
   Archival Elements   122
   Contingency   123
Building the Budget   124
   Chart of Accounts   125
   Cost Reports   129

The Role of the Producer in Structuring the Production
       Team   131
The Production Crew   135
   The Production Manager   136
   Department Supervisor   139
   Production Supervisor   139
   Production Coordinator or Assistant Production Manager   140
   Script Coordinator   142
   Production Assistant   142
   Production Secretary   143
Subcontractors   145
   Identifying and Selecting a Subcontractor   146
   Negotiating the Deal   149
   Overseas Supervisors   142
   Material Packages/Shipments   154
   Handing Out the Project   155
   Monitoring the Progress of Production   156
   Receiving Material from the Subcontractor   156
   Expect the Unexpected   157

The Role of the Producer During the Pre-Production Phase   159
Design and Art Direction   164
   The Visual Style Guide   165
   Model Pack   165
The Voice Track   175
   Casting   175
   Rehearsal   179
   Session Preparation   179
   Recording   180
Storyboarding   182
   Getting Started   183
   The Three Stages of Storyboarding   186
Animation Timing   197
   Story Reels and Animatics   198
   Leica Reel   198
   Building the Reel   199
   Executive Screenings   200
   Slugging   200
   Exposure Sheets   201
Songs   204
   Producing Songs   205
Title Sequence   207
Preparing a Shipment: Checking and Route Sheets   208

The Role of the Producer During the Production Phase   211
   Complexity Analysis   213
   Buyer's Creative Checkpoints   214
   Ancillary Groups   214
Traditional/2D Production: From Workbook Through Film/Video
       Output   215
   Workbook   214
   Workbook Evaluation   216
   Editorial   217
   Layout   219
   Animation   220
   Scene Planning and Scanning   222
   Sweat Box   224
   Blue Sketch and Clean Up Layout   225
   Clean Up Animation   226
   Visual Effects   228
   Background Painting   230
   Animation Checking   232
   Ink and Paint   234
   Final Checking   238
   Compositing/Film Output   238
3D Computer Generated Imagery (CGI): From Pre-Production
       Through Final Film/Video Output   240
   Pre-Production Overview   241
   Modeling   242
   Render Tests   243
   Rigging or Kinematics   243
   Skinning   244
   Test Animation   244
   Surfaces (Texturing and Color)   244
   Environment   245
   3D Workbook   245
   Animation   246
   Lighting   247
   Effects   247
   Rendering   248
   Compositing   248
   Touch Up   249
   Technical Direction   249
The Making of Bunny   249

The Role of the Producer During the Post-Production
       Phase   255
Music   259
The Post-Production Process   261
   Locking Picture   262
   Test Screenings   263
Audio Post Production   263
   Spotting Sessions   263
   Foley Sessions   265
   Dialogue Editing and ADR   265
   Sound Effects Design and Editing   265
   Music Score Record   266
   Music Mix   266
   Score and Song Editorial   266
   Pre-Mix (Pre-Dub)   266
   Final Mix   266
   Fixes   267
   Print Master   267
   Music and Effects (M&E)   267
Picture Post Production   267
   Online Assembly   267
   Negative Cutting   268
   Color Correction   269
   The Element Reel   269
   Credits (Main/Opening and End)   270
   Textless Versions   270
   Picture Quality Control   270
Final Delivery   270
   Final Quality Control   270
   Release Print (Composite Theatrical Print)   271
   Delivery   271

Introduction   273
Pre-Production   274
Production   277
   Tracking Subcontractors   280
   Tracking Retakes   280
Post-Production   284

Producer's References   287
Art of Animation: Techniques and Processes   288
General Interest   292
Scriptwriting   298
Post-Production   299
Journals   299
Key Organizations   302