Storyboarding in Medical Animation

Abstract

Storyboards are a series of thumbnail images that act as a planning document for your overall animation project. Each thumbnail image is part of what is known as a shot, and shots are strung together to create scenes, which in turn create a whole animation. Medical animations, compared to film or animated movies, have rigid and specific requirements; however, by utilizing storyboards as a planning document we can infuse our medical animations with emotion, life, and beauty. This chapter will review common storyboarding fundamentals, like camera moves and editing techniques, and how they may be applied to the medical world. Camera moves are important to string shots together and can help add emphasis to specific sections. Zooms and pans are used extensively within medical animation and it is important to note which circumstance might call for either one. Zooms are great for moving to a drastically different microscopic magnification. Pans create visual interest for a stepwise reaction. Techniques such as lighting, depth, and insets and labels create a more balanced composition and save time in the production phase. Storyboards are ultimately about problem solving early to save time and money during the production phase. [M1].