Previsualization
Basics for Animators
Pro Animators Mentor You to Be Successful
Our workshop allows you to learn, practice, and get 1:1 feedback and reviews from our mentors. You will have the chance to learn from them in live conversation as they share insights about what studios are working on and what qualities they look for in an animator. Our mentors and work directly with you to grow and improve your skills.
Why Take Previsualization Basics for Animators at Animation Mentor
1-on-1 Feedback From a Studio Pro
During this 6-week workshop, you'll have live Q&As with your mentor each week in addition to receiving an assignment designed to build your skills. Plus, your mentor will review and critique each of your assignments and provide you with a video of their feedback so you can improve your work.
Learn From an Oscar-Winning Previs Animator
Expand your animation demo reel with this previs workshop and learn key skills to start an in-demand career. Mentor Nicole Herr was part of the Oscar-winning previs team on Disney's live-action film The Jungle Book, and will guide you through professional previs animation workflows used for film, TV, and video games.
Live Weekly Q&As
Join weekly 1-hour live Q&A sessions with your mentor, on top of skill-building assignments designed to build your previs and layout craft week by week.
On-Going Rig Access
Keep access to the Stewart and Squirrels character rigs so you can keep building your previs and animation reel long after the workshop ends.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Understand what previsualization (previs) is and how it's used in film, TV, and video games
- Quickly animate, layout, and stage a scene using simple visual effects and animated sequences
- Plan and break down a script for previs
- Build a previs sequence from the ground up using studio-style workflows
- Frame and block shots using virtual cameras in a real environment
- Make effective staging choices that read on screen
- Deliver a polished previs sequence with everything you've learned in one final shot
Skills You'll Gain
What You'll Build
Across this 6-week workshop you'll build a previs sequence from a script breakdown all the way to a polished, reel-ready shot, a portfolio piece that shows studios you can plan and stage a scene.
A Previs Sequence From Script
Starting from a script breakdown, you'll plan and build a complete previs sequence using studio-style workflows.
Cameras & Staging in a Real Environment
Frame and block your shots with virtual cameras in a real environment, making staging choices that read on screen.
A Polished Final Previs Shot
Refine and deliver your previs sequence into a polished, reel-ready shot that pulls together everything you've learned.
The Previsualization Basics for Animators Curriculum
Planning and Breaking Down a Script for Previs
Get introduced to previs and the importance of previsualization for filmmaking.
What is previs? In this session, we will go over the importance of previsualization for filmmaking and how the industry has used it for the previs artist.
- What previs is and how it's used
- Breaking down a script for previs
- How the industry uses previsualization
Building a Previs Sequence
Set the example of a previs sequence from the language to the most commonly used cameras and camera setups.
We will define the essentials of a previs sequence from the language to the most commonly used cameras and camera setups. We will analyze sequences to see how previs helps push the storytelling during the live demo.
- The language of a previs sequence
- Commonly used cameras and camera setups
- How previs pushes storytelling
Cameras in Previs and in a Real Environment
Explore the difference between a real camera and a virtual camera, and why it's important to ease your reel.
We'll cover the differences between a real camera and a virtual camera, and why it's important to ease a real shot to set the complete previs.
- Real cameras vs. virtual cameras
- Working with cameras in a real environment
- Easing into a complete previs shot
Making Effects Choices
Dive into the animation, effects, and props for a previs sequence.
We'll dive into the animation, effects, and props for a previs sequence.
- Animation in previs
- Effects and props
- Bringing the sequence together
Delivering a Previs Sequence
Bring it all together: deliver your final session and put everything you've learned into one final sequence.
In this final session, we'll put everything you've learned into one final sequence and deliver a polished previs shot.
- Finishing your previs sequence
- Delivering a polished final shot
- A reel-ready previs piece
Ready to Start Animating?
Previsualization Basics for Animators is a 6-week, mentor-led workshop in Autodesk Maya. Enroll at Animation Mentor.
- 6-week mentor-led workshop
- Weekly live 1-hour Q&As + 1:1 feedback
- Taught in Autodesk Maya
- $899 USD
Frequently Asked Questions
Previsualization, or previs, is used across genres of film and television, meaning that previs skills are extremely valuable whether you're interested in working on animated films, live-action films, TV, or video games. It combines animation with cinematography to map out major motion pictures before they're shot, using simple visual effects and animated sequences.
A previs animator plans, blocks, and stages shots and sequences before a production is filmed, quickly animating, laying out, and framing scenes with virtual cameras so the director and crew can see how a sequence will play out.
Previs is used across film, TV, and video games. Because previs skills are valuable on both animated and live-action productions as well as commercials and games, they open doors to a wide range of studio roles.
Yes. Previs is used across genres and formats: animated films, live-action films, television, commercials, and video games all rely on previsualization to plan their shots and sequences.
Previsualization Basics for Animators requires you to have a working knowledge of, and experience with, Autodesk Maya. If you're not familiar with Autodesk Maya you can take our Maya Workshop first. You'll also need a working knowledge of body mechanics.
It's a 6-week, mentor-led workshop with weekly 1-hour live Q&As. Each week you receive an assignment, and your mentor reviews and critiques it with a video of their feedback. It's taught in English and in Autodesk Maya, with assets and rigs provided.
