Interview with storyboard artist Jonathan Mortimer

· Learn how to set up levels in a scene, as it helps with creating a viewpoint and gives the scene more depth.

· When composing a scene figure out where you want the character/ subject to be, then use visual lines within the design of the environment to direct the viewer, and make sure the character stands out, by making it contrast and remove or blur any objects from behind the viewer which may be distracting from what’s going on.

· Draw your 2d environments in a 3d perspective (quick example sketch) to get an understanding of space in the area you will be animating in.

· Use negative space around a character/ subject to draw the eye.

· think of what inspires you and who inspires you as an artist when deciding a certain style of art or movement.

· What is the point of the story? - mind map and ask yourself questions.

· 12 principles of animation are fundamental, Line of action:

· Exaggerate facial expressions and body language to get your point across easier.

· Act stuff out as a reference, The more convincing characters are based on someone’s personality, use references (like video) to get ideas for a personality to use for a character and not just how they move.

· Storyboard pro is much better than adobe, if you want to specialise in storyboarding.

· Considering levels and the colour pallet is very important to keep consistent in scenes with the same atmosphere.

· Before you design an environment, don’t just google, experience and understand it, if you can.

· Mind map!

· How is it going to start? Will it be impactful enough to get the attention of the viewers?

· Draw basic thumbnails for storyboard ideas, really quick sketches for a developing storyboard as you may have to re-do the storyboard several times before it gets accepted.

· Sometimes less is more.

· Characters need to blink! Also, people tend close their eyes between turning to look at something else, without animating this, it will look unnatural.

· Blink/ double blinking can be used to show the character having an idea.

· 180 rule- e.g. if you have two characters make sure you keep each of them on just one side of the shot or else it will become confusing for the viewer- loads of YouTube vids.

· Be more dynamic with the camera, gives more life to the scene.

Books/ Artists recommendations:

· Morris nobles style

· John Nevarez

· Song of the sea art book

· ‘funny’- Disney book