← Animation Glossary

Shot

In animation, a "shot" is a single picture or camera movement that we see on the screen.

A shot is a series of images captured by the camera that are used to create a single scene or portion of a larger sequence. Each shot comprises several frames, each representing a single image captured by the camera at a specific moment in time.

The composition of shots can vary, depending on the desired effect or emotion that the animator wants to convey.

  • Close-up shots can be used to emphasize a character’s facial expression or reaction.
  • Long shots can show the character’s surroundings and provide context for the scene.
  • Medium shot can be used to give viewers an idea of the character’s body language and gestures.

Storyboarding is an essential part of planning shots in animation. A storyboard is a sequence of sketches or illustrations that depict how each shot will look and fit into the larger sequence of animation. Storyboards help animators visualize how each shot will look and how it will contribute to the storytelling process. They also help to refine ideas and ensure that all elements of the animation align with the overall vision.

Example Background layout sheet

Example Background layout sheet

Download a Background Layout Template

Download a free background layout template to help you plan your animation.

Download Background Sheet as PDF - Download Background Sheet as Png

Once shots have been created, they can be edited together to create a seamless flow between them and enhance storytelling. Editing involves rearranging shots, adding transitions, sound effects, music, and other elements to improve the overall quality of the animation.

Shots also play a crucial role in character development in animation. Shots can be used to reveal different aspects of characters’ personalities, such as their facial expressions, body language, and reactions to various situations. By manipulating shots creatively, animators can showcase characters’ strengths and weaknesses and create emotional connections between viewers and characters.

Shots are an essential part of animation as they help convey emotions, tell stories and develop characters. They allow animators to showcase their creativity while providing viewers with a unique and memorable experience. Through careful planning and editing, shots can be used to create an animation that is both visually stunning and emotionally compelling.

Animation Terms

2

2D Animation

3

3D Animation

A

Alpha Channel

Ambient sound

Animation

Anti-Aliasing

Anticipation

Aspect Ratio

B

Bezier Curve

Bitmap

Blue Screen

Bone Animation

Bounce

Broadcast Standards

C

Camera Angle

Camera Shake

Casting

Cel Animation

Character Animation

Character Design Sheets

Cinematic lighting

Claymation

Clean-up

Close-up

Color Correction

Color Grading

Compositing

Composition

Concept Art

Continuity editing

Cross-cutting

Cut

Cutout nimation

D

Depth of Field

Dialogue

Dissolve

Distributed Rendering

Dolby Atmos

Dope Sheet

Dutch Angle

E

Easing

Emitter

Exaggeration

Eyedropper

F

Foley

Follow through

Forward Kinematics

Frame Rate

Frame

Framing

Freeze Frame

G

Ghosting

GIF File Format

Golden Ratio

Graph Editor

H

High key lighting

Hue and Saturation

I

Inertia

Infographic Animation

Inverse Kinematics

J

Joint

JPEG File Format

Jump cut

K

Keyframe Interpolation

Keyframe

Kinetic typography

L

Layers

Lens distortion

Level of Detail

Lighting

Line of action

Lip syncing

Low key lighting

M

Match cut

Matte painting

Montage

Morphing

Motion blur

Motion capture

Motion graphics

Motion path

Motion trail

Mouth shapes

MP3 File Format

MP4 File Format

N

Network rendering

Non-linear editing

O

Occlusion culling

Onion skinning

Overlapping action

P

Pan

Parallel rendering

Particle system

Persistance of Vision

Phonemes

Playback speed

Plot

PNG File Format

Pose-to-pose animation

Props

Puppet animation

R

Render farm

Rendering

Resolution

Rigging

Rotoscoping

Rule of thirds

Run cycle

S

Safe zone

Scene

Score

Screenplay

Script

Shot

Silhouette

Skeletal animation

Slow Motion

Smears

Sound Design

Sound effects

Soundtrack

Special Effects

Split screen

Squash and Stretch

Staging

Stop Motion Animation

Storyboard

Straight-ahead Animation

T

Time Remapping

Timeline

Timing

Title Card

Title Sequence

Tracking shot

Tweening

V

Vector graphics

Visemes

Voice acting

Voice-over Narration

W

Walk cycle

WebM File Format

Weighting

Wide shot

Z

Z-depth

Zoom

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