Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Dope sheets
A dope sheet is an animation tool which helps a animator organise the animation shot-byshot.
This gives the camera operator instructions on each shot type and how many frames this will
be used for.
A dope sheet is usually split into 5 different sections.

To indicate what action occurs on which frame number

To see what action is happening in this shot.
To see what dialogue used in this scene.
To show what level of animation is happening.
To give camera instructions (angle).

For example;

Because you will be working with video, you will be using 30fps. You will need to complete a
dope sheet for EVERY SECOND of your animation.
i.e, if you make a 30 second animation, you will need to complete 30 dope sheets.
This will be a time-consuming task, but it will help you understand what will need to
happen in each of the shots you take. The higher marks will come from a detailed and
careful collection of dope sheets. For example, if your characters speaks, you will need to
show the mouth forming every shape in order to look effective.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame
0_1

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Man walking around the corner

of the house

Start of E4 music

Man starts to walk

down the road

Wide angle

Man walking past a house

Footsteps

Man walking

Close up

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame
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Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame
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2_29
2_30

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

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Man walking down the street

Man walking

Wide shot

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Tractor moving

Close up

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Tractor driving past house

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

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Blinds open and close

Blinds moving

Close up

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Tractor drives towards man

Tractor noise

Tractor and man

Wide angle

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

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Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Waving

Close up

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Man waves at tractor

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

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Man walks to his door

Man walking

Wide angle

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Door opens itself

Door creeking

Door opening

Close up

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

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Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

1_1
1_2
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Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

0_1
0_2
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E4 logo is hiding from man

Man and E4 logo

Wide angle

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Man falls over

Scream

Man falling

Close up

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Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

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E4 logo moves down the road

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

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Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

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E4 logo changing facial

expressions

E4 logo
laughing

E4 logo making
faces

Close angle

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

0_30
Frame

Path of action

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VIDEO until 0:27

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet