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.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

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.

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

0_1

Tracking camera 2

Song

Walking
towards center
stage

Mid shot,
tracking, side on

0_2

Tracking camera

Song

Walking
towards center
stage

Mid shot,
tracking, Side
on

0_3

Still camera 4

Song

Waving

Low close up

0_4

Still camera

Song

Waving

Low close up

0_5

Still camera

Song

Waving

Low close up

0_6

Still camera

Song

Waving

Low close up

0_7

Still camera

Song

Saying Hello!
Today I will be
dancing for
you all!

Low close up

0_8

Still camera

Song

Saying Hello!
Today I will be
dancing for
you all!

Low close up

0_9

Still camera

Song

Saying Hello!
Today I will be
dancing for
you all!

Low close up

0_10

Still camera

Song

Saying Hello!
Today I will be
dancing for
you all!

Mid shot

0_11

Still Camera

Song

Walking off
stage

Mid shot

0_12

Still Camera

Song

Walking off
stage

Mid shot

0_13

Still Camera

Song

Walking off
stage

Mid shot

0_14

Still Camera 11

Song

Walking on

Mid shot

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

stage
0_15

Song

0_16

Song

0_17

Song

0_18

Song

0_19

Song

0_20

Song

0_21

Song

0_22

Song

0_23

Song

0_24

Song

0_25

Song

0_26

Still camera 19

Song

Dancing

Mid shot

0_27

Still camera

Song

Starts Flying

Mid shot

0_28

Still camera 32

Song

Flying

Mid Shot

Animation

Camera
instructions

0_29

Song

0_30

Song

Frame
1_1
1_2
1_3
1_4
1_5
1_6
1_7
1_8
1_9
1_10
1_11
1_12
1_13
1_14

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

1_15
1_16
1_17
1_18
1_19
1_20
1_21
1_22
1_23
1_24
1_25
1_26
1_27
1_28
1_29
1_30

Tracking shot 3

Song

Flying down

Mid close up
shot tracking

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

2_3

Still Camera

Song

Walking

Mid shot

2_4

Still camera 6

song

Bowing

Still camera 2

Song

Second
character in the
crowd

2_1
2_2

2_5
2_6
2_7
2_8
2_9
2_10

2_11

Long shot

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

2_12
2_13
2_14
2_15
2_16
2_17
2_18
2_19
2_20
2_21
2_22
2_23
2_24
2_25
2_26
2_27
2_28
2_29
2_30
Copy and paste as many dope sheets as you need. Remember to change the frame
numbering so that the first number refers to the second of animation i.e., 1_24 is the 24th
frame of the first second, 3_17 is the 17th frame of the 3rd second.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Liaising with client (write notes on discussions between you and your client)

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet