From storyboard to screen: a beginner’s pipeline primer
A walkthrough of the modern animation pipeline — what each stage does, who does it, and how to find your seat.
Every animated film, no matter the scale, moves through roughly the same set of stages. Understanding the pipeline early — even before you specialize — helps you find your seat faster.
The high-level pipeline
- Development — concept, treatment, script, design.
- Pre-production — storyboards, animatic, sound, design lock.
- Production — modeling, rigging, animation, layout, FX, lighting, compositing.
- Post-production — editorial, sound design, final color.
Where students typically enter
Most graduates start in production — the largest department, with the most seats. Within that:
- Modeling / Texturing — visual artists with strong observation skills.
- Rigging — artists who think in mechanics.
- Animation — performance-driven artists.
- Lighting / Compositing — artists with a cinematographer's eye.
Your first move
Don't try to be all four. Pick one, learn it deeply, ship a focused reel. Studios hire specialists. Versatility comes later in your career, not at entry.
If you want help mapping a specific path, our admissions team can walk you through it during your enquiry call.
Want to study this craft?
Talk to our admissions team about programmes, fees, and cohort dates that match your career goals.