Writing For Animation & Cartoons
How To Learn To Write Like An Animator
Animation has its own special requirements for script writing; it's not just a sitcom script for cartoon characters instead of live actors. This lens is a starting point for learning how to write for animated television shows, films, and shorts. If you're looking at getting into "real" scriptwriting via animation, then this isn't the lens for you.
Cartoon Script Format - Script Formatting For Animation
Script Formatting for Animation
I'm not sure how accurate these guidelines are currently, but they're a good place to start.
However, if you can afford it, buy Final Draft. It's the industry standard for scriptwriting programs. Templates for prime time animation television shows are included along with other script formats.
The Debate: Does Animation Really Need To Have Writers?
There's a debate about the validity of "animation writing" being a separate job from animating and storyboarding.
Leading the "we don't need no stinkin' writers" debate is John K., most famous for Ren & Stimpy. His stand is that if one is not an artist one cannot write for animated stories since the visual language is so different from that of live action.
An opposing viewpoint is given in animation writer Steve Marmel's blog Animation Writers: "From Brad Bird: Respect."
More entries in the debate:
• Uncle Eddie's Theory Corner!:
Were Scripts Ever Used In Animation's Golden Age?
• Something Old, Nothing New: You Can't Write a Drawing
• Mayerson On Animation: The Films I Return To...
• Michael Barrier.com: Writing and Drawing
Animators vs. Writers?
Does the screenwriter write the story in animation, or should the story come from the animators?
The animators create the story.
Writers create the story.
If the animator has technical and writing skills, then I guess I'm ready to begin!!!!! *I believe both, as I have created both ways when publishing my children's books, once writing, then animating, and vice-versa. It works both ways.
writer obviously, he sets the story and gives the animator room to play. Writing is the most important part.
the animators only create the story if they are also writers making this question pointless.
Animated Writing
- Steve Marmel's Animation Writer's Blog
A place for animation writers to write about animation. - all kinds of stuff: Writing for animation: Keep it simple and short! Misconceptions of animation "wr
Writing for animation: Keep it simple and short! Misconceptions of animation "writers". Here are a couple of major misconceptions that animation scriptwriters have... - ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive: Story: Writing Cartoons Pt 1- The Gag Session
Saturday, April 12, 2008 Story: Writing Cartoons Pt 1- The Gag Session This post is just the tip of the iceberg...
A Day In The Life Of An Animation Writer...
- Boring Future Generations: Animation Writing
"My friend John posted a comment/question on my post from a few days ago about the "writers' room" where I spend far too little of my work day. Here's my rehashed halfway version of his question because I'm too lazy to copy and paste it: "Most featu
Information For Animation Writers
- Writer's Guild of America Animation Caucus
"The purpose of the AWC is to assist animation writers, to better their working circumstances and to cover animation writing under the Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) of the WGA."