Our Production Workflow

Let’s say you have an idea for a corporate animated video. You probably might be wondering “How can I turn it into reality?”.

Before reading this page, here’s a quick attitudinal test to check if you are ready to dive into the adventure of creating a promotional video:

1. Do you want to convey a message that would be hard to explain in words?
2. Do you want to promote a new product or service?
3. Do you want to captivate users browsing your website?

If you answered “Yes” at any of the previous questions, then keep on reading: you’re in the right place!

In Panebarco, we are experts at crafting animation and visual effects for any occasion: from spots and commercials for TV to divulgative videos in motion graphics. We can follow the whole production workflow from early development to final rendering.

Here’s our approach!

1. Script
2. Graphic Style
3. Storyboard & Illustrations
4. Animation, Effects & Compositing
5. Dubbing & Voice Acting
6. Music
7. Final Delivery

1. Script

Writing a script for a commercial spot involves several key steps. Firstly, we need to sit together at an (online) table, brainstorm, collect all the necessary materials and information and, more importantly, set a goal.

Setting a goal basically means to define a clear target audience and a message to convey.

OK, OK, time out! We understand that your product potentially appeals to EVERYONE and the whole world, “to infinity and beyond”, that you want to expand, that you are present on 5 continents, maybe even 6, and you aim to reach the seventh one within the year, etc.

But…

Who should see, post, share, and appreciate this video? Should it only go on the website or be broadcasted on TV, in cinemas, on the radio? Should it be universally understood (so no voiceover but only music and sound effects), or can different versions be conceived depending on the country to be reached?

In addiction, what message should it convey, what emotions should it evoke? Often, we ask for 3 key adjectives that describe the finished product.

Only after we define these aspects together we can dive into the writing process: outlining the storyline or concept, crafting compelling dialogue and/or narration, and finally refining and polishing the definitive script.

Ok, so now our video is written on paper. What’s the next step?

2. Graphic Style

Now it’s time to choose a graphic style for our masterpiece!

An animated video can be minimalist, realistic, abstract, cartoonish, etc. If you have some videos that you like, or techniques and styles that resonate with your taste, we will start from there. Otherwise, we will come up with some proposals.

It’s important to consider factors like your brand identity, tone, and the desired emotional response. In this phase, we create mood boards or visual references to narrow down options and gather your feedback.

When it comes to a video’s visual appearance and technique, one common choice among clients is motion graphics. There are at least three solid reasons for that:

1. Motion graphics are easier to develop and produce;
2. They effectively convey complex information in a simple way;
3. They’re colorful and pleasing to the eye.

Some of our best works follow this philosophy: as an example, here’s the style we developed for EUFIC’s Oleum.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Another frequently chosen style is 3D animation, which has the advantage to be extremely versatile: here is a glimpse at the graphic development we prepared for KEA European Affairs.

A third possibility involves the development of visual effects and post-production. It’s kind of a sub-category of 3D animation, but applied to live-action videos, and that’s the case of spots like the Golia Active Plus one.

• 

• 

• 

3. Storyboard & Illustrations

Once we’ve chosen our graphic style, we can start to translate written words into images.

Storyboarding begins with breaking down the script into key scenes and determining the shots needed to convey each scene effectively. Thumbnails or rough sketches are then drawn for each shot, outlining the composition, camera angles, character positions, and key actions.

These sketches serve as a blueprint for the final visuals, allowing for adjustments and refinements before production. Once the storyboard is complete, we can craft the first complete shots, or “illustrations“.

This is often a thrilling moment, when you feel like the video is getting real!

4. Animation, Effects & Compositing

Ah, the production phase, where all the magic happens!

Thanks to our storyboard we have all our keyframes and illustrations ready, now it’s time for animators to bring all the elements to life through movement and action, using specialized software like Moho, ToonBoom Harmony or Blender to animate characters, objects, and backgrounds.

Once animation is complete, visual effects (VFX) are added to enhance the aesthetic appeal or realism of the scenes. This could include elements like particle effects, CGI enhancements, or simulated environments.

Compositing involves combining all elements – live-action footage, animation, VFX, and backgrounds – into a cohesive final sequence. This step ensures seamless integration of different elements and enhances visual continuity.

Have you seen our multi-awarded 3D short Caramelle?

The workflow of a project can vary a lot depending on the animation technique. A motion graphics video will require a faster process, while a 3D short might be much more demanding in terms of effort.

5. Dubbing & Voice Acting

Simultaneously with the visual side, the project’s “audio identity” is also developed. One of the fundamental things in this regard is finding the right voices for the video, based on their ability to convey the desired emotions and personalities.

Recording sessions then take place, where actors deliver their lines in sync with the animation, capturing the nuances of the characters’ expressions and movements. After recording, the audio is edited and synchronized with the visuals, ensuring seamless integration and natural-sounding dialogue.

Normally, one voice talent will be enough, but that really depends on the ambition and scale of the project.

6. Music & Sound Design

At this stage, the dubbed audio is mixed with sound effects and music to create a cohesive and engaging auditory experience for the audience.

If you want your project’s soundtrack to be top-notch, we will be happy to ask our compositor friends down here to join the crew and write music for you.

• 

• 

• 

Instead, if your motto is “Minimum spend, maximum return“, then a royalty-free track would do its job just fine!

Quality may vary from platform to platform, but many royalty-free music databases nowadays can offer a wide range of professionally produced tracks and typically feature diverse genres, styles, and moods to suit different projects, from corporate videos to advertisements, podcasts, and more.

Quick clarification needed here: although we placed it at the bottom of our workflow, music often occupies a prominent position during the development phase, sometimes even before the script!

By choosing the music for a video, many other aspects will become clearer: the rhythm, the tone of voice, sometimes it also inspires the characters’ movements and actions.

7. Final Delivery

Now all the visual and audio elements are edited together. D’you know what it means?

Exactly, Mission Complete!

Well, almost complete. The very last details are still needed:

1. Exporting the video file in the appropriate format and resolution;
2. Including any accompanying assets such as subtitles or captions, possibly;
3. Last but not least, quality control checks are performed.

If our work is approved… BINGO! The video is finally ready for you!

Well, that was quite a journey, wasn’t it? Now you’re a black belt in video production!

D’you want to discover more about our work?
Visit the Service, Production or Development pages!

Do you have an idea for a video? Contact us!