CHAPTER 9
The Outline
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What Is an Animation Outline?
It’s a plan. The premise is expanded so that the structure will be complete. It’s tempting to
skip this stage, but don’t! The outline is important to ensure a good story. Sometimes to save
money in television, a very short cartoon goes directly from premise into script or story-
board because less structure is needed when it’s short. Approvals for an outline must often
come from producers, programming executives, censors, and sometimes from licensing or
toy executives, as well as the story editor. Each cartoon is different, so what follows is general
information.
An outline is a narrative description of the action—a blueprint. You’ll indicate scenes
and pace your story. You reveal through action, character, and a little dialogue. Write in the
present tense. You may suggest an occasional camera angle, working it into the sentence
structure: We push in, dissolve to, see inside, and so on. You might sprinkle in a little good
dialogue, but not too much. Emphasize action rather than description. You’ll be paid for
writing the outline.
Meeting with the Television Story Editor
When your story editor notifies you that your idea has been approved for outline, you’ll
want to set up another meeting. Today most writers are freelancers, writing at home, occa-
sionally continents away. If a meeting is impossible, conduct your business by e-mail, snail
mail, or phone. Ask for a sample outline. Not all outlines look the same. Is this an outline
with (1) numbered beats(a beat outline), with (2) master scenes(each beginning with a slug
line as in a script), or in the form of (3) narrative prose? Ask about length. Do you under-
stand all the notes that the story editor has given you? Can you decipher the handwriting?
You’ll need to follow the notes exactly. Ask questions. Know when your finished outline is
due. Typically, you might have only a week to finish.Nevermiss a deadline!