CHAPTER 14
The Script
201
The Animation Writer as Visual Director
Writing an animation script is somewhat like directing a film. But there are some differences!
Even in the era of big-budget contract players, Coyote and Roadrunner never once phoned in
sick until their contract was renegotiated. More recent cartoon celebrities, like Marge and
Homer Simpson,wouldn’t think of holding up a production schedule while their lawyers fought
out a messy divorce in court. Animation writers never need to cater to a stack of drawings!
In a live-action project it’s the director who decides what to film. Then just to be safe
he shoots a great deal of extra footage. Later he edits that footage, and much of it ends up
on the cutting room floor. There is no need for that kind of expensive editing process in ani-
mation. No extraneous footage should be produced. So animation scripts have traditionally
included the camera shots, as if the writer was directing the story. A finished animation script
is still a work in progress with the storyboard artist who follows, improving upon the look
of the story. But it’s the writer who initially visualizes each shot in his head.
Working with a Television Story Editor
Before you begin to write, carefully read the story notes that you’ve been given by the story
editor, and get ready to follow them exactly. These notes could change your story substan-
tially from the outline. Perhaps network executives required changes, other subsequent
stories have made these changes necessary, or your story editor has thought of something
better. If you’ve had a fantastic idea that will improve your story, discuss it with the editor
first. He wants the best story you can write, but you already have approvals for thisstory. If
you’re writing a script for a game, technical aspects have already been worked out. The story
editor will have to weigh the improvement with the practicalities of a change.
Prepare! Be sure you have a sample script (an average script from the series) to follow.
Get a page count for your completed script. Ask for a deadline, and stick to it! You may
have as little as a week to write your script.