Preproduction is the stage in animation where ideas are developed and refined before production begins. Illustration plays a central role in shaping how narratives and visual worlds are communicated within this process.


This blog explores how illustration influences preproduction in animation, focusing on professional practice, materials and processes, and moral and ethical considerations. Drawing is not only used to create images but is used to help map out thoughts, for testing and developing ideas quickly within collaborative studio environments such as Aardman Animations, a British animation and stop motion studio based in Bristol.


Using research from industry practitioners including Merlin Crossingham and Finlay Boyter, alongside my own research, this blog demonstrates how illustration shapes the development of animation from an initial concept through to final planning.

How does Illustration shape the Preproduction Process in Animation?