How Do You Edit an Animated Film?

Here's a question you may never have thought about before: what does an animation editor actually do? If scenes are just written and then animated, is their role any more than just connecting clips together? On the contrary, the role of an animation editor is actually one of the most important roles in shaping the film being made. Let's dive in and explore the job.

For educational purposes only. Press the CC button for film titles.

Interviews-

The Cutting Room: Ken Schretzmann- see podcast on iTunes

Sources/Further Reading-

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[funkychoclatekitten]

Just a heads up guys, Storyboard Artist is a separate role from animators, since they use the principles of animation in their work as well as cinematography, layout, and camerawork. They will do the storyboards for the film, although normally in animation they are originally trained as animators since it is very important to understand the strengths and weakness of the medium. Most storyboard artists I know, including myself are trained as 2D (hand drawn) animators since story boarding is heavy on draftsmanship, which is beaten into you in 2D. But this can mean when working with different animation mediums (stop-motion and CGI) there are whole new sets of rule one has to learn, since these are closer to traditional filmmaking in so far as everything has to be made and you cannot be as abstract, and you actually have 3D space as opposed to an intimation of it.
Also with a lot of TV animation in the USA, Europe, and somewhat in Japan, the animation is often outsourced to Asia (South Korea, China, India, and so on) who won't be in on the preproduction so it is vital the storyboards are crystal clear and understandable otherwise you waste time and money fixing a mistake...if you can.

[ChesterSampson]

As an animation student it's always great to see that even Pixar who are seen as the pinnacle of creativity and innovation don't get it right on the first time, and actively anticipate failure for the first few edits of their films.

[dantarbuck]

Mistakenly read the title as “How to Eat an Animated Film” - turned out to be a really interesting video despite not meeting my expectations!

[LazyCreepypasta]

Being an animator has to be the hardest and unappreciative job in films and tv.

[TheWitchvortex]

" If we don't allow us to be wrong, we never gonna make anything new, we will rely on things that we know work. So for us, making mistakes is an essential part of our process, we are not embarrassed about it, in fact we plan for it. "
Such wise words and Disney is still pooping out live actions, not allowing themselves to try something new.

[MelanieAnneAhern]

I love this so much. The process behind animation fascinates me.

[phantomparty]

"it adds up to alot I don't know i went to art school" actually me

[samconcklin]

Animation, no matter the type (frame-by-frame, stop-motion, CG, etc) is extremely labor-intensive, and so to recreate a shot is expensive. Making storyboards and animatics allows animators to cut out scenes, shots and jokes that don't work---that way they won't have to spend money developing shots that will eventually be cut.

Have you ever wondered how many different jobs there are and how many people work on an animated film? Next time you watch an animated feature, sit through the credits and read the job titles. It's incredible how hundreds of people come together to create one piece of art!

Great vid! Love the references/examples and complete explanation. This appeared in my recommendations, and I'm a new sub. Can't wait to check out the rest of your work!

[Mewz]

"If we don't allow ourselves to be wrong, we're never gonna do anything new; we're just gonna rely on things that we know work."

[AgsmaJustAgsma]

For those coming back to this video, I highly recommend the book 'Making the Cut at Pixar', by former senior editor Bill Kinder. Not only a very resourceful book, with tons of behind the scenes footage and interviews as bonus material, but also filled with great anecdotes from the studio during the creation of some of the most iconic scenes in Pixar movies. As he stated in the masterclass he held a couple of months ago, "Pixar's movies are great, because they start out as terrible movies, and it's a joint effort to find what works and what doesn't."

[OwenLikesComics]

Fantastic video! Editing is such an under appreciated part of filmmaking, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about how editing works in animation.

[willmather]

That Michael Eisner at the opening made me think I was watching a Defunctland video hahah

[lbrtvlldr]

"The animators" DON'T' "turn those ideas into storyboards." It's the storyboard artists who do that. Some animators have successfully transitioned into storyboarding, but the skillsets for both jobs are quite different.

[Asummersdaydreamer]

I was initially iffy about watching the video because the channel name is so oddly specific, but I am glad I found it. You definitely earned a new subscriber. :) Btw, someone in Pete Docter's family needs to pursue a medical career simply for the high punny level of having a Dr. Docter.

[ZarboGrandKonkr]

Wow! The final lines (about making mistakes) is awesome!

[karlkarlos]

So Katzenberg destroyed the dark tone of The Black Cauldron. Shame on him.

[dudis]

7:12 Beauty and The Beast, Inside Out's soundtrack and PD making a beautiful statement about allowing yourself to make mistakes and Pixar's ideology. All at once. You have a new subscriber, Andrew.

[cheesyquokka]

Me: I wanna be an anima-

Reality: *_Woah there buckaroo_*

[Edwardslove]

as an animator, everything was very well said. and as always, I could see your love for wes anderson peeking out again

[DplusisD]

That Michael Eisner animatronic at the beginning was very lifelike and convincing.