Character Sketchpad Slides Character Creators
How do studios like Blue Sky and Warner Bros. bring characters to life?
The Blueprint
1. Silhouette
Can you recognize the character just by their shadow? Think of Bugs Bunny's ears or Scrat's tail.
2. Personality
How they look tells us how they feel. Are they nervous like Sid? Or brave like the Iron Giant?
Visual Tip: Simple shapes (circles, squares, triangles) help build strong characters.
Blue Sky Style
Texture & Detail
Focus on "Tactile" realism (fur you can almost feel).
Exaggerated anatomy for comedy (Scrat's bulging eyes).
Environmental connection (Characters fit their world perfectly).
Case Study: Ice Age
"Characters like Manny are built like blocks—solid, reliable, and grounded. Sid is built like a loose noodle—flexible and chaotic."
Warner Bros. Legacy
Case Study: Looney Tunes
"Warner Bros. uses squash and stretch to the extreme. Characters are like rubber—they can survive anything for a laugh."
Iconic Design
Heavy focus on silhouette and simple, bold lines.
Dynamic movement (Characters never stay still).
Graphic appeal (They look great on any background).
Your Turn
Grab your Hero Blueprint. It's time to design a character that could star in their own studio production!
Think
Draft
Animate
Hero Blueprint Worksheet Hero Blueprint
Animation Production: Character Profile & Design
Confidential Studio File
Name:
Date:
1. Character Sketch
Draw your character here.
Primary Color
Secondary
Accent
2. Identity Card
Character Name
Species / Build (e.g., Sloth, Robot, Humanoid)
Signature Accessory or Prop
3. Internal Code
Brave
Clumsy
Brilliant
Grumpy
Hyper
Shy
4. The Production Pitch
Describe your character in a paragraph. Explain why they look the way they do and how their appearance reflects their personality.
Studio Style Match
Which studio would most likely produce a movie with this character?
Blue Sky Studios
Warner Bros.
Explain your choice:
Style Comparison Slides Production Analysis
Studio Showdown
Comparing the visual DNA of animation giants.
Visual DNA
3D Realism
Studios like Blue Sky focus on lighting, shadow, and physically accurate textures.
Key Terms
Rendering, Global Illumination, Ray-Tracing.
Graphic Energy
Warner Bros. often leans into bold outlines and snappy, rhythmic animation timing.
Key Terms
Line Weight, Pose-to-Pose, Smears.
The Lighting Lab
Materials Matter
In Blue Sky movies, ice looks cold, fur looks soft, and metal looks cold. Every surface has a "shader."
Deep Space
Their cameras move like real movie cameras, creating a sense of depth and scale.
"We don't just animate; we simulate."
Rhythm & Lines
Impact over Realism
Graphic Style
WB often uses strong outlines (line art). This makes characters "pop" against detailed backgrounds.
The "Snap"
Characters move from one pose to another very quickly. It's called "snappy" animation.
Studio Analysis
Next, you will write an informative paragraph. Choose two films—one from each studio—and explain how their visual styles are different.
Ice Age vs.
Looney Tunes
Studio Analysis Worksheet Studio Analysis Report
Department of Visual Development
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
File ID: #883-ANIM Rev: 2.0
Lead Analyst Name
Production Date
Studio Comparison Focus
1. Visual Observations
Feature Blue Sky (e.g. Rio) Warner Bros (e.g. Iron Giant) Lighting & Shadows Character Outlines Movement Speed
Final Analysis Report
Write an informative paragraph comparing the two studios. Use your observations from the table above to explain how their animation styles differ.
Realistic Texture Graphic Outlines 3D Depth Snappy Poses
Analysis Check
Topic Sentence
2 Visual Examples
Concluding Fact
Certified Lead Analyst
Theme Theater Slides Theme Theater
Animation isn't just about movement—it's about meaning. What is the big idea behind the movie?
The Heart of the Story
Theme = The Lesson
"What did the character learn? What should the audience take home?"
Friendship
Characters sticking together even when things are hard.
Identity
Finding out who you truly are, like the Iron Giant.
Courage
Doing the right thing even when you are afraid.
Analysis: Ice Age
The "Herd"
The main characters are different species (Mammoth, Sloth, Sabertooth Tiger). They aren't "supposed" to be friends.
The Theme
"Family is who you choose, not just who you're born with."
How do these three characters show they care for each other?
Analysis: The Iron Giant
"You are who you choose to be."
The Conflict
The Giant was built to be a weapon, but he wants to be a hero like Superman.
The Theme
"Your nature doesn't define you; your choices do."
Story Sparks
It's time to create your own animated story. What will your Theme be?
"Every great movie starts with a spark of an idea."
Animation Story Packet Animation
Story Sparker
Creative Writing Packet
Writer's Log
Author Name
Draft Date
Instructions
Welcome to the writer's room! This packet will guide you from a simple spark to a full animated story concept. Use the prompts and the structure provided to build your world.
1
Pick a Spark
2
Map the Theme
3
Write the Story
Step 1: Choose Your Spark
Pick one of these story starters to begin your project. Circle your choice.
The Glitch
"The factory robot was supposed to paint everything red, but one morning, it accidentally painted a small blue bird. Suddenly, the bird came to life and..."
The Frozen Map
"Hidden inside a giant block of ice from the Blue Sky era, a young squirrel-fox finds a map made of glowing stars that leads to..."
The Invisible Studio
"Every night at midnight, the characters in the Warner Bros. sketches climb out of their papers and try to build a machine that will..."
The Hero's Shadow
"A small shadow decides it doesn't want to follow its owner anymore. It wants to go on its own adventure to find..."
What is the Theme?
What is the "Big Idea" or lesson of your story?
Friendship
Being Different
Never Giving Up
My Theme (In my own words):
Step 2: The Script
Part A: The Beginning (The Setup)
Introduce your hero and their world. What do they want?
Part B: The Middle (The Obstacle)
What goes wrong? What is the big challenge they face?
Part C: The End (The Resolution)
How is the problem solved? What is the final scene?
Production Check
Did you include your theme in the ending?
