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Camera shots, angles and movements are extremely important to visual storytelling. These are often solidified in the storyboarding stage and help artists and cameramen to prepare for their work.
This article covers some of the common camera shots found in animation storyboards.
For more information on storyboarding, see the following:
What camera shots are used in storyboards?
A camera shot is a continuous block of unedited footage from a single point of view. If you plan on creating storyboards, you will need to learn about the different camera shots you can use creatively in scenes. The following is a list of some commonly used shots which are a good starting point.
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Establishing shot The establishing shot lays the groundwork for the context of a scene by showing the relationship between the characters and their location. It is usually used to indicate where a scene takes place. |
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Long Shot (aka Wide shot) The long shot is used to show the entire object or character in relation to their surroundings. Unlike the establishing shot, the long shot does not necessarily show the full scenery around the characters. It is used to show what is going on, not where the characters are located. |
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Medium Shot A medium shot frames the character from the waist up. It is great for focusing on the character or characters. |
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Close Up Shot A close-up is when a scene tightly frames a character or object. This type of shot shows a lot of details about the subject and rarely includes any background elements. It places emphasis on the character’s emotions or a very specific detail that is important to the story. |
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Extreme Close-up An extreme close-up is a magnified view of an object or character. That object will usually fill the entire screen, this focuses the audience on that element and nothing else |
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Over the Shoulder shot This shot is taken from behind a character. It shows what they are seeing while including them in the shot. It is often used for conversations or point of view shots.
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What camera angles are used in storyboards?
A camera angle is simply the tilt of the camera to create a certain feeling or mood. These are technically also types of shots and you may hear them being used interchangeably. Camera shots and angles can be combined to create interesting compositions.
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Up shot / Low angle This shot is angled up and is lower than the character. This can show scale, but it can also make the character feel imposing and scary. |
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Down shot / High angle Similar to the Up shot/Low angle in that it shows scale, but is also used to make the character feel small or weak. |
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Bird's Eye View / Aerial Shot For this shot/angle, the camera is located up above, capturing the action going on below. Bird’s eye shots can be used as establishing shots to give context of where the setting is. |
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Dutch Angle / Tilt This type of camera angle is used mostly to create a dramatic effect within a film and can evoke a series of different emotions. Tilting the camera can heighten psychological distress and tension, which creates a sense of thrill. |
What camera moves are used in storyboards?
A camera move is when the camera moves from one position to another across a single scene. If you plan on creating storyboards, you will need to learn about the different camera moves you can use. Camera movements can be indicated by drawing the frames that create the positions in the movement (like in the following images), or animated using a software like Storyboard Pro.
In hand-drawn or printed storyboards, camera frame movement is indicated by an A (start) and B (end) frame, or an In (start) and Out (end) frame, as seen below. You can add more frames for a more complex camera movement. The following is a list of some commonly used camera moves which are a good starting point.
| Name & Description | Image |
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Zoom-In A zoom-in occurs when the camera moves from a wider shot to a closer shot, such as from a medium shot to a close-up. Depending on the speed of the camera move, it can either bring a lot of action to a scene or slowly direct the audience to a specific detail in the scene. |
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Zoom-Out A zoom-out occurs when the camera moves from a closer shot to a wider shot, such as from a close-up to a medium shot. This can reveal details that were previously hidden from the viewer.
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Camera Pan A pan is the horizontal, vertical, or diagonal movement of the camera. The pan is often used so your audience can experience a wide panorama that doesn't fit in the camera frame, but it can also be used to follow the main action across a large area. A pan can also be coupled with a zoom movement. |
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Camera Shake A camera shake is a rapid movement or rotation of the camera that emulates turbulence. This is the kind of camera movement you might see during an earthquake or car crash. It is often done with the character in shot, or from the character's point of view. A camera shake includes the viewer in the chaos of the scene. |
| NOTE: There are more camera shots, angles and moves than are listed in this document. Take some time to research them. |