Storyboarding is the process of visually translating the script into a sequence of graphic panels, much like a comic book. This is often the first time the story is seen in a visual, cinematic form, allowing the director to experiment with camera angles, pacing, composition, and staging. Storyboards are crucial for testing the narrative flow and identifying moments where the script is confusing or visually dull.

The storyboard artist works closely with the director and the head of story, often drawing thousands of panels to cover every shot in the film. These boards include arrows to indicate camera movement (pans, zooms), technical notes on lighting, and crucial dialogue, serving as the primary guide for the layout department. This stage is highly collaborative and iterative, with scenes frequently being revised or entirely cut.

Once the boards are approved, they form the basis of the Layout and Previsualization (Previs) phases. A well-executed storyboard saves immense time and money in production by solving directorial and narrative problems cheaply on paper before committing resources to 3D assets or final animation. It is the cheapest and fastest way to fail and correct.