Scene Planning

Term from Animation Storyboarding industry explained for recruiters

Scene Planning is a crucial step in animation production where artists organize and map out how scenes will flow in an animated film or show. It's like creating a detailed blueprint that helps everyone understand where characters will be placed, how they'll move, and what the camera will show. Scene Planners work between the storyboard artists and animators, making sure all the visual elements fit together properly. Think of them as traffic controllers who ensure every piece of animation flows smoothly from one scene to the next. You might also hear this role referred to as "layout planning" or "animation layout."

Examples in Resumes

Coordinated Scene Planning for 12 episodes of an animated TV series

Led Scene Planning and Layout Planning team for a feature-length animated film

Created detailed Scene Planning documents to guide animation teams across 3 major projects

Typical job title: "Scene Planners"

Also try searching for:

Scene Planner Layout Artist Animation Layout Artist Scene Planning Artist Layout Planner Animation Scene Planner

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you handle complex scene transitions in a project with multiple art styles?

Expected Answer: A senior scene planner should discuss their experience managing different visual styles, coordinating with art directors, and ensuring smooth transitions while maintaining consistency across scenes.

Q: How do you manage a team of scene planners while keeping production on schedule?

Expected Answer: They should explain their approach to team leadership, workflow management, quality control, and meeting production deadlines while maintaining high standards.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you ensure continuity between scenes in a long-format animation project?

Expected Answer: Should explain their process for tracking scene elements, maintaining consistency in character positions and movements, and coordinating with storyboard artists and animators.

Q: What's your process for breaking down a complex action sequence?

Expected Answer: Should describe how they analyze storyboards, plan camera movements, and organize the sequence into manageable segments for the animation team.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic elements you consider when planning a scene?

Expected Answer: Should mention character positioning, background elements, camera angles, and basic movement paths within the scene.

Q: How do you use storyboards to create your scene plans?

Expected Answer: Should explain how they interpret storyboard panels, translate them into detailed scene plans, and communicate with storyboard artists for clarification.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic scene composition
  • Understanding of camera angles
  • Reading and interpreting storyboards
  • Basic animation principles

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Complex scene management
  • Camera movement planning
  • Coordination with multiple departments
  • Understanding of various animation styles

Senior (5+ years)

  • Team leadership
  • Production pipeline management
  • Complex project coordination
  • Problem-solving for technical challenges

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No understanding of basic animation principles
  • Inability to read or interpret storyboards
  • Poor communication skills with team members
  • Lack of experience with animation production pipelines