Animation Programs: Scenarios and Storyboards Alice

Writing a Program Read the Scenario (Problem Statement) Description of the story, game or simulation Design a storyboard (List of Actions) Write the program code (Implement) Test (Run the Animation)

Storyboard Create a solution to a problem Plan a list of actions to perform a task, as specified in the scenario Break down large scenarios into scene sketches (Pixar and Disney)

Storyboards – 2 Types 1.Visual – used by professional animators Rough sketch of each scene called State Sketches are called Snapshots Snapshots are numbered and labeled with information

Scene Number Description: Sound: Text: Story Board Template

Storyboards – 2 Types 2.Textual – Algorithmic (step-by-step) structure. Pseudocode – Loose version of code Do the following steps in order Dragon moves up Cat says “hi” Dragon turns to face Cat Do the following steps together Cat moves toward Dragon Dragon moves towards Cat

Evaluate and Revise (Design-Modify-Create Cycle) Does the action flow from scene to scene, as the story unfolds? Do any transitions need to be added to blend one scene to the next? Did you overlook some essential part of the story? Is there something about the story that should be change?

Step 1: Read the Scenario Decide on the problem to be solved Often the problem to be solved is given to you by your instructor, team leader, etc. Other times, you get to make it up! Answer the following questions What story is to be told? What objects are needed? Lead & Secondary What actions are to take place?

Example The scenario is: Several snow-people are outdoors, on a snow- covered landscape. A snowman is trying to meet a snowwoman who is talking with a group of her friends (other snowwomen.) He says "Ahem" and blinks his eyes, trying to get her attention. The problem is: How can we create this animation?

Storyboard - Visual Option 1: Sketches Create a solution to a problem None

Create Initial World

Storyboard Option 2: Screen Shots Initial scene Snowman tries to catch snowwoman’s attention Snowwoman looks around

Storyboard Option 3: Text Animation Artists sketch their storyboards You may not have such expertise, so here is a textual form that can be used: This is like a "to-do" list. The Learning to Program in Alice textbook puts a textual storyboard in a box. Do the following actions in order snowman turns to face snowwoman snowman “blinks eyes” and calls out to the snowwoman. snowwoman turns around.

Assignment Read Chapter 2 section 1

Lab Chapter 2 Lab Lec1