I’ve been working on the Wellness Workout series for a while now, and with over half the presenters animated, I thought it would be a great time to share a behind-the-scenes look at my process. Animation is a fascinating journey that requires both creativity and planning, and in this blog, I’ll walk you through how I bring these wellness exercises to life.
The Starting Point: Storyboarding
Every animation begins with a storyboard, which acts as the blueprint for the final piece. To save time, I make use of reused assets where possible, allowing me to focus on the flow of the story rather than creating everything from scratch. The storyline for each Wellness Workout follows a familiar formula:
The scene shifts back to the original room, but this time brighter and lighter, reflecting the positive effects of the exercise or mindfulness technique.
The animation starts in a room, setting the initial scene.
It transitions to a peaceful, wooded area, symbolizing relaxation and immersion in nature.
Refining the Flow: Thumbnail Sheet
To counteract this, I create a thumbnail sheet, a single-page layout displaying all the storyboards at once. This allows me to get a big-picture view of the animation, making it easier to spot any inconsistencies or areas that need better flow. Seeing all the key moments together helps me ensure that the transitions feel smooth and that the overall story is engaging and cohesive.
Bringing It to Life: The Animatic Stage
With the storyboard and thumbnail sheet in place, I move on to Adobe Premiere to create an animatic. This is essentially a rough cut, where I stitch all the storyboard images together in sequence, aligning them with the timing of the script or narration. This step is crucial as it lays the groundwork for the final animation and gives me a clear sense of pacing before committing to full motion.
The Fun Part: Animation!
Once the animatic is solid, I start the actual animation process. This is where the project really starts to come alive—adding movement, transitions, and little details that enhance the storytelling. Animating for the Wellness Workout is always an exciting challenge, as each episode has a unique focus, whether it’s breathing exercises, meditation techniques, or physical stretches. While the main character remains the same across episodes, the variety in content keeps things fresh and engaging.
An added bonus of working on this series is that I get to learn and apply different relaxation and mindfulness techniques myself. It’s been a rewarding experience not just as an animator but also on a personal level—I’ve picked up some great ways to unwind and manage stress along the way!
Watch the Latest Animation & Listen to Dr. Will Darling’s Interview
If you’re curious to see the final result, be sure to check out our latest animation on the official Wellness Workoutwebsite. You can also listen to Dr. Will Darling’s quick 5-minute interview, where he shares insights on wellness and relaxation techniques.
Be sure to watch & listen here
I hope you enjoyed this peek into my animation process! Let me know if you have any questions or if you’d like to hear more about specific aspects of my work. Happy animating and stay well!
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