12.4 Writing for animation and video games
5 min read•august 15, 2024
Animation and video game writing offer unique storytelling challenges. These mediums blend visual and interactive elements, requiring writers to think beyond traditional linear narratives. From non-verbal storytelling to player-driven plots, the creative possibilities are vast.
Collaboration is key in these fields. Writers work closely with animators, game designers, and other creatives to bring stories to life. Technical considerations, like and gameplay mechanics, shape the narrative approach, balancing storytelling depth with audience engagement.
Unique Storytelling Considerations for Animation and Video Game Writing
Interactive and Visual Storytelling Approaches
Top images from around the web for Interactive and Visual Storytelling Approaches
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Top images from around the web for Interactive and Visual Storytelling Approaches
Telling the Coaches Story | The Common Ratio View original
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storytelling | Jonathan Stray View original
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UJ005: Figure 2.3 | Plot points on a story arc. The User's J… | Flickr View original
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Telling the Coaches Story | The Common Ratio View original
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- employs multiple narrative paths and outcomes based on player choices (branching storylines)
- techniques convey emotions and plot points with minimal dialogue (character expressions, color palettes)
- World-building creates entirely new universes or fantastical settings (, Pandora)
- Character development accounts for and customization options (, Skyrim)
- Pacing differs from traditional media with gameplay segments, cut scenes, and interactive elements
Collaborative and Technical Aspects
- involves working closely with animators, game designers, and creative team members
- Interactive nature requires considering player engagement and agency throughout the narrative
- Technical limitations and possibilities of the medium shape storytelling approaches (graphics capabilities, gameplay mechanics)
- Writers must balance narrative depth with gameplay accessibility for diverse player preferences
- and visual planning play crucial roles in developing the narrative
Writing Process for Animation
Script Development and Storyboarding
- Begin with concept or story outline developed into full script with detailed scene descriptions and dialogue
- Storyboarding visually represents key scenes and sequences
- Plan shot composition, character movement, and timing through storyboards
- Emphasize character expressions and body language as visual cues to enhance or replace dialogue
- Integrate sound design and music cues into script to set tone and enhance storytelling
Visual Storytelling Techniques
- Use color, , and background art to convey mood, emotion, and narrative elements
- Think in terms of "beats" or specific moments that drive the story forward
- Emphasize timing and pacing to account for visual medium
- Collaborate with animators through multiple revisions to ensure effective visual translation of script
- Employ and symbolism to convey complex ideas or emotions (floating feather in Forrest Gump)
Dialogue and Character Development in Animation Writing
Dialogue Crafting
- Create concise and impactful dialogue competing with visual elements for audience attention
- Develop distinct and memorable character voices with unique speech patterns and catchphrases (Buzz Lightyear's "To infinity and beyond!")
- Incorporate subtext in dialogue to add depth and appeal to both children and adult audiences
- Consider voice actor strengths and styles when tailoring dialogue
- Address cultural sensitivity and localization for international distribution (changing dialogue or cultural references)
Character Development Techniques
- Define clear visually representable through design changes and animation techniques
- Emphasize non-verbal communication through gestures, facial expressions, and body language
- Create unique personalities and quirks for each character to make them memorable and relatable
- Develop backstories and motivations that influence character actions and decisions throughout the story
- Use character interactions and relationships to drive plot and emotional engagement
Key Elements of Video Game Writing
Branching Narratives and Player Choice
- Create coherent storylines for various outcomes based on player decisions (Detroit: Become Human, The Witcher 3)
- Craft , decision points, and consequences affecting the game world and character relationships
- Develop using in-game objects, locations, and background details (Bioshock, Dark Souls)
- Write non-player character (NPC) dialogue providing both essential information and optional content
- Design quests and missions with compelling objectives integrated into the overarching narrative
World-Building and Narrative Structure
- Develop extensive and backstory for player exploration beyond the main plot (Elder Scrolls series, Mass Effect)
- Balance narrative pacing with player-driven exploration and side activities
- Create adaptive storytelling elements for open-world games and emergent narratives (Red Dead Redemption 2)
- Design narrative-driven achievements and rewards encouraging story engagement and world exploration
- Incorporate opportunities expanding the game's universe (novels, comics, animated series)
Integrating Narrative Elements with Gameplay Mechanics
Narrative-Gameplay Synergy
- Collaborate with game designers to ensure narrative elements complement gameplay mechanics
- Align story beats with character progression and skill development (leveling up unlocking new abilities and story content)
- Script and in-game cinematics bridging gameplay segments and advancing plot
- Design tutorial sections incorporating storytelling to introduce narrative world and gameplay systems
- Create coherent explanations for within context of narrative universe (magic systems, technology)
Interactive Storytelling Elements
- Develop dialogue systems incorporating gameplay elements (timed responses, skill checks in Fallout series)
- Design narrative-driven side quests and activities enhancing the main storyline (Witcher contracts in The Witcher 3)
- Create dynamic narrative events reacting to player actions and choices (Nemesis system in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor)
- Implement environmental puzzles and exploration revealing story details (Gone Home, What Remains of Edith Finch)
- Craft collectible items and lore pieces providing additional narrative depth (audio logs, journals)
Challenges and Opportunities in Interactive and Non-Linear Game Narratives
Narrative Complexity and Player Agency
- Maintain narrative tension and pacing when players experience events in different orders
- Address ludonarrative dissonance where gameplay actions conflict with established story (Uncharted series)
- Balance narrative depth with gameplay accessibility for diverse player preferences
- Create flexible story elements adapting to player-driven experiences and unexpected interactions
- Design replayable narrative elements encouraging multiple playthroughs and content discovery
Innovative Storytelling Approaches
- Experiment with non-traditional narrative structures (time loops in Outer Wilds, fragmented storytelling in Her Story)
- Implement player-created narratives through gameplay systems (Crusader Kings series, Rimworld)
- Explore meta-narratives commenting on game design and player expectations (The Stanley Parable, Undertale)
- Utilize procedural generation to create unique narrative experiences (No Man's Sky, Dwarf Fortress)
- Incorporate real-time narrative elements reacting to player choices and game world changes (Fable series, Black & White)
Key Terms to Review (25)
Branching narratives: Branching narratives are storytelling structures that allow a narrative to diverge into multiple paths based on the choices made by the audience or player. This technique creates an interactive experience, giving participants a sense of agency and allowing for personalized storytelling that can lead to various outcomes and endings, which is particularly significant in animation and video games.
Character Arcs: Character arcs refer to the transformation or inner journey of a character throughout a story, showcasing how they evolve as a result of their experiences and conflicts. A well-crafted character arc enhances storytelling by connecting the character's personal growth with the narrative, providing emotional depth and resonance for the audience.
Character design: Character design is the process of creating and developing the appearance, personality, and traits of characters for animated films, video games, and other visual media. This process involves not just how the character looks but also how they will move, interact with the world, and evolve throughout the story. A well-designed character contributes to storytelling by embodying themes and connecting with the audience on an emotional level.
Collaborative writing: Collaborative writing is the process where multiple writers come together to create a text, sharing ideas and responsibilities to produce a cohesive work. This method emphasizes teamwork and often results in richer content, as diverse perspectives and skills enhance the creative process. In animation and video games, collaborative writing is crucial as it helps develop intricate stories and characters that engage audiences effectively.
Cutscenes: Cutscenes are short, non-interactive sequences in video games that provide narrative context or advance the plot. They often feature animated graphics, voice acting, and cinematic techniques to engage players and enhance the storytelling experience, bridging the gap between gameplay and narrative.
Dialogue options: Dialogue options are choices presented to a player or viewer that allow them to decide how a character communicates within a narrative. These choices can influence the direction of the story, character relationships, and even gameplay mechanics, making them a vital element in both animation and video games.
Environmental Storytelling: Environmental storytelling is a narrative technique that uses the surrounding environment, including settings, objects, and visual details, to convey a story or enhance the narrative experience. This method creates a deeper connection between the audience and the story, encouraging exploration and interaction with the environment itself. In animation and video games, environmental storytelling serves to immerse players or viewers in the world, making them active participants in the unfolding narrative.
Episodic structure: Episodic structure refers to a narrative format that presents a series of connected but often self-contained episodes or segments, each with its own distinct story arc. This format allows for various subplots and character developments while maintaining an overarching theme or storyline. It is commonly used in television series and can also be applied in non-linear storytelling and in mediums like animation and video games, where players or viewers can engage with different segments independently yet still appreciate the bigger picture.
Game mechanics: Game mechanics are the rules and systems that govern gameplay, determining how players interact with the game world and with each other. These mechanics include actions like jumping, collecting items, and winning points, as well as the overall structure of the game that drives engagement and challenges players. They are essential in shaping the player's experience and influencing how a story is told through gameplay, particularly in animation and video games.
Graphics capabilities: Graphics capabilities refer to the ability of a device or software to create, manipulate, and display visual images and animations. This term is particularly relevant in animation and video games, where high-quality graphics can enhance storytelling, create immersive environments, and engage the audience effectively. Strong graphics capabilities allow for detailed character designs, dynamic environments, and smooth animations, which are essential in delivering a compelling visual experience.
Interactive storytelling: Interactive storytelling is a narrative technique that allows audiences to actively participate in shaping the story's progression and outcomes. This approach contrasts with traditional storytelling, where the audience is a passive observer, by enabling choices that can influence character decisions, plot twists, and ultimately the ending. It connects deeply with various forms of media, including screenwriting, where writers can explore new avenues for engagement across different formats.
Lore: Lore refers to the body of knowledge, traditions, and narratives that define the world and its characters in storytelling, particularly within fictional universes. In writing for animation and video games, lore helps create a rich context that engages audiences and enhances the depth of the narrative, giving a sense of history and realism to the story being told.
Mass effect: Mass effect refers to the way a narrative or visual element can have a significant impact on the audience's perception, emotions, and engagement within animation and video games. This concept highlights how individual components like characters, sound, and visuals combine to create a larger emotional response, enhancing the overall storytelling experience.
Middle-earth: Middle-earth is a fictional setting created by J.R.R. Tolkien that serves as the backdrop for his epic tales, particularly 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings.' This richly detailed world is characterized by its diverse landscapes, cultures, and mythologies, making it a vibrant canvas for storytelling in animation and video games. The depth of Middle-earth's lore and its characters allows writers to craft engaging narratives that resonate with audiences across different mediums.
Non-linear storytelling: Non-linear storytelling is a narrative technique where events are presented out of chronological order, allowing for a more complex and engaging storytelling experience. This method invites the audience to piece together the story themselves, creating intrigue and emotional depth, often seen in animation and video games where interactive elements are involved.
Npc dialogue: NPC dialogue refers to the spoken or written communication by non-player characters in video games and animation, often designed to enhance storytelling and engage players. This dialogue serves to provide context, advance the plot, and help develop character relationships, making the game or animated project more immersive and interactive.
Pipeline: In the context of animation and video games, a pipeline refers to the series of processes and stages involved in the creation and production of animated content or interactive experiences. This term highlights the structured workflow that guides the project from initial concept through to final output, ensuring that each stage is efficiently managed and that all team members are aligned on their tasks and responsibilities.
Player agency: Player agency refers to the ability of players to make meaningful choices that impact the game's story, world, or character development. It emphasizes the player's role in influencing the narrative and outcomes, creating a more engaging and personalized experience. In animation and video games, this concept allows for interactivity, giving players a sense of control over their actions and the unfolding events within the game.
Role-playing game (RPG): A role-playing game (RPG) is a type of game where players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting, making decisions and taking actions that affect the outcome of the story. These games often involve collaborative storytelling, allowing players to interact with each other and the game world, creating dynamic narratives. RPGs can be found in various formats, including tabletop games, video games, and online formats, each offering unique storytelling techniques and player experiences.
Script development: Script development is the process of refining and enhancing a screenplay to ensure it is compelling, well-structured, and ready for production. This process involves multiple stages, including brainstorming, outlining, writing drafts, receiving feedback, and revising the script. Throughout this journey, the writer collaborates with producers, directors, and sometimes actors to align the vision and address potential issues before filming begins.
Storyboarding: Storyboarding is a visual planning tool used in film, animation, and video game development, where scenes are sketched out in a sequence to map out the narrative and visualize the flow of action. It helps creators visualize how the story unfolds, plan camera angles, and determine pacing, making it essential during the development process for organizing thoughts and ideas before production begins.
Transmedia storytelling: Transmedia storytelling is a narrative technique that unfolds across multiple platforms and formats, allowing audiences to engage with a story through various media while providing a richer and more immersive experience. This approach encourages deeper audience participation and allows creators to explore different aspects of a narrative, expanding the overall story universe beyond a single medium.
Visual metaphors: Visual metaphors are powerful storytelling tools that use images to convey deeper meanings or concepts, going beyond their literal interpretations. They help to create a rich subtext, revealing emotions and ideas in a way that words sometimes cannot. This technique enhances the viewer's experience by encouraging them to engage with the material on multiple levels, connecting visuals to themes, character motivations, and overall context.
Visual storytelling: Visual storytelling is the art of conveying a narrative through visual media, using images, actions, and visuals to express ideas and emotions without relying solely on words. It enhances the audience's understanding of character motivations, plot developments, and thematic elements by showing rather than telling, creating a more immersive experience.
Voice acting: Voice acting is the art of providing voice for animated characters, video game avatars, and other forms of media that require vocal performances without physical presence. It involves not only speaking lines but also bringing characters to life through emotion, personality, and distinct vocal choices. The effectiveness of voice acting can significantly enhance storytelling, creating immersive experiences for the audience.