Direction
2D
Animation
Animation Directing (Pre-production Phase)
Animation Directing is a hands-on course where students go through the pre-production phase of an animated short film — from concept development to directorial vision and visual presentation.
The success of an animated film largely depends on a well-structured pre-production phase, where most key directing decisions are made.Throughout the course, we will work together through this pre-production stage—developing the story, defining the film’s purpose, working on the script, key visuals, characters, and narrative style. We will plan the film in a way that it’s fully prepared for the production phase.
By the end of the course, each student will have:
- A logline and synopsis
- A first draft of a short film script
- Visual moodboards (style, characters, key scenes)
- Character development arcs and a directorial vision for each sequence
- Key scene breakdowns and visual shot planning
- A complete verbal and visual presentation of the project
Admission process:
An interview with the course mentor
It is recommended that students have an idea for a short (1–3 minute) animation project they wish to develop during the course.
Course meetings will be held in person at Studio Animatory.
Natia Nikolashvili
Animator, Director @ Animatory
About Instructor
Natia Nikolakashvili is an animation director and animator. Natia has extensive experience in animation production, working on both commercial short projects and festival animation films.
For three months, Natia will mentor the Animation Directing course. This will be an intensive, student-centered, and practical process, where theoretical components will be combined with personalized feedback, creative freedom, and hands-on tasks that simulate real production workflows.
Drawing from her professional experience, Natia will guide students in developing their own film concepts — helping them think clearly, concisely, and cinematically, from narrative structure and character development to storytelling style and visual presentation. Under her mentorship, students will gain a deep understanding of the directorial approaches essential for preparing a high-quality animated film, culminating in a fully developed, professional-level film pitch/project ready to enter the production phase.