Researching Animated Shorts: Finding Inspiration


 

Researching Animated Short films: Finding Inspiration

To begin my research for creating an animated short film, I decided to watch a variety of existing short animations. I wanted to see how professional animators told complete stories in just a few minutes, since my own project will need to do the same.

I started with award-winning shorts films on YouTube. I made a small playlist so I could re watch the most inspiring ones and take notes. There was mostly 3D short films but decided to mostly focus on the 2D ones.

One of the main things I noticed was that short films don’t waste time. The best ones establish characters and tone within the first 30 seconds. For example, some used visual cues instead of dialogue, like exaggerated facial expressions or color changes, to show emotions quickly.

I also paid attention to different art styles. Some shorts had very detailed backgrounds, while others used minimal, sketch-like visuals. This showed me that the style doesn’t need to be complicated—what matters most is consistency and clarity. 

                                  (I made a mood board on Canva with screenshots of the short films)https://app.milanote.com/1URBuz17nonB31?p=z5b72pTb6Zg

Another key observation was pacing. Some shorts felt rushed, while others flowed smoothly. The ones I enjoyed most had a rhythm that matched the mood of the story, whether it was fast-paced comedy or slow and emotional.

From this research, I learned that my film should:

  • Keep the story simple and focused.

  • Use visuals and movement to replace long dialogue.

  • Stick to a consistent style that I can manage in Clip Studio Paint.

This first round of research gave me lots of inspiration and helped me think about the direction my short film could take. 

0 Comment