Post production includes: film development, editing (or cutting), adding sound effects, the voice track, and cutting the negative.

Making the Work Print and Rough Cut

After all the frames have been photographed, the film is sent to the lab for processing. The lab makes a work print that is used during the editing process so that the negatives are not damaged. The scenes, which are usually shot out of order, are cut and put together in their proper order. This is called a “rough cut”. Once the rough cut has been assembled, the film is tweaked to get the timing just right. Using a moviola, film editors may snip out little sections of scenes to shorten sequences that are too long or to add frames to extend sequences.

Adding Sound

Next, the sound is added. The work print, cut to its proper length, is sent to the sound lab. From there, sound effects, the voice track, and music can be added. Once added, they too are edited to make sure voices are loud enough to hear and background sounds are soft. A time code is added to the sound tape and the film, so the two can be matched to the frame.

Cutting

Finally, the negative is cut. Several technicians cut the negative and tape it back together so that it matches the finished work print exactly. It is a slow process that takes two to three people about two days to finish cutting the negative for a 30 minute animation.

Computers can speed this process up so that a single technician can cut a 30 minute animation in a few hours. The computer finds the key code (like a bar code at the store), which appears every six inches on the film, and marks where the different scenes are located on the negative. A technician uses computer programs and special equipment to copy the scenes off the negative onto one-inch video tape that is then copied and tada! An animated film has been made!

The Process of Making Animation:

Preproduction

Production

Postproduction