Final answer:
The first step in creating animation is forming a storyboard, which is a visual organization of the animation's narrative structure. It considers different modes of communication and their impact on the audience, leading to a project that effectively conveys the intended message. Recognizing the audience and selecting the appropriate details are part of this crucial early phase.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the initial steps in creating an animation, forming a storyboard is a fundamental part. A storyboard is a graphic organizer, such as Figure 18.16, that lays out a sequence of drawings to represent the progression of the story. This step is essential because it visually plots out the animation and helps to identify any potential issues early in the creation process. It ensures that the needs of the audience are effectively addressed, considering various modes including linguistic, visual, audio, spatial, and gestural impacts. Furthermore, a storyboard serves as a guide for the subsequent creation of a prototype or first draft, an integral stage where you experiment with the selected modes and media. This planning phase involves determining the situation, and purpose, and defining a thesis, which will guide the narrative and its communication to the audience.
Once the storyboard is completed and the initial planning stage is finalized, recognizing the audience becomes crucial to refine and shape the narrative, vocabulary, and level of detail. The combination of modes and media is determined after substantial research and serves to accurately and effectively communicate the purpose of the project to the targeted audience. The selection of details and implementation follows, where the actual creation of the content begins, evolving flexibly during the production to meet the project's goals and address any unforeseen challenges.