The first step of storyboarding is not drawing. It is cutting the script into information points: one line per shot is too slow, one information point per shot is right. Duration, shot size and transitions come after — reverse the order and you will keep redoing it.
The four steps
- Cut by information point, not by punctuation. If one line contains two pieces of information, it becomes two segments. A 60-second comic episode usually cuts into 12 to 18 information points.
- Set the duration: 2 to 4 seconds per point. Under 2 the viewer cannot read it; over 4 the pacing drags. Dense dialogue can stretch to 5.
- Set the shot size: wide establishes the environment, medium carries action, close-up carries attitude, insert carries emotion. More than three consecutive shots at the same size looks static.
- Set the transition: hard cuts by default; use an empty frame or an occlusion pass at emotional turns. Never add a transition for decoration — only to imply that time passed.
Shot types compared
| Shot | Job | Typical length | Common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | Establish place and relationships | 3–5s | Held too long at the open; pacing sags |
| Medium | Advance action and dialogue | 2–4s | Used back to back; visually flat |
| Close-up | Carry attitude and emotion | 2–3s | Exposes weak expressions |
| Insert | Emphasise a prop or an emotional beat | 1–2s | Overused, so it stops emphasising anything |
| Empty frame | Time transition, breathing room | 1–3s | Abused, and the story breaks |
A sample storyboard table
| Shot | Length | Picture | Line / information point | Job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 3s | Wide, rainy street at night | (no dialogue, rain only) | Establish place and mood |
| 02 | 2s | Insert, a hand gripping an envelope | “I sat on this letter for three years.” | Open a question |
| 03 | 3s | Close-up, the character's profile | “It has to go out today.” | Give motivation |
| 04 | 4s | Medium, walking to the mailbox | One line of interior monologue | Advance the action |
| 05 | 2s | Insert, hand stopping at the slot | (beat, music enters) | Emotional turn |
Three practical notes for AI generation
- Character consistency: repeat the same appearance description (hair, clothing, age) in every shot, or the model will produce different people.
- One shot per prompt: do not write “start wide then push in” in one prompt. Split it into two shots; compositing is far more controllable.
- Lock the cut points first: decide durations before generating, so you do not end up with footage you cannot use.
After the cut, run your own finished video through the breakdown tool and check whether the pacing and information density match the storyboard. The gap is usually instructive.
Frequently asked questions
Does a storyboard have to be a table?
Strongly recommended. A table makes uneven pacing and repeated shot sizes visible at a glance; prose descriptions hide both.
How many shots does a 60-second episode need?
12 to 18. Fewer than 12 drags; more than 18 and the audience cannot keep up with the information.
Why are AI-generated characters inconsistent?
Because appearance is not pinned. Fix the character's features into a reusable description, include it in every prompt, and keep shot sizes and angles in a consistent style.
Is it normal for the storyboard to differ from the final cut?
Yes — editing adjusts things. But if the difference exceeds 30%, the duration estimates were off; recalibrate against the finished video next time.
Notice: posts are for studying public content and are not professional advice. Copyright stays with the original creators; commercial use requires permission. Results vary by category, account and platform — trust your own numbers.