First of all, the production of animated short films can be roughly divided into two kinds: two-dimensional animation and three-dimensional animation. Three-dimensional animation is basically made by computer. Generally, Japanese animation is a two-dimensional animation, which uses the traditional hand-drawn draft and then scans it to the computer, and then the computer colors it-special effects-post-dubbing. Of course, 2D is also made by computer, just as Pleasant Goat is made by flash and other software, which is also a 2D animation short film promoted by Lexus animation. Clay figurine animation, puppet animation and paper-cut animation are all methods of animation in the past. In addition, there are traditional ink animation in China, some of which are the animation methods of the last century, and the principle is the same.

Three stages of making animated short films:

The first stage: text template (comic adaptation, with copyright fee and author participation fee), modeling design (including accessories, props and color designation) and picture template (storyboard).

The second stage: the screen is divided into early stage and late stage, and the director participates. The later stage is backstage production, and the earlier stage is composition (design draft), original painting, original painting copy (modification, also called producer), animation, dynamic inspection and line shooting, all of which are completed in the earlier stage. Scan and color the animated line drawings (color assignment intervention), and synthesize them with the background to complete the proofs.

The third stage: after the sample is edited, dubbing, soundtrack, combined with sound effects and subtitles will enter the market.

The cost of animated short films also depends on the production technology. The production cost of two-dimensional animation is lower than that of three-dimensional animation. At present, the production method of two-dimensional plus three-dimensional animation is popular in China, and the product cost of this method is between the two. In recent years, animation is made by pure computer in China, which is called "paperless operation" in the industry. Using this technology to make a certain scale animation can reduce the cost 10% to 30% compared with the traditional animation.

Under normal circumstances, the standard of making full animation for theatrical animated short films is higher, that is, 24 short films are drawn in one second, reaching the standard of ordinary films. The animated characters are required to have the smoothest movements and beautiful pictures, but the production cost will double, which is also an important reason for the high cost of the theatrical animated film.