What goes into making an animated film?
Each department works together to bring us the big picture. From sequence to shot to frame, the film comes together through the deep collaboration between everyone at the studio.
An animated film is approximately 90 minutes long.
Moana 2 has a total run time of 89 minutes and 33 seconds.
A film is composed of many sequences.
Each sequence is typically 1 to 7 minutes long.
Moana 2 had 46 sequences that ranged from 7 seconds to just under 4 minutes.
Each sequence is made up of many shots.
A shot, which is one camera setup, is typically 0 to 30 seconds long.
We're Back contains 70 shots and is 2 minutes and 56 seconds long.
Frame 01
There are 24 frames in one second of animation.
Each frame is on screen for approximately 0.04 seconds.
Moana 2 had 129,507 frames.
Stereo 3D accounts for a left eye and right eye to create depth.
Click on the image below to toggle between the left eye and right eye images.
There are 259,014 total frames rendered for Stereo 3D.
From storyboard to final frame, each film takes an average of three to five years to create what you see on screen.
And it all starts with an idea.
Development
Developing the idea
Our filmmaking process begins in Development, where our storytellers begin to craft the narrative, and our artists define the look of the characters and worlds.
Creative Development
development
Story
development
Visual Development
development
Shaping the Story
Editorial and Sound teams piece together evolving story ideas, guiding production.
Editorial & SoundOceanic Cultural Trust
Like on the first Moana film, the filmmakers assembled a team of cultural experts in anthropology, history, dance and movement, canoes and navigation, linguistics, and various cultural practices from the Pacific Islands. They provided cultural advice and support for design, choreography reference, and language throughout the film.
Research & Experiences
In preparation for and throughout production, the Production Training and Development team provides education in filmmaking, art, storytelling, and tools through experiences, classes, lectures, workshops, field trips and screenings.
Building the Foundation
Technology is at the basis of all things created within our pipeline. Through an empathetic approach, Technologists work to design and build working environments that enable artists to do their best work.
Pre-Production TechnologiesExploring our Legacy
The Walt Disney Animation Research Library is home to over 65,000,000 assets from Disney Animation's nearly hundred-year history, and is a resource for our artists and filmmakers to explore throughout production.
Asset Creation
Entering the third dimension
Once development is on track, our artists turn our visual development and concept drawings into three-dimensional characters and environments by creating the models, rigs, and textures that define the look of the world being created.
Keeping it on Track
Great communicators, strategists, and organizers, Production Management is quick to respond to ever-changing schedules.
Production Management
Strategizing Solutions
Stewards of the pipeline, Technical Directors solve problems and tackle new and interesting challenges through a combination of tool building, support, and software development.
Technical Direction
Crafting Next Generation Workflows
The partnership between Art and Technology is behind the best of what we create. Through close working relationships between our artists and technologists, we develop groundbreaking tools and workflows that allow us to explore ways we can optimize the creation process.
Tools & Support
Shot Production
Putting it together, frame by frame
Once our characters have been crafted and our environments realized, we begin the process of creating the scenes that will comprise our movie. Shot Production includes the work of many animators and technicians who bring sequences to life in everything from a character’s acting to the fine details in their hair, clothing and the world.
Layout
shot production
Animation
shot production
Hand-Drawn Animation
shot production
Higher Quality, Faster Iterations
Disney Animation’s Technology teams have created a best-in-class shot development experience. Their focus is not only the ease of data access and collaboration, but also the safety and security of our data. With the artist in mind, technologies are introduced or improved upon to enable higher quality visualization and faster iteration of the final, rendered shot.
Collaboration & Rendering Technologies
Technical Animation & Character Effects
shot production
Set Extension
shot production
Effects Animation
shot production
Crowds Animation
shot production
Lighting
shot production
Stereo
shot production
Archiving
When a production wraps, art and assets created for our films, as well as materials and items acquired during development and production, are organized and archived so the Walt Disney Animation Research Library can make them available to the entire Walt Disney Company for inspiration and reference.
Bringing It All Together
And finally, through the deep collaboration between Production, Technology, and with the support of everyone on the Studio Teams, our compelling characters come together with their imaginative worlds, to tell the universal stories that become part of our films at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Moana 2: Available now on various formats including Digital where applicable.