Visual Storytelling: Storyboarding Foundations

Level Up Your Skills in Just Weeks!
Our Short Courses are one of the most popular ways to dive into the world of animation.. Whether you’re sharpening your skills, exploring a new passion, or preparing for a future in the creative industry our short courses are designed to inspire and equip you with practical and interactive training.

Start Date: 28 March 2026

About the course

Registration Form

Programme

What’s Covered in the
Storyboarding Foundations Course

Learn the key principles of animation storyboarding. Create a portfolio of storyboard work to industry standard.

Storyboard in Krita

Get started with storyboarding in Krita, a free, open-source tool used by professional 2D artists worldwide. Learn how to plan shots, create storyboard panels, and build clear visual sequences using its built‑in drawing and layering tools.

Cinematic Shots and Composition

Develop an eye for cinematic framing and visual storytelling. Learn how to compose dynamic shots, use camera angles and lenses to enhance emotion, and plan sequences that guide the viewer’s attention clearly and effectively.

Rhythm, Timing, Pacing and Building Effective Sequences

Learn how to structure beats, transitions, and shot lengths so your sequences flow smoothly, land key story moments, and keep your audience engaged from frame to frame.

Bring Characters to Life in Your Boards

Learn how to show personality, emotion, and intent through clear poses and expressions. Practice staging, body language, and acting beats so your characters feel alive and believable in every panel.

From Rough Sketch to a Full and Polished Sequence

Take your boards from loose thumbnails to a polished, presentation-ready sequence. Learn a step-by-step workflow for refining rough sketches, cleaning up panels, and preparing storyboards that are clear, readable, and ready to share with clients or studios.

Why study at The Animation School?

Gain In-Demand Skills From the #1 Animation School in Africa

Ranked among the top 11 animation schools worldwide in 2025, we offer a practical, industry-driven curriculum that makes our graduates highly sought-after. Our students consistently win top awards both locally and internationally, and 80–90% of graduates go on to work for leading animation studios worldwide.

Q&A

Do You Have Questions About the Visual Storytelling: Storyboarding Foundations Course?

Find answers to common questions about the Introduction to Stop Motion short course.

Still have questions?

Get in touch

Will I Get a Certificate?

Yes. Students who attend all sessions and complete the required exercises will receive a certificate of completion from The Animation School.

Who Is This 2D Animation Course for?

This course is intended for students who may love film and animation or have a desire to tell their own visual stories, but need base drawing skills and introductory practical structures to hone their visual storytelling instincts

This course is open to anyone with basic computer skills. Whether you're a high school student (Grade 8–12), a working professional exploring a creative path, or a traditional artist wanting to go digital. It’s a hands-on way to explore 2D animation and see if it’s something you want to pursue further.

What will students be able to do upon completion of the course?

Interpret a short script and translate it into clear visual sequences.
Apply cinematic shot language to enhance storytelling clarity.
Create dynamic, expressive character acting panels.
Construct a complete storyboard sequence with rhythm and flow.
Present a polished storyboard suitable for a creative portfolio.

Do I Need Any Drawing Experience?

No drawing experience is required.

The course uses a beginner-friendly storyboarding shorthand for both characters and backgrounds.

You’ll learn digital drawing skills step by step in class using a drawing tablet and free animation software.

What Does This Course Cost?

The Visual Storytelling: Storyboarding Foundations short course costs R3,900.

If you’ve previously completed a short course through The Animation School, you qualify for a 10% discount.

Do You Offer Financial Assistance?

There are currently no bursaries available for short courses.

What Animation Software Will I Use in This Course?

This course uses Krita, a free digital drawing software. It’s open-source, widely used, and a great tool for anyone starting out in digital animation. Download Krita here.

What Drawing Tablet Will I Need?

We recommend you get one of the following digital drawing tablets:

• XP-Pen Deco Fun L Graphics Drawing Tablet

• Wacom One Drawing Tablet Small

What Is the Format of This Course?

The Visual Storytelling: Storyboarding Foundations course is delivered entirely online over the course of six weeks. Live classes take place on Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00, taught by experienced animation facilitators.

In addition to these weekly online classes, you’ll need to spend around three hours per week watching lectures and completing practical exercises on your own.

How Do I Join the Visual Storytelling: Storyboarding Foundations Course?

Simply complete the registration form at the top of this page, submit it, and make the necessary payment.

What if I Want to Study Animation Full-Time?

If you’re serious about pursuing a career in animation, consider applying for our Diploma in Digital Animation. It’s a full-time, three-year qualification that prepares you for work in the animation industry through hands-on training, studio production experience, and professional development. Many students use the Introduction to 2D Animation course as a first step before committing to full-time study.

Testimonial

A word from our students

"The 2D Animation short course was truly life-changing. Learning the fundamentals of frame-by-frame animation and character drawing was incredibly rewarding. The lecturers are world-class animators - knowledgeable, inspiring, and down-to-earth.

We were lucky to learn from industry leaders. The Animation School staff were also fantastic - quick to respond and made the online platform seamless and easy to use.

I’ll definitely be back for more courses!"

Nini Van Der Walt

Student at the Animation School

Ready to Discover the Magic of Visual Storytelling? Register Today

Complete the registration form and pay the registration fee