Previs vs storyboard vs animatic
A storyboard is a sequence of still frames that shows a scene shot by shot. An animatic is a storyboard edited to time, usually with temporary sound. Previs is a rough 3D version of the scene, with a virtual camera moving through placeholder sets and characters.
The difference in one table
| Property | Storyboard | Animatic | Previs |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Still frames in shot order | Storyboard frames edited into a timed video | A rough 3D animated sequence with virtual cameras |
| Dimensions | 2D | 2D | 3D |
| Duration | None | Real shot lengths and cut points | Real shot lengths, cut points and action speed |
| Camera movement | Shown with arrows and notes | Simulated by panning or scaling a flat frame | A virtual camera travels through the space |
| Lens and distance | Drawn by eye | Inherited from the drawing | A set focal length, position and height |
| Scale | Not measured | Not measured | Objects at true size |
| Sound | None | Often temporary dialogue, music or effects | Sometimes temporary sound |
| Typical tools | Paper, Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, Storyboarder | An editor such as Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer or DaVinci Resolve | Maya, Unreal Engine, Blender, or a dedicated previs app |
| Cost of a change | Redraw the frame | Redraw the frame and re-cut | Move the object or camera and render again |
| Answers | What does each shot show? | Does the sequence play at this pace? | Can the shot be done, and how does the camera move? |
| Use with an AI video model | A frame can be a start image | Timing reference only | Stills set the framing; the clip shows the intended move |
What a storyboard is
A storyboard is a series of drawn or rendered still frames that shows a scene shot by shot. Each storyboard frame records the composition of one shot: who is in it, where they stand and how large they appear. Arrows and written notes on a storyboard indicate camera and subject movement. A storyboard has no duration, so it cannot show whether a shot lasts two seconds or ten. Storyboards are the fastest of the three to make and to change.
What an animatic is
An animatic is a storyboard edited into a video, with each frame held on screen for the length of its shot. An animatic adds timing: shot durations, cut points and pacing. Most animatics include temporary dialogue, music or sound effects. Camera moves in an animatic are simulated by panning or scaling the flat storyboard image. Animation studios use animatics to lock the timing of a film before production begins. Some productions use the term "3D animatic" for a rough 3D sequence, which is previs under another name.
What previs is
Previs, short for previsualization, is a rough 3D animated version of a scene made before it is shot. Previs uses untextured placeholder geometry for sets, props and characters. A previs camera has a real focal length, a position in space and a path, so its frames match what a physical camera would capture. Previs shows staging, coverage and timing together. Previs also shows whether a camera move is physically possible in the space. Film and visual effects productions use previs to plan complex sequences before shooting them. A longer explanation is in What is previsualization?
Which one to make
- Make a storyboard when the question is what each shot shows. A storyboard is often enough for a dialogue scene covered by a locked-off camera.
- Make an animatic when the question is pacing. An animatic shows whether the cuts land and whether a sequence drags.
- Make previs when the camera moves through space, when action has to reach a mark at a set speed, or when a stunt or visual effect needs planning. Previs is the only one of the three that tests a camera move.
Productions often make the three in order: a storyboard, then an animatic, then previs for the sequences that need it. Many productions skip a stage. A short film can go from a storyboard straight to the shoot.
Storyboards, animatics and previs in AI video
A storyboard frame works as a start image for image-to-video generation. An animatic gives a video model no camera path to follow. A previs clip carries the camera path, the timing and the blocking in its pixels. Sora 2 and Veo 3.1 take reference images, not a reference video, so a previs still sets the framing and the prompt describes the move. Kling VIDEO 3.0 accepts video references, but Kling's own guides describe them for keeping characters consistent, not for copying a camera path. The phrasing that works for each model is in Camera movement prompts for Sora, Veo, Runway and Kling.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between previs and a storyboard?
A storyboard is 2D still frames with no duration. Previs is a 3D animated sequence with a virtual camera, real timing and objects at true scale. A storyboard shows what each shot contains. Previs shows how the camera moves and how long each shot lasts.
What is the difference between a storyboard and an animatic?
An animatic is a storyboard edited to time. The animatic uses the same frames as the storyboard. The animatic adds shot durations, cuts and usually temporary sound.
Is previs the same as an animatic?
No. An animatic is 2D storyboard frames cut to time. Previs is built in 3D, so the camera, the lens and the action can be changed and rendered again. Some productions call previs a "3D animatic".
What comes first, storyboard or animatic?
The storyboard comes first. An animatic is made from storyboard frames, so the frames have to exist before they can be timed.
Do you need a storyboard before previs?
No. Previs artists often work from storyboards, but previs can also be built directly from a script or a director's description. Blockshot builds previs from a plain-language description of a scene.
Blockshot makes previs in a browser: describe a scene, get a 3D blockout with real camera moves, and export the clip. See how it works →