Khi Pixar Toy Story hit emotional moment đắt giá; khi DreamWorks How to Train Your Dragon opening flight sequence kéo bạn vào thế giới; khi Studio Ghibli Spirited Away bath house sequence flow seamless — đằng sau từng beat là Head of Story.
Trong animation studio, Story is everything. Pixar có câu nổi tiếng: "Story is king". Head of Story là người chịu trách nhiệm story department — lead storyboard artist team, work directly với Director shape phim từ script đến animatic. Là role quan trọng nhất trong pre-production animation.
01Head of Story là ai?
Head of Story là trưởng bộ phận story tại animation studio. Phân loại theo project: (1) Feature Animation Head of Story — Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney, Sony Pictures Animation, Studio Ghibli, Cartoon Saloon, Aardman; (2) TV Series Head of Story — Netflix animation, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, anime studio; (3) Game Cinematic Head of Story — Riot Games, Naughty Dog, Sony Santa Monica. Role title variant: Story Head, Story Supervisor, Senior Story Artist Lead.
Khác với Director (overall vision, all department) — Head of Story focus story only. Khác với Storyboard Artist (individual contributor) — HoS lead team. Khác với Writer (script word level) — HoS visual storytelling. Khác với Editor (post-production assembly) — HoS pre-production design. Hợp tác chặt với: Director (most important partnership), Writer, Editor, Animation Supervisor, Production Designer, Storyboard Artist team, Producer.
- Lead storyboard artist team
- Work với Director shape story arc
- Approve each sequence storyboard
- Iterate đến animatic locked
Gợi ý tìm ảnh
"head of story animation pixar storyboard team director feature pre production professional"
Head of Story — lead pre-production story
Vị trí trong quy trình sản xuất
Head of Story join project sớm trong pre-production phase — sometimes simultaneously với Director, often 1–2 năm trước final animation start. Báo cáo cho Director / Producer. Lead team: Storyboard Artist 5–25 người (depending on feature scale). Quy trình: receive script → break sequence → assign artist → review/iterate storyboard → assemble animatic → screening → revise → animatic locked. Each sequence iterate 5–20+ time. Feature pre-production: 12–24 tháng total. Animatic = video of storyboard + scratch dialogue + scratch music — phim "version 0".
02Công việc của một Head of Story
1. Script breakdown & sequence plan
Receive script from writer. Read deeply — multi-pass. Break into sequence: ~30–60 sequence per feature (3–8 phút each). Identify story beat per sequence: emotional arc, character development moment, plot pivot. Build sequence plan: pacing target, mood, key shot needed. Assign sequence tới storyboard artist (specialty match — comedy specialist for funny sequence, action specialist for fight).
- Script breakdown
- Sequence plan
- Artist assignment
Gợi ý tìm ảnh
"animation script breakdown story planning beat sequence chart professional studio"
Script breakdown
2. Storyboard review & iterate
Storyboard artist deliver thumbnail boards (rough 100–500 panel per sequence). HoS review: composition (cinematic? clear staging?), pacing (read smooth?), character (acting nuance? emotional truth?), continuity (scene flow). Give note — diplomatic but decisive. Iterate 5–15 round. Reject + reassign sometimes (sequence not work).
- Review thumbnail
- Composition + pacing
- Iterate với artist
Gợi ý tìm ảnh
"animation storyboard review panel director artist góp ý professional studio"
Storyboard review
Gợi ý tìm ảnh
"animation story team review director pixar dreamworks artist collaboration"
Team collaboration
3. Director collaboration + animatic build
HoS = Director's right hand. Daily/weekly review with Director — defend artist work or push back. Translate Director vision: "want this moment to feel like Ozu" → HoS guide artist toward that. Build animatic: assemble storyboard với scratch dialogue + temp music — show full sequence flow. Animatic = phim version 0 — story team's primary deliverable. Screening with Director, producer, occasionally executive.
- Daily Director review
- Translate Director vision
- Animatic assembly
Gợi ý tìm ảnh
"animation animatic director review screening story pixar studio professional"
Director + animatic
4. Story screening & rewrite
Story screening = "test screening" trong animation. Executives + senior creative watch animatic — góp ý. Common: "second act drag", "character arc unclear", "emotional climax not land". HoS lead rewrite: re-board sequence, sometimes large restructure. Pixar famously rewrite/reboard >50% of feature multiple time before final. Cycle repeat until "story lock" — animatic approved final.
- Story screening
- Rewrite + reboard
- Story lock milestone
Gợi ý tìm ảnh
"animation story screening review executive góp ý pixar studio professional"
Story screening + rewrite
03Head of Story cần giỏi gì?
assignment
Story structure sâu sắc
palette
Cinematic visual + composition
auto_awesome
Character + acting hiểu
widgets
Leadership + give clear note
handyman
Drawing fundamental + speed
bolt
Endurance + lần lặp tolerance
Story structure sâu sắc
Foundation tuyệt đối. Master: three-act structure, hero's journey (Joseph Campbell), save the cat (Blake Snyder), Pixar's 22 story rules (Emma Coats). Read: "Story" (Robert McKee), "The Anatomy of Story" (John Truby), "Story Sense" (Mike Mascia). Watch movies analytically — read script reverse-engineer.
Cinematic visual + composition
Storyboard = mini cinematography. Hiểu: shot type (wide/medium/close/insert), camera move, angle (low/high/eye-level), framing (rule of thirds, leading line). Study cinema: Spielberg, Kurosawa, Miyazaki, Edgar Wright. Read: "Film Directing Shot by Shot" (Steven Katz), "Setting Up Your Shots" (Jeremy Vineyard).
Character + acting hiểu
Storyboard show character acting through pose + expression. Hiểu acting: motivation, beat change, micro-expression. Study: Stanislavski, Meisner, "The Animator's Survival Kit" (Richard Williams). Watch theatre + analyze great actor work.
Leadership + give clear note
Lead 5–25 storyboard artist. Give note that empower, not destroy. Specific not vague ("scene 3 page 4: hero face needs more longing" vs "this doesn't feel right"). Listen artist push-back. Manage ego (artists creative, can be sensitive). Inspire when team burnout — long pre-production exhaust.
Drawing fundamental + speed
HoS sometimes draw to demonstrate or fix critical scene quickly. Strong drawing foundation — figure, expression, gesture. Practice life drawing weekly. Công cụ: Storyboard Pro (Toon Boom), Photoshop animation, Procreate, TVPaint, traditional pencil.
Endurance + lần lặp tolerance
Pre-production 12–24 tháng. Story iterate 10–50+ time. HoS face brutal note from director + exec. Maintain morale (own + team). Long stretch of "story not working" before breakthrough. Mental resilience essential.
04Làm cách nào để trở thành Head of Story?
1
Học Animation / Film 3–5 năm
Background phù hợp: Animation, Film Production, Illustration. VN: ĐH Sân khấu Điện ảnh (Hoạt hình), FPT Polytechnic, Arena Multimedia. Quốc tế top: CalArts Character Animation, Gobelins Paris, Sheridan College, Ringling College, SCAD. Thêm: drawing class + film studies. Take screenwriting class.
2
Storyboard Artist entry 2–4 năm
Start Storyboard Artist tại animation studio. Indie short, TV series, eventually feature. VN: Sun Wolf Animation Studio, Colory Animation, Vinata. Quốc tế: storyboard artist at Cartoon Network, Disney TV, Pixar internship, DreamWorks.
3
Senior Storyboard Artist
4–7 năm — recognized storyboard artist. Tackle complex sequence (action, emotional climax). Build reputation distinct voice. Multiple feature credit.
4
Co-Head of Story / Story Lead
7–10 năm — first leadership role. Lead small sequence team. Mentor junior. Show ability orchestrate larger story.
5
Head of Story feature
10–15 năm — first HoS credit on feature. Trust-based relationship with Director. Build reputation. Multiple feature track record.
6
Sự nghiệp Head of Story
Lộ trình dài hạn: (1) Established HoS tại major studio — Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney, Studio Ghibli, Cartoon Saloon; (2) Director transition — HoS đôi khi step up Director (Peter Sohn at Pixar — HoS to Director of Elemental); (3) Showrunner TV animation; (4) Story consultant for multiple project; (5) Educator — CalArts, Gobelins, masterclass; (6) Author — write book on storyboarding. Lương: VN HoS animation 60–150M/tháng + bonus; international Pixar/DreamWorks $200K-$400K base + bonus; top HoS $400K-$800K+. Critical role với Oscar recognition occasionally (Story team often credited).
