Dope sheets

A dope sheet is an animation tool which helps an animator organize the animation shot-byshot.
This gives the camera operator instructions on each shot type and how many frames this will
be used for.
A dope sheet is usually split into 5 different sections.

To indicate what action occurs on which frame number

To see what action is happening in this shot.
To see what dialogue used in this scene.
To show what level of animation is happening.
To give camera instructions (angle).

For example;
Because you will be working with video, you will be using 30fps. You will need to complete a
dope sheet for EVERY SECOND of your animation.
i.e, if you make a 30 second animation, you will need to complete 30 dope sheets.
This will be a time-consuming task, but it will help you understand what will need to
happen in each of the shots you take. The higher marks will come from a detailed and
careful collection of dope sheets. For example, if your characters speak, you will need to
show the mouth forming every shape in order to look effective.

Frame
0_1

Path of action
The Lego character
has started to awake
from his reality through
7 different shots

0_2
0_3
0_4
0_5
0_6
0_7
Frame Path of action

1_1

1_2
1_3
1_4

The Lego character

begins to walk around,
for the next 8 different
shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation
His body is
bent over and
it slowly starts
to awake

Animation

His legs are

moving
continuously
to create the
animation of
walking

Camera
instructions
Mid shot

Mid shot
Mid Shot
Mid shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Camera
instructions
Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot

1_5
1_6
1_7
1_8
Frame

2_1

Path of action

The character is
walking in a straight
line for the next 8
different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Him walking
in a straight
line is clearly
showing the
animation of
walking, it can
makes it more
realistic

2_2

2_3

2_4

2_5

2_6

2_7

2_8

Frame

3_1

3_2

Path of action

The Lego character is

walking towards the
window, his back is to
the camera for the next
8 different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Camera
instructions
Mid
shot/tracking
shot

Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Camera
instructions

He is walking Mid
and his body
shot/tracking
is constantly
shot
changing
direction so
he can get to
his destination
Mid
shot/tracking
shot

3_3

3_4

3_5

3_6

3_7

3_8

Frame

4_1

4_2
4_3
4_4
4_5
4_6
4_7
4_8
4_9
Frame

5_1

5_2
5_3
5_4
5_5
5_6

Path of action

The Lego character is

still walking towards
the window for the next
9 shots

Path of action

Trying to make his way

to the window, a lot of
turning can be involved
in this for the next 9
shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

He appears to
be walking a
lot quicker
now due to
the bigger
steps

Animation

Showing the
rotation of his
body, as he
moves to get
towards the
window

Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Mid
shot/tracking
shot
Camera
instructions
Long Shot

Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Camera
instructions
Long Shot

Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot

5_7
5_8
5_9
Frame

6_1

6_2
6_3
6_4
6_5
6_6
6_7
6_8
6_9
Frame

7_1

7_2
7_3
7_4
7_5
7_6
7_7
7_8
Frame

8_1

Path of action

He has now walked

towards the window
and is standing with his
back to the audience
for the next 9 different
shots

Path of action

You can see his face,

as he is now looking
out of the window for
the next 8 different
shots

Path of action
The characters hasnt
moved as it is focusing
on a speech bubble for
the next 8 shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

His walking
has been
faster, as he
now is at the
window

Animation

Showing his
face move
slightly,
representing
upset

Animation

Showing the
speech
bubble with
text in it,
which is
explaining the
actual
storyline in
the stop
motion

Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Camera
instructions
Long Shot

Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Camera
instructions
Close Up

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Camera
instructions
Close Up

8_2
8_3
8_4
8_5
8_6
8_7
8_8
Frame

9_1

9_2
9_3
9_4
9_5
9_6
9_7
9_8
Frame

10_1

10_2
10_3
10_4
10_5
10_6
10_7
10_8
Frame

11_1

11_2

Path of action

The introduction to the

other Lego characters
that are in the other
house for the next 8
different shots

Path of action

The characters are

briefly moving which
the audience can see
for the next 8 different
shots

Path of action

The Lego characters

are moving slowly
towards each other for
next 7 shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Showing
slight
movements of
the other
characters,
but at a
slower speed

Animation

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Camera
instructions
Close Up

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Camera
instructions

Showing the
Mid Shot
characters as
they appear to
be talking

Animation

Showing the
Women
character
dancing with
the man

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Camera
instructions
Mid Shot

Mid Shot

11_3
11_4
11_5
11_6
11_7
Frame

12_1

12_2
12_3
12_4
12_4
12_5
12_6
12_7
12_8
12_9
Frame

13_1

13_2
13_3
13_4
13_5
13_6
13_7
13_8
Frame

14_1

14_2
14_3
14_4

Path of action

The movements are

very slow, just slight
movement of the main
characters for the next
9 shots

Path of action

The characters are still

in the same formation
but the other character
is moving more for the
next 8 different shots

Path of action

Showing the character

response to seeing the
people having fun for
the next 4 different
shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Camera
instructions

The
Mid Shot
characters are
looking
directly at
each other
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Animation
Camera
instructions
Showing all
Mid Shot
the characters
staring to
dance for the
audience
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Animation
Camera
instructions
Showing his
head move
down to show
the upset his
feeling

Close Up

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up

14_5

14_6
14_7
14_8
Frame

15_1

15_2
15_3
15_4
15_5
15_6
15_7
15_8
Frame

16_1

16_2
16_3
16_4
16_5
16_6
16_7
16_8
16_9
Frame

17_1

His back is to the

camera, as it is
showing him looking
out of the window for
the next 4 shots

Path of action

Him looking back

towards the camera for
the next 8 different
shots

Path of action

Him walking more

towards the camera for
the next 8 different
shots

Path of action

Walking around his

house for the next 7
different shots

Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Showing him
moving away
from the
window

Animation

Long Shot

Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Camera
instructions

His face is still Long Shot

looking to the
ground as he
walks back
towards the
camera
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Animation
Camera
instructions
He looks left
and right
continuously
to see if
anyone is
around

Animation

Hands on his
head showing
the sadness
of being alone

Long Shot

Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Camera
instructions
Close Up

17_2
17_3
17_4
17_5
17_6
17_7
Frame

18_1

18_2
18_3
18_4
18_5
18_6
18_7
18_8
Frame

19_1

19_2
19_3
19_4
19_5
19_6
19_7
19_8
Frame

20_1

20_2
20_3
20_4
20_5
20_6
20_7
Frame

21_1

Path of action

Walking towards the

chair for the next 8
different shots

Path of action

Faster walking towards

the chair for the next 8
different shots

Path of action

Sitting on the chair for

the next 7 different
shots

Path of action

Him on the chair with

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You -

Animation

Him walking
towards a
chair

Animation

Walking with
his head sunk
to the floor

Animation

Him trying to
sit and sat on
the chair

Animation

Showing his

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Camera
instructions
Long Shot

Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Camera
instructions
Long Shot

Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Camera
instructions
Close Up

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Camera
instructions
Extreme Close

camera focused on him

for the next 8 different
shots

CVBZ

emotion as he
looks around
with sadness

21_2
21_3
21_4
21_5
21_6
21_7
21_8
Frame

22_1

22_2
22_3
22_4
22_5
22_6
22_7
22_8
Frame

23_1

23_2
23_3
23_4
23_5
23_6
23_7
23_8
Frame

24_1

Path of action

Walking back around

his house for the next 8
different shots

Path of action

Heading for the radio

for the next 8 different
shots

Path of action

Going towards the

radio for the next 8

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Getting up out
of the chair
and walking
around

Animation

Him walking
towards the
radio

Animation

Lots of turns
to show

Up

Extreme Close
Up
Extreme Close
Up
Extreme Close
Up
Extreme Close
Up
Extreme Close
Up
Extreme Close
Up
Extreme Close
Up
Camera
instructions
Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Camera
instructions
Tracking Shot

Tracking Shot
Tracking Shot
Tracking Shot
Tracking Shot
Tracking Shot
Tracking Shot
Tracking Shot
Camera
instructions
Mid Shot

different shots

movement of
the model

24_2
24_3
24_4
24_5
24_6
24_7
24_8

Frame

25_1

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot

Path of action

Going towards the

radio for the next 8
different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Lots of turns
to show
movement of
the model

25_2
25_3
25_4
25_5
25_6
25_7
25_8

Frame

26_1

27_1

Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot

Path of action

Playing the music for

the party for the next 7
different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

He hits the
button on the
radio and
turns around

26_2
26_3
26_4
26_5
26_6
26_7
Frame

Camera
instructions

Camera
instructions
Close Up

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Path of action

Trying to be assertive

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You -

Animation

Looks left and

Camera
instructions
Close Up

and see who is around

for the next 9 different
shots

CVBZ

right to see if
anyone is
around at all

27_2
27_3
27_4
27_5
27_6
27_8
27_9

Frame

28_1

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up

Path of action

Trying to get to the

door for the 6 different
shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Him running
towards the
door

28_2
28_3
28_4
28_5
28_6
Frame

29_1

30_1

30_2
30_3
30_4

Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Path of action

Heading towards the

door for the next 7
different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Him
answering the
door

29_2
29_3
29_4
29_5
29_6
29_7
Frame

Camera
instructions

Camera
instructions
Close Up

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Path of action

The other characters

are at the door for the
next 6 different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Making slight
movements
with here
arms

Camera
instructions
Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot

30_5
30_6
Frame

31_1

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Path of action

Speech bubble
showing thoughts that
have been made for
the next 5 different
shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Them moving
slightly,
speech
bubble first
appearing

31_2
31_3
31_4
31_5
Frame

32_1

33_1

33_2
33_3
33_4
33_5
33_6
33_7
33_8

Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Path of action

Speech bubble
showing thoughts that
have been made for
the next5 different
shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Them moving
slightly,
speech
bubble first
appearing

32_2
32_3
32_4
32_5
Frame

Camera
instructions

Camera
instructions
Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Path of action

His reaction, camera

focused back on him
for the next 8 different
shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Camera
instructions

His reaction to Close Up

them
appearing,
head moving
slightly
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up

Frame

34_1

Path of action

Them walking in to the

house for the next 8
different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

First guy
walking in the
house

34_2
34_3
34_4
34_5
34_6
34_7
34_8

Frame

35_1

36_1

Path of action

Them walking in to the

house for the next 8
different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

First guy
walking and
girl in the
house

Camera
instructions
Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot

Path of action

Them walking in to the

house for the next 8
different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

All characters
are now
inside the
house

36_2
36_3
36_4
36_5
36_6
36_7
36_8

Frame

Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot

35_2
35_3
35_4
35_5
35_6
35_7
35_8

Frame

Camera
instructions

Camera
instructions
Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack

Animation

Camera
instructions

37_1

Them altogether in the

same room for the next
8 different shots

cue
Be Like You CVBZ

All the
characters
begin to
dance
vigorously

37_2
37_3
37_4
37_5
37_6
37_7
37_8

Frame

38_1

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up

Path of action

Them altogether in the

same room for the next
8 different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

All the
characters
begin to
dance
vigorously

38_2
38_3
38_4
38_5
38_6
38_7
38_8

Frame

39_1

39_2
39_3
39_4
39_5
39_6
39_7

Close Up

Camera
instructions
Close Up

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up

Path of action

Them all in the house

together dancing for
the next 8 different
shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

Camera
instructions

The main
Close Up
character
begins to walk
off from the
group, whilst
the other
characters are
still dancing
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up

39_8

Frame

40_1

Close Up

Path of action

Them all in the house

together for the next 8
different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

The main guy

walking away
whilst the
other
characters
look and party
at the same
time

40_2
40_3
40_4
40_5
40_6
40_7
40_8

Frame

41_1

42_1

Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot

Path of action

Them all in the house

together for the next 8
different shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

Animation

The main guy

walking away
whilst the
other
characters
look and party
at the same
time

41_2
41_3
41_4
41_5
41_6
41_7
41_8

Frame

Camera
instructions

Camera
instructions
Mid Shot

Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot
Mid Shot

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Showing a happier time Be Like You for the main character
CVBZ
for the next 8 different

Animation

Camera
instructions

Him looking
Close Up
happier, as he
looks back at

shots

his new
friends

42_2
42_3
42_4
42_5
42_6
42_7
42_8

Frame

43_1

Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up
Close Up

Path of action

Camera showing that

the animation is ending
for the next 8 different
shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue
Be Like You CVBZ

43_2
43_3
43_4
43_5
43_6
43_7
43_8

Fade music

Animation

Camera
instructions

The camera is Out of

making the
focus/close up
shots out of
focus for the
audience to
see
Out of
focus/close up
Out of
focus/close up
Out of
focus/close up
Out of
focus/close up
Out of
focus/close up
Out of
focus/close up
Out of
focus/close up