Make a storyboard based on the movie's script. This is the project's blueprint for the action and dialogue in the story, which translates the script's text into visual form. It also contains scene directions and descriptions to help explain what happens in each shot.
Record the characters' lines using voice actors. The recorded voices are collectively referred to as the scratch voices.
Create an animatic. This a simplified mock-up of the storyboard with rough movements and timing set side-by-side with the scratch voices and other available sound materials. The animatic contains a series of still images based on the storyboard to display in sequence the visuals that happen in the story. This allows the production to assess early on if the animation works -- even before putting more effort in the tedious animation process -- but finding out if significant changes must be done to the story.
Finalize the look of the designs, sets, props and other visual elements in the story. The artists usually get initial inspiration from concept arts and pegs, then the entire creative team agrees on how the varying visual requirements can work for the needs of the story.
Sculpt and articulate the 3D models either by hand and scanned three-dimensionally, or created from scratch using a computer software. Each moving character's 3D model features "avars" or hinges, which make it possible for the animator to move the character accordingly.
Lay out the shots of the characters, the sets and the backgrounds by using a virtual camera that can capture the best emotions rendered in the story. Supply the required visuals to cover the 3D models, which initially serve as skeletal frames only.
Animate each shot by using program controls in the animation software. This allows the avars of each character to define key poses, then the computer creates the character's in-between frames.
Put shading and texture to the various elements of the animation using coloring or color-shaping software programs.
Finalize the lighting of each scene using any applicable 3D animation or lighting program. Apply the same concept of lighting used in live-action or stage lighting. Depending on the director's treatment for the animation, the lighting design must fulfill the required mood, emotion and aesthetics for each scene.
Start the compositing process. This combines the separate visual elements in a scene into a single video material.
Add the final voice recordings, sound effects, atmosphere sound and musical score to the video. Mix all these elements to complete the animation's sound requirements.
Export the 3D animation video into your desired video file format, then make master copies of the project in any of your intended media storage and playback formats. These typically include uncompressed video files, Web-friendly video files and DVD and Blu-ray copies.