What does the term "animatics" refer to?

The term "animatics" refers specifically to a preliminary animation created from storyboards. This process involves taking the static images of the storyboards and adding timing, movement, and often a voice-over or sound effects to create a basic animated version of the film sequence.

Animatics serve several important purposes in the filmmaking process. They allow filmmakers to visualize how the story will flow, how shots will transition, and how pacing will work before embarking on full-scale animation or filming. This helps identify any potential issues in storytelling or pacing, providing an opportunity to make adjustments before the more costly stages of production begin.

The other options do not accurately reflect what animatics are. A final film ready for release represents the end of the filmmaking process, while animatics are an early stage. Film criticism pertains to the analysis and evaluation of films, which is unrelated to the creation of animatics. Finally, methods of film distribution concern how films are delivered to audiences, which is outside the scope of production tools like animatics.