Example of a treatment guideline for class project. Students had to create a design/treatment document for either a game or an animated film based on a folk tale or myth.

1. Anime Final
Sections to include in your final treatment.
Minimum 15 pages.






Title
Overall theme/concept
Medium (animation, game, etc)
Original Story that served as your inspiration, include brief synopsis of no more than two
paragraphs
Narrative elements
o Describe your interpretation. What is different, innovative or interesting about it?
o Characters Bios:
 List and describe the major character :
 2major + 2 minor character traits for each
 Brief life history – must have relevance to the story
 Symbolism of the character (unifying idea)
 Visual characteristics
 List supporting characters.
 1 major trait
 Symbolism of the character (unifying idea)
 Visual characteristics
 Description should include major events in the characters life that shaped them,
their role in the story – how do they interact with the plot?
o Setting:
 Describe and explain how the setting supports your story
 Objects and their symbolism
 How will you visually convey that symbolism? You may add images to help
illustrate as appendices to the document
o Formal Elements
 List the formal elements used in your project.
 Editing, Cinematography, Sound, Mis-en-Scene (staging, movement,
lighting, props, etc), or game mechanics
 Explain how they support your concept and why you are using them. How do
they relate to your concept and narrative
Narrative Treatment
o Logline: Write 1-2 sentences that describe your project.
o Point of view: who will tell your story?
o 3 act synopsis. Briefly describe your story in 3 acts. Maximum of two paragraphs for
each section:
 Beginning
 middle

2. 

 End
Analysis:
o Analyze the original story as to its thematic content, symbolism and interpretation.
o Explain how you incorporated or interpreted these elements and included them in
your narrative
Scene breakdown (2-5 pages as needed)
o Outline the scenes or different aspects of the game, describe the location,
characters and what happens, why is each scene important – what does it do for the
story? If creating a game, describe the game mechanics and how they support the
narrative.