Storyboarding is a pivotal stage in moviemaking, animation, and even marketing campaigns. It allows creators to visualize scenes, sequence events, and map out the flow of the narrative before the actual production begins. If you’re a film enthusiast or someone dabbling in filmmaking, here are ten exceptional AI storyboarding tools you can explore right now.

1. Storyboarder.ai

Overview: Storyboarder is a free and open-source AI tool for storyboarding. It’s perfect for beginners or those working with a tight budget. Despite being free, it doesn’t compromise on quality, offering all the essential tools to create boards, draw scenes, and add timing and dialogue.

Features:

• User-friendly interface.
• Integration with Photoshop for seamless editing.
• Ability to print worksheets, draw by hand, photograph, and upload them back to the software.

Why Try It? Storyboarder simplifies the storyboard creation process, making it intuitive, efficient, and quick. It’s a fantastic starting point for anyone new to storyboarding or looking for a cost-effective solution.

2. Toon Boom Storyboard Pro 22

Overview: Toon Boom Storyboard Pro 22 is a powerful and versatile tool that combines drawing, scripting, animatic creation, camera controls, and sound capabilities in one platform. It’s a favorite among directors, storytellers, and creatives worldwide.

Features:

• Comprehensive all-in-one solution.
• Advanced drawing and animatic creation tools.
• Monthly subscription ($74.50), annual subscription ($585), or one-time Perpetual plan ($1,220.50).
• Student bundle available ($434.99) including hardware and software.

Why Try It? This tool empowers creators to bring their visions to life comprehensively and professionally. Its robust features make it suitable for both seasoned professionals and aspiring filmmakers.

3. ShotPro HQ

Overview: ShotPro HQ is a powerful pre-visualization and shot design software for filmmakers. It allows directors, cinematographers, and video producers to conceptualize and plan shots virtually before ever stepping foot on a film set. Users can import 3D environments and assets into the ShotPro HQ interface to storyboard scenes and experiment with different camera angles, compositions, movements, and lighting designs.

Different shot types like pan, tilt, dolly, and jib can be programmed into virtual camera moves. Users have full control over traditional camera and lens parameters as well.

A unique augmented reality mode takes pre-visualization further by enabling directors to view and interact with virtual shots overlaid directly onto the real world. This helps filmmakers seamlessly transpose their virtual pre-vis designs directly onto physical film sets during production. Users can export polished pre-visualization animations and share them with the full production team.

This helps ensure a common creative vision and plan across all departments before principal photography. Overall, ShotPro HQ is an extremely versatile tool that streamlines pre-production planning processes and promotes informed, organized film shoots for both independent films and major studio productions. Its augmented reality functionality makes it a powerful new solution for real-time on-set directing as well.

Features:

• Sketch directly over the viewfinder window.
• Mix 3D characters and objects with real-world backgrounds.
• Monthly subscription ($9.99) with savings on six-month or annual subscriptions.

Why Try It? ShotPro HQ is praised by industry professionals for its powerful capabilities and ease of use. It’s perfect for anyone looking to create detailed and immersive storyboards.

4. FrameForge

Overview: FrameForge operates like a virtual film studio, allowing users to create shots, sets, and scenes accurately. It offers a comprehensive library of camera presets, a room builder, and many other advanced features.

Features:

• Technical Achievement Emmy® and Lumiere® Statuette for Technological Innovation.
• One-time fee ($799) or monthly subscription ($24.99).

Why Try It? FrameForge is ideal for serious filmmakers looking to plan their shots with precision. Its award-winning features make it a top choice for detailed storyboarding.

5. Krock.io

Overview: Krock.io eliminates the need for manual storyboarding by generating visually stunning boards in any style you want quickly. Its AI capabilities streamline the creation process, producing professional-grade storyboards effortlessly.

Features:

• Intuitive tools for generating storyboards.
• Export to PDF for easy collaboration and sharing.
• Free plan and premium plans start at $15 per user per month.

Why Try It? Krock.io is perfect for teams looking to collaborate seamlessly on storyboard projects. Its AI-driven approach makes the process faster and more efficient.

6. Adobe Firefly

Overview: Adobe Firefly leverages generative AI to create unique boards in various styles within minutes. It integrates with Adobe Express and Creative Cloud applications, enhancing its functionality.

Features:

• Text-to-image feature for generating images from detailed text descriptions.
• Easy integration with Adobe tools.
• Monthly subscription ($89.99).

Why Try It? Adobe Firefly offers high-quality results thanks to Adobe’s renowned technology. It’s a great choice for creators already familiar with Adobe’s suite of tools.

7. Canva

Overview: Canva, known for its user-friendly design platform, also serves as an excellent tool for storyboarding. Its Magic Design feature allows users to upload an image, and the AI generates a template based on it.

Features:

• Versatile integration with various tools.
• Free plan with paid options for advanced features.

Why Try It? Canva is an accessible option for beginner storyboard artists due to its ease of use and free availability. It’s a great way to start creating storyboards without a steep learning curve.

8. Elai.io

Overview: Elai.io offers more than just storyboarding; it’s a text-to-video platform that’s both easy to use and affordable. Its AI capabilities allow users to generate videos from prompts and convert them into video slides.

Features:

• Over 80 avatars and 450 voices.
• Support for over 75 languages.
• Monthly plans range from $29 to $125, plus custom pricing options.

Why Try It? Elai.io is ideal for creating multilingual storyboards and videos. Its diverse features make it a versatile tool for various projects.

9. StudioBinder

Overview: StudioBinder simplifies the storyboard creation process by allowing users to upload images and generate storyboards automatically. It offers customization options for layouts, aspect ratios, and more.

Features:

• Storyboard builder for scriptwriting, shot listing, call sheets, and more.
• Shot Tagger feature for instant panel generation from the dialogue.
• A monthly subscription starts at $29.

Why Try It? StudioBinder is intuitive and user-friendly, making it a great choice for those who want to streamline their storyboard creation process.

10. Voxxio

Overview: Voxxio is a powerful tool for creating storyboards from spoken words. It analyzes the narrative and generates illustrated storyboards automatically, allowing non-designers to create films and videos quickly.

Features:

Free plan with premium options starting at $15 per month.

Why Try It? Voxxio’s speech-to-storyboard feature is unique and highly efficient, making it a fantastic option for those who prefer to narrate their stories.

Final Thoughts

While storyboarding is a crucial part of the creative process, it’s just one aspect of design and art. Once you have your storyboards and ideas in place with these AI tools, you’ll need a platform like Penji to translate them into polished, professional designs. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned professional, these AI tools will help you bring your stories to life with ease and creativity.