It's the same process

 

Building an award-winning animation
(like this one by the Advanced Biology class)
is like building an award-winning essay:

1) You begin with research from a variety of
authoritative sources (top,left).

2) After a careful reading, you development a 

thesis statement and begin arranging an outline of ideas that support it
(the storyboard at the top and bottom).

3) Next, you write paragraphs based on your outline 

that are rich with language, detail, and creativity.
(the color panels, animating props, and narration).

4) Staying organized with notes, file folders, and 

new technical skills is a must (photo).

5) A read-through of the first draft (a first viewing)
provides reasons to add or emphazise facts,
make better transitions between paragraphs (scenes),
and make sure you are really addressing your thesis.
Rework it.

6) After a second draft (a viewing and critique),
it is time to fine-tune it: overall appearance,
font and size, punctuation, word-smithing
(scene-by-scene volume, cuts and transitions,
final credits).

7) Then you have a “best effort:”
one where the process of learning the skills along the way
equals the product.