The entire animation process begins with the writers. Most of the time the writers have their own ideas for a story which must be approved by the head of their studio before it starts becoming an actual production. But writers can also be called upon to work and rework someone else's basic idea. To maximize the amount of creativity, writers will form into groups in order to brainstorm ideas. To make sure they don't forget anything they will often write up their ideas on note cards and keep them in order by posting the cards on a board. Using all their ideas they begin to form the script that the story follows, accompanied by their idea of what animations and staging could possibly fit.
When a script is completed enough for presentation, it is handed over to the director. The director will begin making decisions here if the story is feasible, if there are any gaps that need to be filled and some basic artistic decisions. After the script is okayed by the director it is sent to the storyboard artist. Based on the script that they are handed the storyboard artist begins to layout the production using sketches and notes. As the story is being visualized and sketched by the storyboard artist the director will often add in their own notes about the timing of certain events, sound effects, and various other things. It is the story board that will be built upon until it has become an animated feature.
After having the storyboard approved it is sent to the layout artist. The layout artist's job is to develop the entire production by adding in details into the script and storyboard that were previously missing from the broad ideas that made up the storyboard. It is here that a character's personality is developed. The layout artist can make a character anything by adding in poses, dramatic camera angles, and by staging the movement of a character through a scene.