How to make The Lion and the Woodcutter into a kids story video

8 scenes · about 80 seconds

1. Scene 1

   Every day, a woodcutter named Devdutt walked into the forest with his axe and a lunch box his wife had packed with warm sweet buns.

   Visual: Claymation forest path at morning, a broad-shouldered clay woodcutter with a curly black moustache, a checked green shirt and an axe over his shoulder carrying a round tiffin box, sunlight through trees.

   On screen: Into the forest

2. Scene 2

   One morning, he turned a corner and came face to face with a huge lion. Devdutt's knees shook. But instead of running, he bowed and said, “Welcome, friend! Will you share my lunch?”

   Visual: Claymation medium shot of the woodcutter bowing politely, holding out the open tiffin box, a large clay lion with a golden mane standing in surprise in the middle of the path.

3. Scene 3

   The lion was so surprised that he sat down and tasted a bun. It was delicious! “You are kind,” he said. “No one in this forest will ever harm you. I promise.”

   Visual: Claymation shot of the lion sitting on a mossy log holding a little bun in his paw, eyes closed in delight, the woodcutter smiling beside him.

4. Scene 4

   From then on, they met every day. “But please come alone,” Devdutt said. The lion agreed. He enjoyed the buns so much that he stopped hunting altogether.

   Visual: Claymation montage-style shot of the woodcutter chopping logs while the lion lounges nearby, the two sharing lunch on a log at noon, a pile of cut wood beside them.

   On screen: Best of friends

5. Scene 5

   But the lion had two followers, a jackal and a crow, who used to eat his leftovers. Now they were hungry. “Where do you go every day?” they asked.

   Visual: Claymation shot of a thin scheming clay jackal and a scruffy clay crow following the lion through the forest, both looking hungry and sly, the lion looking uncomfortable.

6. Scene 6

   When they heard about the woodcutter, the jackal licked his lips. “Take us with you,” he said. “We'll grab all his food, and maybe more.” The lion did not like it, but he let them come.

   Visual: Claymation close-up of the jackal whispering into the lion's ear with the crow on his shoulder nodding, the lion frowning uncertainly.

7. Scene 7

   From far away, Devdutt saw the lion coming, with the jackal and the crow right behind him. He did not like the look of them at all. Quickly, he climbed up a tall tree.

   Visual: Claymation wide shot of the woodcutter halfway up a tall tree with his tiffin tucked under his arm, the lion, jackal and crow approaching along the path below.

8. Scene 8

   “Friend, why are you up there?” called the lion. “You are welcome,” said Devdutt, “but the friends you bring are not. I will choose my company carefully.” The lion walked away, ashamed. You can tell a lot about someone from the friends they keep.

   Visual: Claymation shot from the treetop looking down at the lion looking up sheepishly, the jackal and crow sulking, then the lion turning away down the path at sunset.

   On screen: Choose your company

• Make the first meeting tense for one beat only. The joke is that the woodcutter offers lunch instead of running.
• Show the jackal and crow as comic schemers. Scrawny bodies and exaggerated whispers keep them from being frightening.
• Use the tree as the visual answer. A high, safe branch shows his wisdom without any fighting.
• If you only animate one scene with AI motion, choose scene 7, the woodcutter climbing as the trio approaches.