Little Lanterns Format

Status: Candidate
Target duration: 4–5 minutes

Story rhythm

Beat Function Typical visual language
Find A lantern glow or clue reveals today’s letter Establishing wide, insert
Meet Lumi and Pip encounter the guest Two-shot, medium, reaction close-ups
Help A simple problem invites participation Over-the-shoulder, reverse, action detail
Discover The letter gains emotional and story meaning Close-up, extreme close-up, reveal wide
Sing Two voices make the discovery memorable Rhythmic coverage, performance close-ups
Shine A warm visual payoff closes the loop Hero wide, intimate final close-up

Coverage rule

A storyboard is a sequence of editorial decisions, not twelve variations of the same composition. A standard 12-panel board should contain:

  1. Establishing wide
  2. Character medium
  3. Insert or extreme close-up
  4. Over Lumi’s shoulder
  5. Guest reverse close-up
  6. Lumi close-up
  7. Pip close-up
  8. Balanced two-shot
  9. Low or high angle action shot
  10. Reaction extreme close-up
  11. Payoff wide
  12. Final intimate two-shot or close-up

Every shot prompt must state framing, lens intent, camera height, subject scale, foreground/background relationship, and who is visible.

Learning rule

Repeat the letter naturally in action, dialogue, and song. Do not turn the characters into quiz hosts. Participation should feel like helping.