How ‘Hot in Cleveland’s’ Animated Episode Captured the Stars’ Many Faces (Exclusive Video)

Director Freddy Cristy walks us through the technical side of the animated episode airing Wednesday

“Hot in Cleveland” is getting animated on an upcoming episode.

Directed by Freddy Cristy, the episode will feature the leading ladies, Elka (Betty White), Melanie (Valerie Bertinelli), Joy (Jane Leeves) and Victoria (Wendie Malick), as they travel around the world.

And TheWrap has an exclusive behind the scenes look at the sitcom’s efforts in the art of animation. In the video, director and animator, Mat Kerman, explains the components that go into the animation process.

See video: ‘Hot in Cleveland’ Previews the Crazy Possibilities of an Animated Episode

“We had the storyboard artists and the writers sit in a room that way the storyboard artists got to hear what the writers were thinking…when you’ve got the story boards done you cut them together in whats called an animatic-which is still drawings with the recorded dialogue.”

After completing the character designs and finalizing the storyboard, the animating can begin. Kerman gives a preview of how intricate the characters’ movements and actions need to be in correspondence with actors voices. From facial emotion, eye blinks, and subtle movements an animator needs to focus on how to get the cartoon-acting correct.

“It’s all how are the girls feeling,” Cristy said.

Also read:  ‘Hot in Cleveland’ Working on Animated Episode

“We are suddenly going to go from live action to complete animation the moment we walk through a special door,” said Malick.

Watch the video above.

The “Hot in Cleveland” animated episode airs Wednesday at 10/9c on TV Land.

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