Animation production system

Techniques described herein relate to a streamlined animation production workflow that integrates script drafting, performance, and editing. A script including animation events is parsed to encode the animation events into nodes of a story model. The animation events are automatically triggered by a performance as a playhead advances through the story model and identifies active node(s). A command interface accepts various commands that allow a performer to act as a director by controlling recording and playback. Recording binds a generated animation event to each active node. Playback triggers generated animation events for active nodes. An animated movie is assembled from the generated animation events in the story model. The animated movie can be presented as a live preview to provide feedback to the performer, and a teleprompter interface can guide a performer by presenting and advancing the script to follow the performance.