system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How are animated films directed?
gpt
From the script they go to storyboarding.  Storyboarding is when they do drawings of key moments in scenes to give an idea of composition.  It's from the story boards and animatics (which are crudely animated story boards) where the director picks which shots he/she likes and they begin to work on the timing.

Once major parts of the film are in animatic form and the director approves them the voice talent will start recording their parts to somewhat match the animatics.  The director and his crew will oversee the performances of the actors.

One they know which takes they want from the voices, the animators will animate the final scenes the match the performance of the actor.  These scenes are also overseen by the director and his animation leads.  

Scenes without voice work, such as fight or chase scenes, will have more complex animatics that work out finer details so the director can get the performance he wants from the animated characters.  

When all the scenes are mostly finished being drawn (2D) or rendered (3D) the director and his editor(s) will cut together the final cut of the film or show.