Start with a character drawing and ask what the character wants, what gets in the way and what it tries next. The answers can form a short story before animation begins.
Try this
For example, a tiny cloud wants to water a plant but the wind blows it away. A gentle drift and a return can communicate the idea without needing dialogue.
Take it further
Sketch the story in three boxes: what the character wants, what interrupts the plan and what happens next. The ending can be open; the purpose is to help the audience follow a choice, not to prescribe a moral.
