In
film, specifically
animation, a leica reel is a type of
storyboarding device used in the production of potential
series or features. Unlike actual storyboards or pitches,
leica reels (when made) are used later in the development
process, usually after
voice actors have been hired and recorded, and thus are
not used for selling or marketing the project.
A leica reel is made from animated stills, or sometimes preliminary artwork or storyboard frames, arranged with recorded material. The specific recorded material used can occasionally be the entire sountrack of the film, where sound editing has already occurred, though in many cases it is only the vocal soundtrack (in various states of completion) along with a selection of sound effects.
The name "leica reel" is supposedly derived from the fact that it is "like a reel", though in fact this is incorrect and the term actually comes from the German make of cameras called Leicas which were used to make these filmed storyboards in the early days of animation.