While 2D animations are overused, 3D animations are expanding rapidly and becoming more popular and accessible. But before starting a 3D animation project, one of the most common and important questions is, “How much does a 3D animation cost?”. The prices can vary from $15k to $50k, greatly depending on the complexity of the project and the production studio you work with.
In this blog post, we will provide an extensive overview of the 3D animation costs, the key pricing considerations, the effective factors, different pricing types, and the pricing range for each stage in the 3D animation production pipeline.
How Much Does a 3D Animation Cost Per Minute?
The general rate for 3D animation is between $15,000 to $50,000 (€14.5K – €48.5K) per Minute for different art styles and complexities. This pricing range can be divided into 2 categories:
- 3D animations with average quality and number of assets, which range from $10,000 to $20,000 (€9,500 – €19,000) per minute.
- 3D animations with high-quality and more complex assets, which range +$20,000 (€19,000) per minute.
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3D Animation Pricing Examples
Tak Steak - 3D Commercial Animation
Tak Steak is a 3D commercial animation by Pixune Studios that was produced for about $25K (€24k). This total budget is for 4 characters, 3 environments, directing, script writing, storyboarding, animatic, lighting, animating, rendering, editing, compositing, and sound design.
Arabic Unlock - 3D Explainer Video
Arabic Unlock is a 3D explainer animation by Pixune Studios that was produced for about $9,000 (€8,500). This total budget is for 8 characters, 1 environment, crowds, directing, script writing, storyboarding, animatic, lighting, animating, rendering, editing, compositing, and sound design.
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To get an accurate estimate for your 3D animation project, the best thing to do is provide our team with details about your vision, specifications, and needs. We can then give you a quote tailored to your project requirements. Feel free to schedule a call with our team to discuss your project goals and get our professional recommendations. Let’s chat!
Top 3D Animations Budegts
Let’s take a look at different popular 3D animation budgets and production costs.
- Frozen: The total Budget is about $150,000,000 (€143,000,000)and $32,362 (€30,000) per second.
- Up: The total Budget is about $175,000,000 (€167,000,000) and $30,382 (€29,000) per second.
- Toy Story 3: The total Budget is about $200,000,000 (€190,000,000) and $32,362 (€30,000) per second.
- Finding Nemo: The total Budget is about $94,000,000 (€89,000,000) and $15,667 (€14,900) per second.
The Pricing of Each Step in the 3D Animation Production Pipeline
In the 3D animation pipeline, we have 3 stages, including pre-production, production, and post-production. Each stage has its own steps and unique process. It’s also important to know these processes can vary in different production teams.
The Pricing of Steps in Pre-Production
The first stage in producing a 3D animation includes scriptwriting, storyboarding, animatic, and concept art. There is no certain estimate for these steps, but here is a price range list:
- The animation scriptwriting costs between $200 to $500 (€190 – €480) based on many factors, and the scriptwriters will craft an engaging script for your animation ideas.
- The animation storyboarding and animatic costs from $200 to $400 (€190 – €380) per minute. The longer your 3D animation is, the more pricing its storyboard and animatic take.
- Concept art is one of the most important steps in the 3D animation pipeline, which can cost between $200 to $1000 (€190 – €950). You can read more about concept art pricing, here.
3D Animation Production Pricing List
Every animation needs character and environment design, animation, lighting, and rendering.
The process of designing those characters and environments also includes 3D modeling, texturing, and rigging.
Here is a price list for these steps in 3D animation production:
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Services | Costs (USD) | Costs (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
$1500 – $5000 | €1,400 – €4,800 | |
3D Environment Design |
$1500 – $5000 | €1,400 – €4,800 |
3D Animation (per minute) | $1000 – $5000 | €950 – €4,800 |
3D Lighting (per environment) |
$200 – $800 | €190 – €760 |
3D Rendering (per minute) | $500 – $2000 | €480 – €1,900 |
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The Pricing of Post-Production
The last but not the least stage is pro-production, including compositing, editing, music, and sound FX.
The compositing and editing of a 1-minute 3D animation can cost between $100 to $500 (€95 – €480), depending on the complexity of them.
Adding music and sound FX to a 3D animation is an option for becoming more memorable. Music costs from $250 to $2000 (€240 – €1,900), and sound FX can cost between $100 to $300 (€95 – €290) per minute.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a 3D Animator?
Rates typically charged by 3D animators on Upwork are:
Beginner: $20 (€19) per hour
Intermediate: $33 (€31) per hour
Advanced: $60 (€57) per hour
3D Animation Production Hourly Rate
3D modeling hourly rate is around $40-60/hr (€38 – €57)in North America and Europe. In Asian countries, it could be about $20-35/hr (€19 – €33).
Character rigging and animation can be $70-150/hr (€66 – €143) in high-cost regions. In Asia around $40-60/hr (€38 – €57).
Storyboarding can be $30-60/hr (€28 – €57). And rendering can be $10-30/hr (€9,5 – €28) per CPU hour.
Different Types of Animation Pricing
- A 30-second commercial animation can cost from $5,000 to $10,000 (€4,800 – €9,500) for a simple animation and $15,000 to $35,000 (€14,500 – €33,500) for a complex animation in North America.
- A 5-minute animated explainer cost is about $10,000 to $30,000 (€9,500 – €28,500) for simple ones and $50,000 to $150,000 (€47,500 – €143,000) for complex ones in North America.
- In Asia, these costs may be reduced by about 30 to 50%.
How to Manage the 3D Animation Cost?
You can control costs by allowing adequate time for the project, minimizing changes/revisions, choosing a style of animation that aligns with your budget, reducing the complexity and length of your 3D animation, and finding the right 3D animation production house with a good experience-to-price balance for your needs and the quality you want. You can also read more about how to choose the best animation outsourcing studio. Being flexible on factors like location can also help costs.
Factors Influencing Cost
At Pixune Studios, we provide transparent and competitive pricing tailored to meet your unique needs.
- Project Scope and Complexity: More detailed and complex animations require additional time and resources.
- Animation Length: Longer animations naturally cost more due to the extended production time.
- Design and Pre-production: Includes concept development, storyboarding, and character design.
- Production and Post-production: Involves the actual animation process, editing, sound design, and special effects.
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Interested in knowing how much your 3D animation project will cost? Contact us today for a detailed quote and let’s create something amazing together.
Conclusion
Long story short, the answer to how much does a 3D animation costs can vary. There is no certain estimate for that. But a 1 minute-long 3D animation can cost between $15,000 to $50,000 (€14.5K – €48.5K).
The cost of 3D animation can vary based on length, complexity, quality, deadline, type, number of revisions, location, and the team’s experience. In order to avoid overspending for a 3D animation, the key is right and detailed planning while setting realistic timelines based on requirements.
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