Animation Services

Crafting a 1-minute animation usually takes between 2-12 weeks. 

This time span can vary depending on:

• The Number of Assets (characters, environments, objects, etc.)
• Art style
• Being 2D or 3D
• Complexity of the Animation 
• Animation length
• Budget
• VFX
• Technical Specifications

Here are 3 key tips for better managing your budget and timeline:

1. Clear Brief and Communication: Define your project’s goals, art style, and any specific requirements at the first production levels to achieve the desired final look. Frequent communication can also ensure alignment and pretend cost and time overruns.
2. Art Style: The more complex the art style, the more budget and time it requires. Try to choose an art style that fits your budget and timeline. Stylized, cartoonish art styles are generally faster and cheaper to produce compared to realistic, photorealistic art styles.
3. Number of Assets: It’s better to reuse already-created assets to manage the budget and shorten the process. For example, design one book and use it in different colors, sizes, and orientations in a library.

We provide animation services in the USA, UK, Canada, the Middle East, etc. We understand the importance of seamless collaboration across borders and time zones. Most of our clients are from the USA and here is how our animation studio ensures efficient collaboration despite time zones and languages:

• A dedicated account manager will be assigned to your project, available during flexible hours, including weekends, to facilitate seamless communication and act as an interpreter if needed.
• All our key team members, including the project manager and those you’ll communicate with, are proficient in English for efficient collaboration.

Here are 3 key managing tips for rushed projects:

• Build in a buffer time (plan for 5 weeks if your target timeline is 6 weeks) for contingencies, iterations, and reviews. Buffer time acts as a protection against any errors or issues related to the project force majeure. This way, circumstances that might not go as planned are taken into account.
• Build in a buffer budget due to the need for additional resources, overtime hours working, revisions, and changes. While some changes might seem minor, they can accumulate, leading to significant increases in both costs and time.
• Consider reevaluating some aspects and changing your project scope and overview by reducing the complexity, number, and length of the animation. For example, there is no need to design several unique characters for a crowd at a wide angle; you can have a few and use them in many variations.

Our animation studio offers all animation styles, including 2D animation, 3D animation, stop motion, cutout, etc. We also can combine multiple art styles to achieve your ideal vision and custom animation style.

The visual style you choose depends on various factors, including:

• Aesthetic Direction
• The Project’s Purpose
• Target Audience
• Budget
• Deadline

The key is finding the right balance between artistic style and your project goals. For example, for a kids’ animation, a cartoony, an exaggerated animation style, and for a game trailer and cinematic, the art style that matches your game are great options. 

5 key elements are most crucial when it comes to creating a memorable animation: 

• Story: Above all else, a compelling narrative is essential. The backbone of successful animation films is the story they are based on. Without a solid narrative, you can’t achieve a strong outcome.
• Direction: The director’s creative vision ties all aspects together into a cohesive artistic statement. Their guidance on performance, pacing, cinematography, camera movement, and the overall tone is vital in elevating the story.
• Animation Quality: The animators’ skills are crucial in breathing life into characters and objects. Nuanced movement, acting, lip-syncing, and an understanding of weight and physics increase the audience’s believability.
• Sound: Voice acting, music, and sound effects work in tandem with the visuals, fully immersing the audience and enhancing the emotional impact.
• VFX: Seamless integration of visual effects, from particle simulations to compositing with live-action footage, adds an extra layer of magic and spectacle. Imagine Superman’s landing without any impact. 

Here are 7 strategies to help you benefit the most from a partnership with an animation studio:

• Provide a Clear Brief: Start by providing a detailed brief that outlines your project’s goals, target audience, style preferences, and any specific requirements or references. This clarity upfront sets the right expectations and success.
• Exact Planning/Milestone Request: Request a detailed production schedule that breaks down the key milestones and deliverables from the animation studio. This transparency allows you to track progress and ensure timely completion.
• Stand on Your Values While Trusting the Studio: Establish parameters based on your unique values or objectives. While maintaining oversight, be open to the animation studio’s creative suggestions in both technical and artistic aspects. Our experience shows that 93% of our clients who trust us tend to achieve better results.
• Request Regular Updates: Ask for daily or weekly progress updates depending on the project’s complexity. This frequent communication ensures alignment and allows for timely course corrections.
• Have a Comprehensive Contract: Establish a detailed contract that covers timelines, deliverables, payment terms, delay penalties (if applicable), and any other crucial terms.
• Document Everything: Maintain all communication records, including chat logs and meeting notes. This documentation serves as a reference and helps mitigate potential disputes.
• Foster a Safe Environment: Encourage an open and collaborative atmosphere where the animation studio can freely express creative ideas without fear of blame for mistakes.

There are 4 criteria for picking the best animation studio for your projects:

• Portfolio: An animation studio’s expertise is showcased via its breathtaking art portfolio, and nothing tells better what they are capable of than its past works.
• Reviews: Read their reviews online and see what their past clients think of them. The most honest thing you can find in the best animation companies is their online reviews.
• Communication: First impressions matter – especially when it comes to communication. If they’re slow to respond or just plain rude from the get-go, imagine how it’ll be once they have your money! Trust your gut and work with people who make you feel good.
• Time and Budget Compatibility: After all, you might find the best animation outsourcing companies in the world, but your time schedule and/or money budget do not meet their demands. Find an animation studio that meets all the previous characteristics as well as your budget and schedule.

Here are 3 common challenges and risks in animation workflow and strategies to address them:

• Challenge: Project Delays and Unexpected Disruptions
• Solution: Comprehensive upfront planning, minimizing excessive revisions/edits, maintaining open communication, and building some buffer time (10%-20%) into the timeline for unexpected issues and contingencies like artist illness, emergencies, etc.
• Challenge: Misunderstandings
• Solution: Extremely clear and detailed brief, over-communicate priorities, ask the animation studio to explain their understanding back to you (do not just seek confirmation of your explanation), and emphasize crucial requirements repeatedly.
• Challenge: Budget Overruns
• Solution: Pursue a fixed-price contract rather than hourly, conduct detailed scoping in brief, set clearly defined budget limits and contractual provisions, and build in contingency buffers for possible risks.

Here are 3 ways a customer can extract more value from an animation project:

1. Future-Proofing: Consider potential future uses for the animation and build an asset library of stills, loops, and freeze frames for social/web content. Render out adaptable character turnarounds, and environment shots for promotional use.
2. Explore Assets Variations: Depending on the project, consider requesting your assets individually, like turntables and showcases for future use. These can be valuable for marketing or creating derivative content.
3. Repurposing & Re-use: Repurpose it for different marketing channels. You can create shorter versions and dynamic poses for social media, or promote your project before releasing.

Here’s what you can expect from our animation studio:

• Regular Updates: We’ll provide you with regular updates on the progress of your animation, including concepts, storyboards,3D models, and animations for your feedback.
• Revision Process: We understand revisions are often part of the creative process. We offer a structured revision process to ensure your feedback is incorporated effectively.
• Open Door Policy: We have an open-door policy, so you’re welcome to ask questions or discuss any concerns you may have at any time.
• Educational Resources: We can provide you with educational resources to help you better understand the animation process and the creative decisions involved.
• Multiple Format Delivery: We deliver your final animation in various formats suitable for various platforms and uses.
• After-Service Support: Our support extends beyond delivery. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about using your animation or repurposing it for future projects.