3D Animation Studios: How To Hire & Work With A 3D Studio

Are you researching 3D animation studios because you want to hire one to create a custom 3D animated video?

You’re in the right place! Video Igniter’s guide to 3D animation studios has answers to all your top questions, including;

How much does it cost to hire 3D animation studios?
How long does it take animation studios to create a video?
What is it like working with 3D animation studios to create a video?

All that and more coming up in this guide – including tips to help you save $1,000 or more off the cost of hiring a 3D animation studio! But first, let’s take a look at the types of 3D animations Video Igniter’s production team can create for you:

3D Animation Examples

Video Igniter’s production team can make any kind of 2D or 3D animation for you. You can see some of our favorite example videos below. For additional production samples, check out our animation portfolio or request access to our demo reels and price sheet.

Are you looking for a different type of animation example? Send us a message to let us know what kind of production example you want to see and we will follow up with some relevant production samples.

How to work with 3D animation studios to create a video?

If you’ve spent some time looking around for different 3D animation studios, we recommend you follow these steps when you’re ready to hire one to create your video:

1). Get A Quote

Reach out to the 3D animation studios you’re interested in hiring and ask for a quote for your video. We also recommend you ask the 3D animation studios provide relevant production examples to show they can create videos with a similar level of visual design complexity.

After you review the budget proposals and production samples, contact the 3D animation studios to let them know whether they’ve been selected for the project or not.

The studio you select will send you a production agreement to sign and an invoice for 50% of the production budget.

2). Script

3D animation studios will typically schedule a call or send you a questionnaire to learn more about what you want to communicate and show in your animation. You will also get some questions about your video’s target audience so we can craft your message to appeal to your target audience.

You will receive a digital copy of your script to review with your team. Add your comments to the document and we’ll integrate your revisions until the script is perfect.

3). Storyboard

After your script is approved, most 3D animation studios will turn your script into a storyboard. The storyboard acts like a blueprint for the 3D animation studio’s illustrators and animators to follow. Each page of the storyboard contains:

a sentence from your script
a rough sketch of the scene
and a list of instructions describing how the animation syncs up with the script

You will receive a digital copy of the storyboard to review with your team. Add your notes to the storyboard doc and we’ll integrate your revisions until the storyboard is perfect.

4). VoiceOver

3D animation studios tend to maintain a roster of voiceover artists they prefer working with. You will receive a handpicked list of auditions to review for your video’s narration. Give the auditions a listen and select your favorite voiceover artist; we’ll hire them to record the full narration for your project. Once the recording is ready, you will get an opportunity to review the full recording and request edits, if needed.

5). Soundtrack

You will also receive a selection of soundtracks to review for your video. Give them a listen and let us know which is your favorite. We’ll take care of acquiring the appropriate license(s) so we can legally use the music in your animation.

6). 3D Models

3D animation studios typically develop 3D models using a multi step process.

First, the 3D animation studio’s art director will review your brand guidelines and style references. Then, they will use that information to design multiple pieces of concept art, based off of scenes selected from your storyboard.

After you get a chance to review the concept art, share your honest feedback with the art director. You can collaborate with the art director to revise and polish your preferred visual concept until it’s perfect.

Once the concept art is approved, the 3D animation studio’s art director will oversee a team of 3D modelers to create all of the 3D objects, scenes and characters that will be featured in your video. You get a chance to review the models and request edits to the shape and form of the models.

Now that the models are approved, our team will add color, lighting and texture to the 3D models to bring them to life. You will get another opportunity to review all of the colorized 3D models and request revisions before your art moves into the animation phase of production.

7). Animation

Now that everything is approved, the 3D animation studio can finally animate your video! As soon as the first draft is ready, you will receive a link to download a digital copy of your animation. Give it a detailed review and share your feedback. The 3D animation studio will integrate your revisions and render out the final draft of your animation.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire 3D Animation Studios?

Big name 3D animation studios charge hundreds of thousands dollars to create a single minute of animation. Video Igniter Animation’s production rates start at $10,000 for a 60-second custom animation.

Get a custom quote for your 3D animation.

How Quickly Can 3D Animation Studios Make A Video?

The big name 3D animation studios (think Dreamworks & PIXAR) take years to create a feature length film. Video Igniter typically works on shorter projects and are equipped to help you produce a 60-second 3D animation in 8-10 weeks. Need to make your video faster? Rush delivery animation is available to speed up the production process.

Budget Saving Tips For Hiring 3D Animation Studios

Combine these tips to save $1,000 or more off the cost of hiring the world’s best 3D animation studios for your project:

1). Write The Script

3D animation studios are happy to help you write the script for your animation. However, if you write the script for your project, you can save $500 off the cost of each minute of video we create for you. Download our free script template for tips to help you get started.

2). Create The Storyboard

You can save an additional $500 off the cost of each minute of video we create for you if you create the storyboard for your animation. Download our free storyboard template and review the included storyboard creation guide for tips to help you create your storyboard.

3). Use Free (Legal) Music

If you source free music that we can legally use in your animation, we can remove soundtrack licensing costs from your production budget. Check out sites like Incompetech and Facebook’s sound collection for libraries of free, legal music.

4). Record The VoiceOver

If you record the voiceover for your animation, we can remove voiceover recording and licensing costs from your production budget. Watch 1:31 in this video to see how you can record professional quality voiceovers at home, for free.

5). Start Production ASAP

Rush delivery can increase your production budget by 10%-50% or more. In order to minimize or avoid paying extra for rush delivery, send us a message or schedule a call with our production team to start discussing your project timeline today.

Still have questions about 3D animation studios?

Do you have a question about 3D animation studios that wasn’t addressed in this FAQ? Use this form to send us your question and we’ll follow up with an answer. We’ll also post the question and answer to this page so other people can benefit from the knowledge.

What is Video Igniter Animation?

Video Igniter Animation is an online animated video production service. By working with our team online, you can get your custom animated video produced faster and for less than hiring a brick and mortar animation studio.

Watch the demo reel below for examples of the kinds of animation our team can produce for you.

Looking For 3D Animation Studios In The U.S.?

Video Igniter is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Success Stories & Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it – these testimonials highlight Video Igniter’s reliability, creativity, flexibility and ability to deliver animations that exceed expectations. When you choose Video Igniter Animation, you can rest assured that you are working with a trusted and reputable studio.

“Video Igniter were very easy to work with and the entire process for creating and suggesting edits was seamless and stress-free. I would work with them again and would recommend to others looking to create a modern and stylish explainer video.”

Clair Simpson – VP Marketing, Repool.com

“I run a video production company and outsource animation. The team at Video Igniter did a great job in taking the concept I very crudely drew out and making it into a beautiful animation. The review process was easy and their turnaround time was very quick. I’d def recommend them if you’re looking for an animation project.”

Pat Henderson – Founder, Path8 Productions

“Video Igniter offered us the critical combination of creative value, clear communication, and patience with stakeholder feedback. We ended up with truly high-quality design assets for our video series largely due to the extra level of commitment — and the right balance of efficiencies with flexibility in the process when called for.”

Larry Schlessinger – Sr. Creative Program Manager, Amazon Web Services

“Video Igniter came to us with a number of creative and engaging ideas and were able to create an exciting, impactful video in a short period of time. And the best part was that it cost much less than other options of similar quality. The video they made is a great marketing tool for us.”

Alex Raymond – Founder, Kapta Systems

Get in touch!

Schedule a call to discuss your animated video project.

Get a quote for us to create your animated video.

Request access to our newest price sheet.

Create your Video Igniter account, fill out a creative brief for your video and we’ll begin production as soon as we receive your production deposit.