Hiring Animation Production Companies: What You Need to Know

Table of Contents

If you’re researching animation production companies for an upcoming video project, you’re in the right place! Video Igniter’s guide to animation production companies has answers to all of your top questions, including:

Where to find animation production companies for your project.
How to hire the top animation companies.
What does it cost to hire different types of animation production companies?
What’s the production process like when you hire an animation production company?

All that plus tips to help you save $1,000 or more off the cost of hiring an animation production company to create your video. But first, let’s take a look at examples of videos that Video Igniter’s animation production company can create for you.

Animation Production Examples

Video Igniter can make any kind of 2D or 3D animation for you. You can see a demo reel with 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.

Where can I find animation production companies?

First, we’ll briefly mention that Video Igniter is an animation production company. You can check out some of our animation examples here, request access to our price sheet, or send us a message to discuss your project and get a quote.

If you’re looking for additional animation production companies to consider for your project, we recommend checking the following sites:

Instagram
Behance
Dribbble
Vimeo

How to hire animation production companies

Searching for animation production companies and selecting the right one for your project is an important step in the production process. Which is why we wrote an entire article about how to hire an animator.

In the guide, you’ll learn:

What to include in your production agreement.
What to look for before hiring a production company.
Tips to negotiate a lower production budget.
Information to share when you request a production quote.

How much does it cost to hire different types of animation production companies?

There are essentially two different types of animation production companies you can hire. Independent animation production companies & big name animation production companies.

Independent Animation Production Companies

Most independent animation production companies can be hired for $1,500-$10,000 to create each minute of 2D animated video content. High end production techniques like traditional hand drawn animation and 3D animation may cost 2-3x more.

Big Studio Animation Production Companies

Big animation production companies like PIXAR and Dreamworks Animation require a minimum budget of $50,000,000-$100,000,000 to create a feature length film.

What’s the production process like when you hire an animation production company?

To answer that question, let’s do a quick overview of the production process so you understand step by step how to turn the idea in your head into a real video.

Step 1: Get A Quote

Start by reaching out to all of the animation production companies you’re interested in hiring and get a quote from each of them. After you receive the quotes, review each company’s animation portfolio before you make a decision about which production company to hire.

Notify the selected production company to finalize the scope of the project. After that, you will receive a production agreement to sign and an invoice for the first 50% of your production budget.

Step 2: Write The Script

Now that production is underway, our company will create the first draft the script for your animation. We’ll spend time getting to know your target audience and the key messages you want to convey in your script.

When the first draft is ready, you will receive a link to review a digital copy of your script. Add your feedback to the document and we’ll incorporate your revisions.

Step 3: Create The Storyboard

Next, we’ll turn your script into a storyboard so our animation production company has a blueprint for your video. Each page of the storyboard includes a mockup and written descriptions to help explain what needs to be shown and animated for each sentence in your script.

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

Step 4: Create The Art

You will receive several pieces of concept art for your video. Give them a review and let us know which concept is your favorite. You can collaborate with our art director to revise your favorite visual concept until you love it.

Then, our animated video production company’s design team will create the rest of the illustrations for your video, based off the approved design concept. You get an opportunity to review the illustrations and request edits before we animate the art.

Step 5: Record The VoiceOver

You will receive a selection of voiceover auditions to review. Let us know which one is your favorite and we will hire that person to record the full narration for your video. You will get a chance to listen to the full recording and request edits, if needed.

Step 6: Select Music

Our sound team will select several soundtrack options for your animation. Give them a listen and let us know which is your favorite. We will acquire the appropriate license(s) to legally use the music in your video.

Step 7: Animate

Now that everything is approved, our animation production company can animate your video! As soon as the first draft is ready, you will receive a link to download a watermarked copy of your video. Give it a detailed review with your team and members of your target audience. Collect everyone’s feedback and send it over to us. We will integrate your revisions and render out the final draft of your video.

You will receive the final, unwatermarked version of your video after you pay your final production invoice.

Budget Saving Tips For Hiring Animation Production Companies

As you search for different animation production companies to hire for your project, review these 5 tips to help you save $1,000 or more off your production budget:

Budget Saving Tip #1: Write The Script

Animation production companies love it when you provide the script for your video. We’re always happy to help you create your script but providing it speeds up the production process and it enables you to save $500 off the cost of each minute of video we create for you. Download our free script writing template.

Budget Saving Tip #2: Use Free Music

Music licensing costs are all over the map. You can avoid music licensing costs by sourcing royalty free music for your video. Check out sites like Incompetech and Facebook’s Sound Collection.

Budget Saving Tip #3: Record The VoiceOver

You can record professional quality voiceovers at home for free! If you provide the voiceover for your video, we’ll deduct the voiceover recording cost from your production budget. Watch 1:31 in this video to learn how to record professional quality voiceovers.

Budget Saving Tip #4: Create The Storyboard

Animation production companies also appreciate it when you create and provide the storyboard for your project. We love creating storyboards but it speeds up the project dramatically when you have it already created by the time production starts. Additionally, you can save $500 off the cost of each minute of video we create for you if you provide the storyboard for your project.

Download our free storyboard template and review the included storyboard creation guide to see how easy it is to make your storyboard.

Budget Saving Tip #5: Start Production ASAP

Animation production companies know that budget is always a concern. The easiest thing you can do to save 10%-50% or more off your production budget is to start production as soon as possible. If you have a deadline that’s coming up in just a few weeks, you may need to pay extra for rush delivery. Send us a message to discuss your video project or schedule a call today so we can minimize your chances of requiring rush delivery to complete your video on time.

Popular Resources For Researching Animation Production Companies

The following articles are popular among people researching different animation production companies:

How To Hire And Work With A 3D Animation Company
How To Hire And Work With A 2D Animation Company
How To Create A Video With 2D Animation And 3D Animation
How To Create An Animation Business Video
How To Hire The Best Animation Studio For Your Project

Still have questions about animation production companies?

Do you have a question about animation production companies 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 Animation Production Companies 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.