Animation Production FAQ

If you want to learn about animation production for your next video project, you’re in the right place! Video Igniter‘s guide to animated video production explains everything you need to know including:

✅ What is the animation production process like?

✅ How long does animation take?

✅ How much does the animation production process cost?

What is the animation production process?

The process for producing an animated video includes the creation of 6 deliverables. Deliverables are created one at a time and you get a chance to review each deliverable and request edits before production moves onto the next stage. Read on for an explanation of what happens during each stage of the animation production process.

Project Kick Off

Production kicks off with a phone call and or a questionnaire for us to learn:

✅ What you want to communicate in your video.

✅ Who your target audience is.

✅ What visual style you want to use for your video.

✅ What you want viewers to do when they’re done watching your video.

Script

Now that we understand the communication goals for your animation, our team can develop the first draft of your video script. You get an opportunity to review the script and request revisions. Once you’re 100% satisfied with the script, we move on to the next stage of production.

Budget Saving Tip: Want to save time and money on your animation production cost? Download our free script writing template and write your script yourself.

Storyboard

Now it’s time to create the storyboard. The storyboard is like the blueprint for your animated video. It tells the illustrators and animators what to create for every scene of your video. You get an opportunity to review the storyboard and request edits to help us ensure that all the relevant details are documented properly in your storyboard.

Budget Saving Tip: Want to save even more time and money on your animation production cost? Download our free storyboard template and create your storyboard yourself.

VoiceOver

You will receive voiceover audition(s) from our team to review. Let us know which audition you prefer. Then, we will get the full voiceover recorded and acquire the license to use the voiceover recording in your video. You will receive the full voiceover and get an opportunity to request edits before approving the recording for production.

Soundtrack

You will also receive several soundtrack options for your video. Give them a listen and let us know which one you prefer. Then, we’ll acquire the license so that you can legally use the music in your animation.

Illustration

You will receive concept art for your animation. Give them a detailed review with your team and let us know which option you prefer. Next, you’ll collaborate with our art director to refine the visual style until you love it.

Once the visual style is nailed down, our art team will create all of the illustrations for your animation. You get an opportunity to review the art and request revisions before approving all of the art for production.

Animation Production

Now that all of the deliverables have been approved, it’s time for animation production. Our team animates your custom illustrations in sync with the voiceover and adds music and sound effects to enhance key moments in your animation. When we’re done with production of the first draft of your animation, you get an opportunity to do a detailed review. Collect everyone’s feedback and send it to us so that we can incorporate final revisions and render out the final draft of your animation.

Animation Production Examples

Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animated video for you. Check out our animation portfolio and request access to our demo reels and price sheet.

Contact us or schedule a call to start making your video.

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

 

How long does the animation production process take?

The animation production timeline varies based on the following factors:

✅ The length of your video.

✅ 2D vs 3D animation.

✅ The style of animation being used.

✅ How detailed the animation is.

✅ Are you providing the script + storyboard or hiring your animator to create them for you?

✅ How quickly you share feedback on the deliverables we send you.

In general, if you want to know how long it takes to animate a 1 minute video, plan on having at least 4-6 weeks to get through the production process for a 2D animated video. 3D animated videos take 2-4x more time to create. If you need to speed up production of your animation to meet a deadline, we offer rush delivery animation.

Want to figure out how long it will take to create your animated video? Use this page to get in touch with us or .

What does animation production cost?

Animation production costs typically range from $1,500-$100,000+ per minute of animation that’s being created. Here are some of the factors that determine how much animation production will cost for your video:

✅ The length of the video.

✅ How quickly you want the video produced.

✅ How detailed the animation is.

✅ The style of animation being used.

✅ 2D vs 3D animation.

✅ Who is creating the script + storyboard.

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Want to get a quote for your animated video? Reach out to us to get a custom quote.

Interested in checking our our pricing? Access our current price sheet here.

2D Animation Production vs. 3D Animation Production: A Detailed Comparison

2D animation production involves creating flat, illustrated characters, backgrounds, and motion graphics that move in a two-dimensional space. The production pipeline is generally more linear and faster because assets are created in layers (backgrounds, characters, UI elements) and animated frame by frame or using rigging systems.

2D animation is the dominant format for explainer videos, marketing content, and educational media because it’s cost-efficient, highly customizable, and can be produced in almost any visual style — from minimalist flat design to richly textured illustrations that look hand-drawn.

3D animation production requires building fully three-dimensional models of every character, object, and environment, then rigging, lighting, and rendering each scene. Because the camera can move freely through a 3D space and lighting must be calculated mathematically, production is substantially more complex. A single frame of a 3D animation can take minutes or hours to render on professional hardware. The result, however, is a level of depth, realism, and cinematic quality that 2D cannot replicate — making 3D the right choice for product visualizations, architectural walkthroughs, medical device demonstrations, and content that needs to show physical objects from multiple angles simultaneously.

Which format should you choose? If your primary goal is clear communication of a concept, service, or process at an efficient price point, 2D is almost always the right answer. If your goal is to show how a physical product works, demonstrate spatial relationships, or produce content that will be displayed in a high-end trade show or broadcast context, 3D is worth the additional investment.

A third option worth knowing about is 2.5D animation — a hybrid technique that uses layered 2D assets composited with depth, parallax effects, and simulated camera movement to create the feeling of three-dimensional space without the full cost of 3D production. This approach is increasingly popular for product videos and corporate content that wants cinematic visual quality on a 2D budget.

What Makes a Great Animation Brief?

The quality of your animation production brief directly determines how fast production moves and how much revision is needed. A weak brief generates misaligned concept art, scripts that miss the point, and avoidable back-and-forth at every stage. A strong brief accelerates every step of the process.

Here is what a comprehensive animation production brief should include:

Project overview: What is being made and why? Include the product or concept being explained, the core message you want viewers to walk away with, and the business objective the video is designed to support (lead generation, sales enablement, employee onboarding, etc.).

Target audience: Be as specific as possible. “Marketing managers at mid-sized SaaS companies who are evaluating automation tools for the first time” is a useful brief. “Business professionals” is not. The more precisely you define your audience, the more specifically the script and visual style can be tailored to resonate with them.

Tone and personality: Is the brand voice formal or conversational? Serious or playful? Technical or accessible? Provide three to five adjectives that describe the ideal tone, plus any brand guidelines that govern voice and visual identity.

Visual reference examples: Link to two or three animation examples that represent the visual style you’re drawn to. These don’t need to be direct competitors — they just need to show the art direction, color palette, character style, or motion design language you want to emulate.

Competitive or industry context: Are there animations from competitors or industry peers that you want to differentiate from? Knowing what already exists in your space helps the production team create something that feels distinct rather than generic.

Platform and format requirements: Where will the video be published? A video optimized for YouTube has different aspect ratio, length, and pacing needs than one designed for a LinkedIn feed, a website hero section, or a sales deck. Square (1:1) and vertical (9:16) formats are essential for social platforms; 16:9 widescreen is standard for websites and presentations.

Deadline and budget range: Be upfront about both. Knowing the budget helps the production team recommend the right format and scope rather than proposing something that will require painful descoping later.

Common Animation Production Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Even experienced marketing teams make avoidable mistakes when commissioning animation production. Understanding these pitfalls in advance saves time, money, and frustration.

Trying to say too much. The most frequent mistake in animated video production is overloading a single video with too many messages. Animation production is expensive enough that clients often want to maximize every second — but cramming five key messages into a 90-second video means none of them land with impact. Decide on one primary message and two supporting points at most. If you have more to communicate, produce a series of shorter, focused videos rather than one video that covers everything loosely.

Approving the script without reading it aloud. Scripts look different on paper than they sound when spoken. Before approving a script, read it aloud at a natural speaking pace with a timer running. This is the only reliable way to confirm that the pacing feels right, the language sounds natural rather than written, and the word count fits your target video length.

Changing direction after illustration approval. Every stage of animation production builds on the approvals before it. If you approve the animated video style  and then request fundamental changes to the look and feel after animation has begun, you’re essentially asking the team to redo weeks of work. The revision process at each stage exists precisely to prevent this — use it thoroughly before moving forward.

Involving too many stakeholders too late. Animation production moves in a linear sequence. Introducing a new decision-maker at the storyboard stage who wants to revisit the script, or a legal reviewer at the final animation stage who wants to change on-screen text, causes expensive delays. Identify all required approvers before production begins and loop them in at every review stage, not just the final one.

Underestimating voiceover’s impact on animation. The voiceover is recorded before animation begins, and the animation is timed to match the voiceover rhythm. Requesting significant voiceover changes after animation production is underway requires re-timing the entire video — which can be as labor-intensive as re-animating large sections. Approve the voiceover carefully and completely before animation begins.

Animation Production for Different Industries

Animation production serves a remarkably wide range of industries, and the best approach varies significantly by sector. Understanding how animation is used in your specific industry helps you set the right expectations and brief your production team more effectively.

Healthcare and medical animation often requires the highest degree of accuracy. Whether explaining how a drug mechanism works at the cellular level, demonstrating a surgical technique, or walking patients through a clinical procedure, medical animations are frequently reviewed by clinical experts and subject to regulatory scrutiny. Production timelines in this sector tend to be longer due to the review process, and 3D animation is more common than in other industries because it can show biological structures with precision that 2D cannot achieve.

SaaS and technology companies represent one of the largest markets for animation production because software products are inherently invisible — you can’t film a feature, you can only explain it. Animated product explainers, onboarding videos, and feature tutorial animations are standard components of the SaaS marketing stack. Screen recording with animated overlays is a popular cost-efficient format in this sector.

Financial services and fintech use animation to make abstract or complex concepts — compound interest, portfolio diversification, insurance structures, payment flows — visually intuitive. Regulatory compliance often requires legal review of scripts and on-screen text, which should be factored into the production timeline when briefing an animation studio.

Education and e-learning represent one of the fastest-growing categories of animation production. Learning management systems, online course platforms, and corporate training departments all need high volumes of educational animation content. This sector tends to prioritize clarity and retention over production polish, making 2D motion graphics with strong scriptwriting the dominant format.

Manufacturing and engineering increasingly rely on 3D animation for product demos, assembly instruction videos, and trade show content. Showing how a mechanical component fits into a larger assembly, or how a manufacturing process flows through a facility, is far more efficient with animation than with photography or live video.

Nonprofit and advocacy organizations use animation to make emotional, data-driven, or abstract issues feel tangible and relatable. Animated infographics that visualize statistics about social issues, character-driven stories that put a human face on policy questions, and explainer videos that break down complex legislation for general audiences are all common formats in this sector.

How to Evaluate Animation Production Quality Before You Commit

Choosing an animation production company is a significant decision. Here’s a more detailed framework for evaluating quality before signing a contract.

Look for stylistic range in the portfolio. A studio that has produced many videos that all look identical may be relying on templates rather than building custom work. Strong production companies can demonstrate work that spans multiple visual styles, character designs, and animation techniques. Check out Video Igniter’s animation portfolio here.

Watch for timing and pacing quality. Good animation isn’t just about beautiful illustrations — it’s about how movement is timed. Watch sample videos with the sound off. Well-animated content should feel natural and purposeful in its motion even without audio. Jerky, mechanical, or randomly timed motion is a signal of low production quality regardless of how polished the illustration looks.

Evaluate script quality independently. If the studio writes scripts, ask to see examples of scripts they’ve produced — not just the finished videos. A strong script that communicates clearly is the foundation of effective animation. Studios that treat scripting as an afterthought tend to produce visually impressive videos that don’t actually communicate well.

Ask about the revision process in detail. How many rounds of revisions are included at each production stage? What happens if you need additional revisions beyond what’s included? A studio with a well-defined revision process is a signal of professional operation and experience managing client feedback. Most projects from Video Igniter include unlimited revisions.

Check turnaround time claims against portfolio volume. If a studio claims to deliver 2D animations in two weeks but their portfolio shows complex, highly detailed work, ask how that timeline is achievable. Understand whether rush delivery involves additional cost, reduced revision rounds, or different staffing.

Animation Production Resources

These articles and guides are popular among people researching and reading about animation production:

• How To Make A Video Animation
• How To Make Animations
• How To Make A 2D Animation
• How To Create Animation

Still have questions about animation production?

Do you have a question about animation production 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.

We can help you create any kind of 2D animated video or 3D animation you can imagine. Check out our animated video portfolio!

Watch our explainer video on our home page to learn more about how we can help you create an animated video. For examples of the kinds of animation our team can produce, check out the demo reel below:

 

Looking For An Animation Production Company In The U.S.?

Video Igniter is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Animation Production 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.