Cartoon Videographer FAQ
Table of Contents
Do you want to hire a cartoon videographer to help you make a custom animated video? We get a lot of questions about making animated cartoons – so, we decided to write an FAQ to help people find answers quickly. This guide answers common questions like: how to hire and work with a cartoon videographer, what does it cost to work with one, tips for saving money on your production budget, and more!
Animated Video Style Examples
Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animated video for you. Check out the example videos below.
To start your project contact us, schedule a call with our production team or request access to our new pricing page.
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 to hire a cartoon videographer?
If you’re interested in hiring someone to make an animated cartoon, take a look at their video portfolio to see if they can do the level of quality work you expect for your video. It’s also worth asking about their design process, pricing structure and the amount of revisions you get when working with them.
Here are some additional resources to help you find and hire a cartoon videographer for your project:
9 Things to look for when hiring an animator.
How do you outsource an animated video project?
How do you hire an animator?
What is Video Igniter Animation?
What’s the difference between hiring an animation studio, a freelance animator and Video Igniter?
What goes into production cost of an animated video?
Looking for a 3D animation maker?
How to use Video Igniter’s Animated Video Maker.
Considering making the animated video yourself? Learn about DIY options.
Need your video fast? Learn about rush delivery.
What is a cartoon maker?
Pros and Cons of Different Animation Styles
What are the benefits of hiring a cartoon videographer?
Hiring a professional cartoon videographer can help save you time and money on your animated video production experience. Their years of experience will bring fresh creative ideas to your storytelling. Professionals are versed in the best practices of animation. If you want to present or reveal something in a unique way – they can help you build tension before the reveal. If you need help explaining something complicated, they will be able to suggest ways to use animated visual communication to help make your information easy to understand and remember.
How to work with a cartoon videographer to make an animated video?
1). Questionnaire
Once you’ve selected a cartoon videographer for your project, they will send you a questionnaire to learn more about the video you want to create. Sometimes a phone call will also get scheduled to learn more background info.
2). Script
After the cartoon videographer has reviewed your answers in the questionnaire, they will begin developing the script for your video. Scriptwriting takes 1-3 days for most short animated videos. You will receive a notification when it’s time to review the first draft of your script. We recommend reviewing it with your internal team and members of your video’s target audience (if possible). Collect everyone’s feedback. Send it to the videographer and they will incorporate your edits. You will get another opportunity to review and approve the script before production moves forward.
3). Storyboard
Next, it’s time to create the storyboard. The storyboard is the blueprint for your animated video. It tells the illustrators what to create. It also has instructions for the animation team so they know how you want things to move. Each page of the storyboard includes:
– A sentence from your script.
– A rough visual mockup of the scene.
– Directions for the animators.
– A list of assets that are needed for the scene (illustrations, SFX, icons, company logo, special fonts, etc).
You will get a notification when the first draft is ready for you to review. At this stage in the production process, you want to focus on the ideas for the visuals. Make sure the instructions are as specific as they need to be for someone new to accurately create what you want to show.
Deep Dive: How to review your animated video and project assets?
Send your feedback to your cartoon videographer. They will incorporate your edits and send the updated storyboard back to you to review. It’s important to make sure all details are properly documented in your storyboard before you approve it. Otherwise, it may result in production errors, delays and added production costs.
Side note: Most cartoon videographers offer 1-2 rounds of revisions within the production budget they quoted. If you ask for too many revisions, you may get charged extra. FWIW – Video Igniter offers unlimited revisions for our simple & standard animation projects ;)
4). VoiceOver
Once your storyboard is approved, your cartoon videographer will help audition voiceover talent. You will receive auditions from one or more voiceover talents. Review the options and let your videographer know which one you like best. If you aren’t a fan of any of them, you should be able to request new auditions. After you’ve selected your favorite option, the cartoon videographer will hire the VO artist to record the full script.
You will get an opportunity to review the recording and request edits before approving it for production.
Pro Tip: Let your cartoon videographer know where your video will be seen. Some voiceover artists charge extra if you plan to broadcast your video (aka using it in paid TV or online promotion).
5). Soundtrack
You will also receive a few soundtrack options from your videographer that will enhance your cartoon. The right soundtrack can draw viewers into your world. The wrong soundtrack will distract from your message. If you hear a soundtrack you love, let the videographer know. Otherwise, give them feedback to help them pick new soundtrack options. If they selected a few soundtracks you like but can’t decide which is best, let them know! They can help you preview the soundtracks when the first draft of your cartoon is ready. That way, you can hear which one feels right before buying the soundtrack license.
6). Illustrations
Illustrations begin with concept art. The art director will review your branding, style references and storyboard. Then, they will select a key scene from the storyboard. The art team will illustrate that scene using one or more unique visual styles.
Tell the videographer which style you like best and they will use that to create all the art for your cartoon video. When all the art is ready, you will get an opportunity to review it and request edits before approving the art for production.
What if you like the concepts but think they need some work? Let the videographer know and they will refine your preferred piece of concept art until you love it. If you like multiple pieces of concept art, let them know! They can combine your favorite aspects of each piece of concept art into a new visual concept. Not a fan of any of the options? Send them your honest feedback and they will work with you to refine the concept art til you are ready for them to create all of the art in that style.
7). Animation
Now that the illustrations and voiceover are approved, it’s time to animate. Your cartoon videographer should be able to animate a one minute video in a week. When the first draft is ready, review it with your internal team and members of your target audience. Collect everyone’s feedback and share it with your cartoon videographer. They will incorporate your edits and send you the final draft.
What does it cost to hire a cartoon videographer?
This is a broad question that requires a few answers to help dial in an appropriate answer for your specific project.
The short answer
$1,000-$10,000 per each 60 seconds of 2D cartoon animation you want to create. 3D animations cost 2-3x more.
The long answer
Your production budget is function of the following criteria:
- Are you creating the script or are you hiring the cartoon videographer to write it for you?
- Will you create the storyboard or do you want to hire the cartoon videographer to make it for you?
- Are you providing the voiceover?
- How quickly do you need the cartoon video produced?
- What style of animation do you want for your cartoon video?
- How long is the video going to be?
If you want to dial in the production budget for your video, schedule a call with our production team, contact us to get a quote, or request access to our newest price sheet.
How long does it take to make an animated cartoon?
3-6 weeks is a typical production timeline for a cartoon videographer to make a 1-2 minute 2D animated video. 3D animated videos take 2-3x as much time to produce. If you want to learn more about the production workflow, what to expect during the production process, and how long each stage of production takes, read this companion guide: “How long does it take to make an animated video?”
I need my animated cartoon fast! Do you offer rush delivery?
Yes we do offer rush delivery animation. If you need to get your animated video produced quickly for an upcoming deadline or launch date, fill out this form to get a custom quote and let us know you are interested in rush delivery for your cartoon video project. We’ll prepare an accelerated production schedule and rush delivery quote to get your video produced on time. You can read more about rush delivery in this article:
Want to make a custom animated video quickly? Read our FAQ about rush delivery animation for your next animated video project.
How can I improve the business outcomes of my cartoon?
If you are making a cartoon for a business or marketing purpose, there are a lot of things you can do during and after the production process has completed that will improve your business outcomes. We recommend reviewing these resources before starting your next video marketing project:
- 7 Tips to help you write a great script for your cartoon video.
- Pick the right visual style for your animated video.
- 6 Tips To Increase Viewer Engagement for your video.
- Check out our explainer video tips!
- 7 Tips For Using and Improving Your Businesses’ Video.
- Learn how to interpret your video’s viewer stats to see if it needs improvement.
- A/B Test variations of your animated video to improve its conversion rate.
How can I save some money on my cartoon production budget?
Budget Saving Tip #1: Write your own script
You can save hundreds or thousands of dollars off the going rate for your cartoon video by writing the script yourself! Even if you aren’t a professional writer, you can create a great first draft that our team can help you polish up so it’s production ready. Here are some resources to help you create your script:
Download our free scriptwriting template
How To Write An Animated Video Script
Check Out Examples of Explainer Video Scripts.
7 Tips to Supercharge Your Explainer Video Script Writing!
Read scripts written for explainer videos and watch the videos they turned into.
Download our free explainer video scriptwriting template.
Budget Saving Tip #2: Create the storyboard for your video
Creating the storyboard for your cartoon is another great way to save hundreds or thousands of dollars off the production rate for your video. You don’t need to be a professional artist to create a storyboard. As long as you can brainstorm ideas for what you want to show during each part of your script and describe your ideas clearly, you can create a storyboard! For tips and instructions on how to create a storyboard for your animated cartoon, check out these resources:
Download our free storyboard template
How To Create A Storyboard For An Animated Video?
Tips for building a great storyboard
What is a storyboard and why do you need one?
Budget Saving Tip #3: Record the voiceover yourself
Recording the voiceover for your animated cartoon can shave a little money off the rate for your video. Check out 1:31 in this video about voice over’s for your animated video to learn how you can record one at home for free! No professional equipment or expensive software needed.
Budget Saving Tip #4: Use free, legal music
Instead of buying a soundtrack license, you can download free, legal music from Incompetech and Facebook’s Sound Collection for your cartoon video.
Get free legal music for your animated video series from Incompetech.
Budget Saving Tip #5: Consider using stock assets
Video Igniter specializes in making custom animated videos – but that doesn’t mean your animated video needs to be 100% custom illustrated. If you are open to us using some stock assets within your video (i.e. stock images, videos, text, icons, stock animations, 3d models, etc), let us know and we’ll see if it’s possible for us to use them to slightly decrease the cost for your explainer video.
What is the Video Igniter animated video creation platform?
Video Igniter provides animated cartoon video production services online. We modernized the experience of creating a custom animated explainer video to help you create custom content faster and save on your production costs. Video Igniter streamlines the complex process of making an animated video and does 99% of the work for you. All you need to do is tell us what you want us to create and review the assets we create for your video (script, storyboard, voiceover, soundtrack, art and animation).
If you’re looking for a website to create an animated video online, Video Igniter’s custom animated video production service enables you to create any kind of animated video you can imagine. Our talented staff collaborates behind the scenes to create custom 2D and 3D animated videos so you don’t have to figure out if you have the right animator for the job. We handle all the technical and creative aspects of production including helping you develop your video script and storyboard – if you haven’t already created them yourself!
Hire Video Igniter to be your cartoon videographer
World class animation and design talent at prices startups can afford.
We can make any kind of 2D animation or 3D animated video you can imagine. Check out our video portfolio!
+20 reasons companies love hiring us to create animated videos.
Do you want to create an animated cryptocurrency video or an animated blockchain explainer video that explains how your technology works? We can help with that too.
Animated Cartoon Videographer Demo Reel
Cartoon Videographer Success Stories and Testimonials
“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 made 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
“I found exactly what I needed: custom animated production with lots of options, fair price and fast communication. I loved working with the Video Igniter Team. Million thanks.”
Antonina Rome, MD – Bioresona
“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
“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
“I am beyond satisfied with my experience with Video Igniter. The first drafts of the work were almost exactly what I had in my head when developing the concept. After that each step along the way was seamless until arriving at a perfect finished product. And all this at a tremendous value. Anyone who has considered creating a marketing video should check out Video Igniter.”
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