So, you want to make an animated video, but you have no clue what the animation production workflow is like. This article will give you a breakdown of what the process of making an animated video is like so that you have an idea of what all the animation phases are and how they relate to each other.  This animation step by step guide to getting your idea turned into a custom animated video covers everything from Pre-Production to Production and all the way through Post-Production.

If you have a question about how to make animations that isn’t answered in this article, you can use our contact form to ask your question or click the image below to with a member of our production team:

Steps for the 2D animation production workflow:

Pre-Production:

1). What do you want to make?

2). Identifying an animator or studio

3). Agree on price & production terms

4). Start Production With a Production Brief

Production:

5). Script

6). Storyboard

7). Voiceover

8). Music 

9). Design

10). Animation + Polish / SFX

Post-Production:

11). Follow through / using your video / AB Testing

3D Animation:

12). Animatic (for 3D animation + VO may happen after)

Animation Pre-Production Workflow:

1). What do you want to make?

The first stage in animation is to figure out what kind of animated video you want to make. Is this going to be a short piece? Or a full on animated movie? What do you want people to feel, experience and do after they watch your video? These are the kinds of things you want to think about first so that you know what kind of animation freelancer or studio would be best suited to produce your animated video. 

Estimated time: hours, days or weeks

 

2). Identifying an animator or studio

After you’ve thought about what it is you’re actually looking for, take some time to shop around for animation freelancers or animation studios that have experience producing the kind of animation you are looking for. Reach out to them to schedule a call to discuss their creative process, animation production workflow, pricing, and request portfolio samples to ensure they can produce content similar to what you are looking for.

Deep Dive: How to hire a 2D animation company.

Estimated time: Days to weeks

 

3). Agree on price & production terms

Quality animated videos cost $1000-$25,000+ per minute for 2D animated videos and $5,000-$50,000+ for 3D animated videos. Before you move forward with any animation steps, make sure you and your animators are on the same page in terms of what the total estimated budget will be and whether or not it will cost extra if you request more than a round or two of edits. Most animators and studios require 25-50% of the budget to be paid up front. Check with them to see if there are any other production terms you should be aware of – including their policy on the # of revisions you get.

Estimated time: Hours or days.

 

Animation Production Workflow:

4). Start Production With A Production Brief

The next step of the animation production process is to document all your thoughts and ideas to share with the animation team so that they have as much information as possible when they create your script, storyboard and the custom art for your video. Include notes about your ideas for the script, the visuals and what kinds of people will be watching your video.

Estimated time: Hours or days

5). Script

The script is the foundation for the rest of the animated video production workflow. It determines the overall length (and cost) of your video and what visuals will need to be created and animated in sync with the voiceover acting or narration. For reference, a 150 word script equals about one minute of video.

Estimated time: Days to weeks

6). Storyboard

The storyboard provides blueprints for the design and animation team so that they know what to create during the animation process. Each slide of the storyboard should have a sentence from your script, a rough sketch or mockup of what you want to show in the scene, a list of the assets (audio and visual) that need to be created for this scene, and some bullet points to describe the order of operations of the animation/motion that happens on screen. 

Estimated time: Days to weeks

7). VoiceOver

To get a great voiceover for your video, include notes with your script that tell the voiceover artist what kind of energy you want them to use,  how to pronounce difficult words and what sort of pacing they should use. Send your script to multiple voiceover artists and have them record a few sentences so that you can hear and feel how impactful their delivery will be. Once you’ve narrowed it down to your favorite voiceover artist, have them record the full voiceover and review it to see if it needs any slight tweaks. Before you approve the final draft of your voiceover, make sure you are paying for the proper commercial rights (if applicable) to use your voiceover.

Estimated time: Several days to a week.

8). Music 

One of the steps in creating an animation that you don’t want to outlook is carefully selecting the right soundtrack. Music influences the perception of every scene in your video. It sets the mood and enhances viewer perception of your content. Take some time to listen to many different options before making your decision. Sometimes you’ll need to wait until the first draft of your video is ready to get a sense of how the music actually enhances or detracts from your animated video. Other times, studios may select a handful of tracks for you to choose from and let you pick your favorite option. Either way, make sure that the music you use is properly licensed for the places you plan to show your video. Oftentimes, music requires a commercial license if you plan to use the music in a video for paid ads or on your website. 

Estimated time: Days

9). Design

Reviewing art is one of the most exciting phases of the animated video production process. Typically, the animation and design team you work with will create multiple pieces of concept art for you to review. You should pick out your favorites and let the designers know what you like best about them – and what details you may want to refine further. After the designer has perfected one scene in the style of your choosing, they will create the rest of the art for your video and then give you an opportunity to review the art and ask for edits. Ensure you are happy with the style of your art before you move forward with the next animation step in order to avoid extra production costs.

Estimated time: 1-2 weeks for a 1-2 minute long 2D animated video

10). Animation + Polish / Sound Effects

Now that all the prep work is done, the animators are finally at the part of the animation production workflow where they start applying motion to the custom designed art and sync it to the voiceover and music. Typically, animation studios will allow you to review the first draft and request 1-2 rounds of simple edits while they add sound effects and additional visual touch ups.

Estimated time: 1-2 weeks for 1 minute of 2D animation, 2-4 weeks for frame-by-frame animation, and 2-4+ weeks for 3D animation.

Animation Post-Production Workflow:

11). Follow Through & Using Your Video

Now that you’ve made it through all the steps of creating an animated video, it’s time to start showing it to people.  If you are using your video for commercial or marketing purposes, we recommend creating alternate intros and ending CTAs (call to action) so that you can A/B test different variations improve the overall conversion rate of your animated video. 

Estimated time: weeks to months

Bonus Stage For 3D Animation:

12). Animatic (for 3D animation)

The 3D animation production workflow usually has an extra step called an animatic – it’s like an ultra rough draft of your animated video composed of static images that are played in sync with the existing voiceover. The purpose of this is to ensure the animation will have the right timing before animators spend time animating. This is particularly useful to gauge the speed for comedic timing and emotional draw.

Estimated Time: days to weeks

Tips for Successful Collaboration

Animation production is a collaborative process that requires input from multiple stakeholders, including you (the client), creative directors, animators, voice talent, and more. To ensure your project stays on track and meets expectations, here are a few tips for a successful collaboration:

• Clear Communication: Set the foundation for a smooth workflow by ensuring everyone understands the project’s vision and objectives from the start. Create a shared project brief that outlines the goals, tone, style, and key deliverables to align all parties involved.
• Feedback Loops: During the review stages, provide constructive feedback and be as specific as possible. This will help avoid misunderstandings or unnecessary revisions later in the process. Also, make sure feedback comes from the right stakeholders to prevent conflicting directions.
• Realistic Timelines: Establish timelines early in the process and agree on deadlines for each phase of production. Consider the time needed for revisions and approvals. Proactive planning ensures that everyone’s expectations around time and scope are clear.

How Long Does the Animation Production Process Take?

One of the most common questions clients ask is:

“How long does it take to turn an idea into an animated video?”

The answer depends on the length, complexity, animation style, and approval process.

While every project is unique, most professional animated video projects follow a timeline similar to the one below:

Production Stage	Typical Timeline
Creative Brief	1-3 Days
Script Writing	2-10 Days
Storyboarding	3-10 Days
Voiceover Recording	2-7 Days
Design & Illustration	1-3 Weeks
Animation	1-4 Weeks
Revisions	3-10 Days
Final Delivery	1-3 Days

A simple 60-second motion graphics video may be completed in as little as 2-4 weeks.

A more complex character animation project may take 6-12 weeks or longer.

Large-scale productions such as animated television series, feature films, or extensive e-learning programs can take months or even years to complete.

The biggest factor affecting production timelines is often not the animation itself but the speed of stakeholder reviews and approvals. Fast feedback helps projects move quickly through each stage of production.

How Different Animation Styles Impact the Production Workflow

Not all animation projects follow exactly the same workflow.

Different animation styles require different levels of planning, design, and production effort.

Motion Graphics Animation

Motion graphics projects typically focus on:

• Typography
• Icons
• Charts
• Data visualization
• User interface demonstrations

Because motion graphics often use simpler visual elements, they generally move through production faster than character-driven animations.

2D Character Animation

Character animation introduces additional production requirements such as:

• Character design
• Facial expressions
• Lip synchronization
• Character rigging
• Character acting

These additional elements increase production time but can create stronger emotional engagement with viewers.

Whiteboard Animation

Whiteboard animation often requires:

• Script development
• Scene planning
• Illustration
• Hand-drawing simulation

Although visually simple, effective whiteboard animations still require detailed planning and storyboarding.

3D Animation

3D animation introduces additional production phases such as:

• Modeling
• Texturing
• Rigging
• Lighting
• Rendering
• Compositing

Because of these additional technical requirements, 3D animation projects often take longer and cost more than comparable 2D projects.

The Importance of Revisions During Animation Production

Many people assume revisions are a sign that something went wrong during production.

In reality, revisions are an essential part of the animation workflow.

Every major production milestone should include a review phase where stakeholders can provide feedback before production continues.

Typical review stages include:

Script Review

This is your opportunity to ensure the messaging is clear and aligned with your goals.

Storyboard Review

This stage confirms that the visuals accurately represent your vision before designers begin creating artwork.

Design Review

Stakeholders review the illustration style, color palette, and overall visual direction.

Animation Review

This is where motion, pacing, timing, and visual effects are evaluated.

Reviewing each stage carefully helps avoid expensive changes later in the production process.

For example, changing a sentence in a script is easy.

Changing an entire animated sequence after animation is complete can be costly and time-consuming.

How AI Is Changing the Animation Production Workflow

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how animation projects are planned and produced.

Today, AI tools can assist with:

• Brainstorming concepts
• Writing script drafts
• Generating storyboard ideas
• Creating visual references
• Producing temporary voiceovers
• Generating mood boards
• Creating concept art

These tools can dramatically accelerate pre-production.

However, AI still requires human creative direction.

Successful animated videos depend on strong storytelling, strategic messaging, and a deep understanding of the audience. These are areas where experienced producers, writers, designers, and animators continue to provide significant value.

Many modern studios now use AI to speed up repetitive tasks while allowing creative professionals to focus on higher-value work such as storytelling, design, and animation quality.

How to Prepare Before Starting an Animation Project

Clients who invest time preparing for production typically experience faster timelines, lower costs, and better results.

Before contacting an animation studio, consider answering these questions:

What is the goal of the video?

Are you trying to:

• Generate leads?
• Increase sales?
• Explain a product?
• Train employees?
• Educate customers?
• Raise awareness?

Who is the target audience?

Understanding your audience influences:

• Script tone
• Visual style
• Voiceover selection
• Animation pacing
• Music choices

Where will the video be used?

Distribution channels can influence production decisions.

Examples include:

• Website homepage
• YouTube
• Social media
• Television
• Trade shows
• Email campaigns
• Sales presentations

What action should viewers take?

Every successful animated video should include a clear call-to-action (CTA).

Examples include:

• Schedule a demo
• Request a quote
• Make a purchase
• Download a guide
• Visit a website
• Contact your sales team

Answering these questions before production begins helps ensure the project stays focused and effective.

Why the Animation Production Workflow Matters

The animation production workflow exists for a reason.

Each stage builds upon the previous stage.

The script influences the storyboard.

The storyboard influences the artwork.

The artwork influences the animation.

The animation influences the final viewer experience.

Skipping steps or rushing approvals can create expensive problems later in production.

A well-structured workflow helps:

• Reduce production costs
• Minimize revisions
• Improve communication
• Increase efficiency
• Produce better creative work
• Deliver stronger marketing results

Whether you’re creating a 30-second social media advertisement, a SaaS explainer video, a healthcare animation, an employee training course, or a television commercial, following a structured animation production workflow dramatically increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Animation Production Workflow

What is the first step in animation production?

The first step is defining your goals and determining what type of animated video you want to create.

Can I skip the storyboard phase?

Technically yes, but doing so often leads to confusion, additional revisions, and higher production costs.

What is the most important stage of animation production?

Many professionals consider scripting and storyboarding the most important stages because they establish the foundation for everything that follows.

How many revisions should I expect?

Most animation projects include multiple review rounds throughout production. The exact number depends on your agreement with the studio.

What causes animation projects to go over budget?

The most common causes include scope creep, unclear project requirements, excessive revisions, and significant changes after production has already begun.

Can animation production be completed remotely?

Yes. Modern animation studios frequently work with clients around the world using video conferencing, cloud collaboration tools, online review platforms, and project management software.

Common Pitfalls in Animation Production

While animation production is an exciting and creative process, there are several common challenges that can arise. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for and how to avoid them:

• Scope Creep: As the project evolves, it’s easy for the scope to expand, whether due to new ideas, additional features, or changes in direction. To prevent this, make sure to clearly define the scope at the beginning and agree on the parameters for revisions. If changes need to be made, discuss how they may impact timeframes and budgets.
• Miscommunication: Misunderstanding between the team and the client about project goals or expectations can derail progress. To avoid this, keep communication open and regular. It’s helpful to summarize meetings with action points or next steps in writing, so nothing gets lost in translation.
• Unrealistic Timelines: Underestimating how long a project will take can lead to stress and subpar results. Ensure that timelines account for each stage of the process, from ideation and scripting to animation and final revisions. Be realistic about how much time will be required to deliver a polished, high-quality product.

Animation Production Cost Breakdown

Animation production costs can vary based on several factors. Here’s a general breakdown of what might influence pricing:

• Style of Animation: 2D animation is generally more affordable than 3D animation. However, 2D animation can be complex depending on the level of detail, so it’s important to define your needs early on. Motion graphics tend to be more cost-effective compared to full character animation.
• Video Length: Longer videos require more time for both animation and revisions, so they tend to cost more. Short, punchy videos (30-60 seconds) are more affordable, but for complex storytelling, longer formats may be necessary.
• Level of Detail: Highly detailed visuals, intricate motion designs, or 3D elements will increase production time and cost. If you need a high-end, hyper-realistic design, be prepared for a higher budget.
• Number of Revisions: The more rounds of revisions, the higher the cost. Try to consolidate feedback to minimize revisions and streamline the process. Some animators charge a flat rate for a set number of revisions, while others may charge hourly rates for extra work. You can read about Video Igniter’s unlimited revisions policy here.

Post-Production Tips

Once your animation is complete, it’s time for the finishing touches. Here are a few key post-production tips to elevate your animation:

• Editing: Review the animation for pacing and flow. The timing of keyframes, transitions, and effects needs to align with the video’s message. Consider tightening any unnecessary moments for maximum impact.
• Sound Design: Audio plays a critical role in animation. Music, sound effects, and voiceovers should complement the visuals and help communicate the tone of the piece. Use royalty-free music or hire a composer to ensure you have the rights to the music.
• Color Grading: Enhance the animation’s visual appeal with color grading. This process can make the colors more vibrant or subtle, depending on the tone you’re aiming for. It also ensures that your animation looks polished across different viewing devices.
• Exporting for Platforms: If the animation is being shared on different platforms (social media, website, etc.), be sure to export the video in various formats and sizes to ensure it plays smoothly. For instance, a square version of the video might work best for Instagram, while a landscape format is ideal for YouTube.

Animation Production Workflow Resources

Now that you understand what the animation production workflow is like, here are some additional resources to help you get your idea turned into a custom animation:

• What are the animated video payment terms for my project?
• How to make video animations
• How long does it take to animate a 1 minute video?
• How much does animation cost?

What is Video Igniter Animation?

If you have any questions about making an animated video or the animation production workflow, with a member of Video Igniter’s production team. Check out our animated video portfolio to see our latest and greatest creations.

Interested in learning about pricing for your explainer video project? Request access to our pricing page here.

Animated Video Demo Reel

If you hire a video animator or an animation studio to create an explainer video, they will need to have a storyboard with your script in order to know what details to produce in your animation. Often times, animators and studios can help you take your idea or your script and turn it into a storyboard – but if you want to take on that part of creating an animated video, this article will explain how to create a storyboard for an animated video, even if you have no artistic abilities.

If you have a question about how to create a storyboard that isn’t answered in this article, you can use our contact form to ask your question or click the image below to with a member of our production team:

What is a storyboard?

But first, what is a storyboard? A storyboard is a document that includes text and visuals to explain two things:

1). What art do the designers need to create?

2). How should the animators make the custom designed art move around?

How do you create a storyboard for an animated video?

Each page of a storyboard has four parts and you should include all of them when you make the storyboard for your animated video:

1). Script

2). Sketch/Mockup

3). Direction

4). Asset List

1). Script

When you first start making the storyboard for your animation, begin by taking each sentence from your script and put one sentence on each page of your storyboard. It’s possible that when you create your storyboard, you may find that it makes sense to break up a sentence over multiple slides because there’s a lot of motion and design information to explain to the animators. Alternatively if a sentence needs multiple slides to explain all the motion design, have the full sentence on each page and highlight the active part of the sentence by making that part of the sentence bold.

 

2). Sketch/Mockup

Each slide of your storyboard should contain a mockup of the scene that is going to be designed for each sentence of the script. Your sketch or mockup doesn’t have to look professional – it just has to be adequate enough to communicate your idea. It’s our job to take your ideas and turn it into something real. Stick figure sketches are perfectly fine – a simple sketch on paper goes a long way – just take a photo of it and include it on the appropriate page of your storyboard.

Too timid to try sketching out your ideas? Use freely available images and icons online to create a rough mockup of the scene you want us to design.

 

3). Direction

This is the most important part of creating a storyboard – use simple language to clearly explain what sort of motion design you want to happen during this part of the script. The more you can break down your ideas, the easier it will be for the animators to understand what they are going to animate. Simple language with bullet points is the best way to sequentially document the order of operations that needs to happen in a scene.

If you want an action to happen at a specific moment during the voiceover, it helps to say something like, “when the voiceover says, ‘____,’ do this _______.”

 

4). Asset list

In the bottom right corner of the storyboard, include a list of all the assets that are needed for that scene. Below are examples of some of the kinds of assets you should include in your list:

Scene Examples: blue bedroom, snowy mountain scene, busy shopping mall.

Characters Examples: old fireman in uniform with a white beard, a zebra with white and blue stripes.

Object Examples: digital alarm clock, an orange android phone.

Stock Footage Examples: video of a bumblebee, picture of the inside of a plant cell.

Audio Examples: cash register noise, glass shatter SFX.

 

5). Extra notes (Screenshots & Examples)

While you create your storyboard, you may find that it’s helpful to include additional information to explain the ideas in your storyboard. Feel free to insert additional slides that include extra descriptive or visual information for the animators and designers to reference when creating your video.

For example – maybe there are a few different styles of desks that you would like to see in a scene. You could include one in the mockup in a slide for your storyboard, and then on the slide after that, include 3 photos of other styles of desks the designers could use as a visual reference for the scene. Or, perhaps you want a character to walk a specific way in a scene and you found a YouTube video of a guy that perfectly demonstrates the type of motion you want to see conveyed in your animation – including a link to the video for the animators to watch will be very helpful for them.

Deep Dive: Want to learn more about the animated video production process? Check out this companion article to learn “How To Create An Animated Video.”

Download Our Free Storyboard Template

We have a storyboard template that you can use to create your storyboard in PowerPoint, Pages, or Slides. Click here to download our free storyboard templates and get our quick storyboard DIY guide too.

Animated Video Storyboard Examples

Interested in checking out some storyboards that were created for real animated video projects? Take a look at our explainer video storyboard examples.

Want Help Creating Your Storyboard?

Creating a storyboard is a fun creative process that turns your words into a visual story. That being said, we know it can be a challenging creative exercise and it’s not for everyone. If you want someone to create the storyboard for your animated video, just let us know and we’ll take care of it for you!

Tools To Help You Create Your Storyboard

We love an old fashioned hand-drawn storyboard – but there’s a growing number of digital tools out there that speed up the storyboard creation process. Let’s explore a few options to help you speed up and streamline the storyboard creation process.

Digital Storyboard Apps

Boords is one of our favorite apps we use to create and share storyboards with our clients. After you upload your storyboard images to Boords, the app provides spaces for you to type in the script and the direction for the motion design which keeps your storyboard organized and nicely formatted.

Boords also makes it easy for clients to add their comments directly on each slide of the storyboard so we know what parts to update and revise.

Digital Sketching Devices

The old way of making a storyboard was to hand draw each scene, take a photo of it, transfer it to your computer and then format the image to fit within your storyboard. Now a days, it’s becoming more common to use an iPad or a Remarkable tablet to sketch each scene and then digitally add the image into your storyboard. This saves on time and makes it easier to update the sketches based on client feedback.

 

AI Generated Storyboard Scenes

We’re just starting to see AI’s that are created for the specific purpose of creating storyboards. They tend to fall into two categories:

1). AI’s that suggest content for your storyboard

These AIs can read a script and take in information about your target audience and then suggest ideas for what to show for each part of your script. This is a great way to get ideas for scenes that are difficult to visualize.

2). AI’s that create sketches for your storyboard

Other AIs are capable of taking your script and generating sketches for each scene in your storyboard. Customization abilities are limited but you can ask the AI to keep regenerating new suggestions until it comes up with something that’s close enough.

How to Create a Professional Storyboard for an Animated Video

Creating a storyboard for an animated video is more than putting a few sketches on a page. A good storyboard should function as a visual blueprint for the entire production. It should help everyone involved understand what the viewer will see, what they will hear, what happens next, and which artwork needs to be created.

The best storyboards also make it easier to identify problems before animation begins. It is much less expensive and time-consuming to change a storyboard than to discover after several days of animation that a scene doesn’t communicate the intended idea.

Here is a practical process you can use to create a storyboard for an animated video.

1. Start With the Final Script

The storyboard should generally be created after the script has been developed far enough that the major ideas and voiceover are unlikely to change.

Start by breaking the script into individual beats. A sentence does not necessarily equal one scene. Some sentences can be communicated with a single visual, while other sentences may require several visual changes.

For example, imagine the voiceover says:

“Every morning, your sales team spends hours searching through spreadsheets, emails, and different software platforms just to find the information they need.”

That sentence could potentially become several storyboard panels:

1. A salesperson opens a spreadsheet.
2. The salesperson switches to email.
3. They search through another application.
4. Multiple windows begin piling up around them.
5. The information finally comes together in one platform.

The purpose of storyboarding is not to force every sentence into exactly one picture. The purpose is to determine how the visual story should unfold while the audience hears the narration.

2. Identify the Visual Idea for Every Major Beat

Before drawing anything, go through the script and identify the main visual idea for each section.

Ask:

What should the viewer see while this information is being communicated?

There are several common ways to visualize information in an animated video:

• Character action
• Product demonstration
• Screen recording or UI animation
• Diagrams
• Charts and graphs
• Icons and symbols
• Text animation
• Visual metaphors
• Before-and-after comparisons
• Environmental changes
• Camera movement
• Transitions between scenes

Try to choose the visual approach that communicates the idea most quickly.

For example, if the script says that a company is growing rapidly, you could simply display the words “rapid growth.” A stronger animation might show a small storefront transforming into a large operation, with additional employees, customers, locations, or revenue charts appearing around it.

The second approach gives the animator something to build and gives the viewer something to understand visually.

3. Create a Thumbnail Version First

You don’t have to begin by creating polished artwork.

In fact, it is often better to start with extremely rough thumbnail sketches.

Draw small boxes representing the major shots in your video. Use simple shapes to indicate characters, objects, text, and important visual elements.

At this stage, don’t worry about making the drawings attractive.

You are trying to answer questions such as:

• Does the story make sense?
• Is the sequence easy to follow?
• Does the visual change when the message changes?
• Are there too many scenes?
• Are there sections where nothing visually interesting happens?
• Does the ending build naturally toward the CTA?

A rough storyboard makes these problems much easier to identify.

This is especially useful because animation can involve significant design and production work. Solving a storytelling problem while the storyboard consists of rough sketches is considerably easier than solving it after the artwork has been designed and animated.

4. Establish a Consistent Visual Style

Before developing every storyboard frame, establish the general visual language of the video.

Your storyboard does not necessarily need finished artwork, but it should communicate the intended style.

Consider:

• Character design
• Color palette
• Typography
• Illustration style
• Background treatment
• Level of detail
• Icon style
• UI treatment
• Camera perspective
• Use of texture
• Overall visual tone

For example, a technology explainer might use clean geometric illustrations, simple backgrounds, interface graphics, and restrained character animation.

A brand campaign might require a more distinctive illustration style with custom characters, unusual compositions, and more elaborate transitions.

Creating a small style reference or mood board before completing the storyboard can help prevent the visual direction from changing from scene to scene.

5. Think About Continuity

Continuity is one of the easiest things to overlook when creating an animated video storyboard.

If a character is holding a coffee cup in one scene and the next scene continues the same action, the cup should not suddenly disappear unless there is an intentional reason for it.

The same applies to:

• Character positions
• Clothing
• Props
• Screen interfaces
• Backgrounds
• Lighting
• Object locations
• Character scale
• Direction of movement

Continuity becomes particularly important when a story follows a character through several scenes.

Create a simple asset and character reference sheet if your animation includes recurring characters or environments. Record details such as clothing, colors, accessories, important props, and other characteristics that should remain consistent throughout the video.

6. Plan Camera Movement in the Storyboard

Animation gives you much more freedom with the camera than many people realize.

Your storyboard can indicate whether the camera should:

• Zoom in
• Zoom out
• Pan
• Track a character
• Rotate
• Transition between environments
• Move from a wide shot to a close-up
• Follow an object
• Move through a user interface
• Remain completely static

You don’t need to use camera movement simply because you can.

Camera movement should have a purpose.

For example, a zoom-in can direct attention toward an important detail. A camera pan can reveal additional information. A transition from a wide shot to a close-up can signal that the story is moving from a general concept to a specific example.

In a storyboard, a few arrows and a short note can communicate the intended movement.

For example:

Camera: Slowly zoom toward the dashboard as the narrator explains the three key metrics.

This is usually more useful than attempting to draw every intermediate frame.

7. Show What Moves, Not Every Frame of Motion

A storyboard is not normally a frame-by-frame animation.

You do not need to draw every position a character’s arm will occupy during a movement.

Instead, show the important poses or key moments.

If a character walks across the screen, for example, you might show:

Panel 1: Character begins walking.

Panel 2: Character arrives at the destination.

Then use your direction notes to explain that the character walks from left to right between those panels.

For more complicated animation, additional storyboard panels can be useful. A character jumping, transforming, interacting with a complicated interface, or performing a specific action may require several key poses.

The level of detail should correspond to the complexity of the animation.

What Should Be Included in an Animated Video Storyboard?

A useful storyboard should answer the production team’s most important questions without requiring them to guess.

At a minimum, include:

Scene or Panel Number

Number every panel sequentially.

This makes it much easier to discuss revisions.

Instead of saying, “Can we change the part where the character is standing next to the computer?” a client can say, “Can we revise Scene 14?”

Voiceover or Dialogue

Include the exact portion of the script associated with the panel.

This establishes the relationship between the visual and the narration.

Visual Reference

Include a sketch, mockup, screenshot, photograph, icon, or other visual reference.

It doesn’t have to be beautiful. Its job is to communicate the concept.

Animation Direction

Describe what moves and when.

Keep these instructions concise and specific.

For example:

• Character enters from the left.
• Screen expands to fill the frame.
• Three icons appear one at a time.
• When the narrator says “automatically,” the three manual steps disappear.
• Camera zooms into the dashboard.

Assets

List the artwork or materials required for the scene.

This might include:

• Character
• Background
• Laptop
• Smartphone
• Logo
• UI screen
• Chart
• Icons
• Stock footage
• Sound effects
• Music
• Photographs

A detailed asset list can save time later because the production team can identify what needs to be created before animation begins.

On-Screen Text

If text will appear in the animation, include it in the storyboard.

This includes:

• Headlines
• Labels
• Statistics
• Captions
• Buttons
• Product names
• Calls to action

Avoid assuming that the animator will decide what text should appear later. If the wording is important to the message, it belongs in the storyboard.

How Detailed Should an Animation Storyboard Be?

There is no single correct level of storyboard detail.

A simple motion graphics video may only need rough frames showing the major compositions and transitions.

A character-heavy animation may require more detailed drawings showing poses, expressions, interactions, and environments.

A complicated 3D animation may require even more planning because camera angles, environments, object placement, and movement can be significantly more involved.

A useful rule is:

The storyboard should be detailed enough that another person can understand what needs to happen without asking you to explain every scene verbally.

If your animator can look at the storyboard and understand the intended action, it is probably detailed enough.

If the animator has to ask questions such as “Where does the character go?” “What happens next?” or “Which screen are we showing?” then the storyboard probably needs more information.

At the same time, avoid turning the storyboard into an attempt to pre-animate the entire project. Leave room for the animation team to solve visual and motion-design problems creatively.

How to Storyboard a 60-Second Animated Video

A 60-second animated video can contain a surprisingly large amount of visual information.

If the voiceover contains approximately 125–150 words, you may have several distinct visual beats within those 60 seconds.

A simple structure might look like:

0:00–0:05 — Hook

Introduce the problem with a visually interesting situation.

0:05–0:15 — Problem

Show the audience what is frustrating, inefficient, confusing, expensive, or otherwise undesirable about the current situation.

0:15–0:25 — Solution

Introduce the product or idea that changes the situation.

0:25–0:45 — Benefits

Demonstrate the two or three most important benefits.

0:45–0:53 — Proof

Show a result, statistic, customer example, or other evidence.

0:53–1:00 — CTA

Summarize the value proposition and show the viewer what to do next.

This is only a starting point. The storyboard should ultimately follow the needs of the story rather than forcing every video into exactly the same structure.

How to Review an Animated Video Storyboard Before Animation

Before approving a storyboard, watch it as though you have never heard the company’s pitch before.

Go panel by panel and ask:

Can I understand the story from the visuals alone?

You shouldn’t necessarily be able to understand every detail without the voiceover, but the major narrative should be apparent.

Then review the storyboard together with the script.

Ask:

Do the visuals reinforce what the narrator is saying?

If the narrator says one thing while the animation shows something unrelated, the audience has to process two competing messages.

Finally, look at the pacing.

Ask:

• Does the visual change when the topic changes?
• Are any scenes on screen for too long?
• Are there too many visual changes happening at once?
• Does the most important information receive enough visual emphasis?
• Does the ending feel rushed?
• Is there enough time for the audience to understand important graphics or text?

These questions can reveal problems that aren’t obvious when reading the script alone.

Common Storyboarding Mistakes to Avoid

Making the Storyboard Too Detailed Too Early

Don’t spend hours creating polished artwork before you know whether the overall sequence works.

Start rough and refine the visuals after the storytelling is working.

Creating Visuals That Simply Repeat the Voiceover

If the narrator says, “Our software saves time,” and the screen displays the words “Saves Time,” you’re not taking full advantage of animation.

Whenever possible, demonstrate the benefit visually.

Show the old process taking five steps and the new process taking two.

Trying to Animate Every Word

Not every word requires a visual change.

Constant movement can actually make an animation harder to understand.

Give important visual ideas enough time to register.

Including Too Much Information

A storyboard can expose a problem that was hidden in the script: there is simply too much to communicate.

If every scene contains a new feature, statistic, character, chart, and text element, the audience may have difficulty determining what matters.

Simplify.

Forgetting About the Transition Between Scenes

A storyboard should explain not only what happens inside individual scenes but also how the video moves from one idea to the next.

Some transitions can be simple cuts. Others can use an object, character, camera movement, or visual metaphor to connect two ideas.

A strong transition can make an animated video feel like one continuous story rather than a collection of unrelated slides.

Storyboard vs. Animatic: What’s the Difference?

A storyboard is a visual plan for the animation. An animatic takes those storyboard images and puts them into motion with approximate timing.

A storyboard answers:

“What should happen?”

An animatic helps answer:

“How long should it take, and does the sequence work when viewed as a video?”

This distinction is important because a storyboard can look excellent as a collection of individual images while still having pacing problems when played sequentially.

For example, a joke may look funny in a storyboard panel but fail because the reaction happens too quickly.

A product demonstration may look clear in several individual frames but become confusing when the transitions happen too rapidly.

An animatic gives the production team an opportunity to discover those problems before expensive final animation begins.

Using AI to Create an Animated Video Storyboard

AI can now be useful for generating storyboard ideas, visual references, rough compositions, and alternative scene concepts.

For example, you can provide an AI tool with a script and ask it to suggest several visual approaches for each section.

This can be especially helpful when you know what you want to say but aren’t sure how to visualize an abstract concept.

However, AI-generated storyboard images should generally be treated as references rather than automatically approved final designs.

AI-generated images can introduce problems with:

• Character consistency
• Object continuity
• Screen interfaces
• Brand accuracy
• Typography
• Perspective
• Repeated characters
• Product details

For an animated video, consistency between scenes matters. If a character’s appearance changes from one panel to another, or a product interface looks different in every frame, the storyboard may become less useful as a production reference.

A practical workflow is to use AI for ideation, then refine the strongest ideas into a consistent storyboard that reflects the actual production requirements.

The same principle applies to AI-generated content generally: the technology is most useful when it helps a creative team produce something more useful and original, rather than simply generating generic material at scale.

A Simple Animated Video Storyboard Template

If you are creating your first storyboard, use this basic structure for every scene:

SCENE #:

VOICEOVER:
What does the audience hear?

VISUAL:
What does the audience see?

ANIMATION/DIRECTION:
What moves? What happens first, second, and third?

ON-SCREEN TEXT:
What words appear on screen?

ASSETS:
What characters, backgrounds, objects, graphics, screenshots, or other materials are required?

NOTES/REFERENCES:
Are there examples, screenshots, links, or additional instructions the animator should see?

For example:

SCENE 08

Voiceover:
“Now your entire team can see the status of every project in one place.”

Visual:
Show the company’s dashboard filling the screen. Several project cards appear in different stages.

Animation/Direction:

• Dashboard slides into view.
• Project cards populate one at a time.
• Camera moves toward the three project-status columns.
• Completed projects move into the “Done” column.

On-Screen Text:
“Every project. One place.”

Assets:
Dashboard UI, six project cards, company logo.

Notes:
Use the attached product screenshot as the visual reference for the dashboard layout.

This format gives an animator, designer, client, or other stakeholder enough information to understand the intended scene without requiring the storyboard creator to be an artist.

Final Storyboard Review Checklist

Before sending your storyboard to an animation team, review the following:

• The script is approved or close to final.
• Every major script beat has a corresponding visual.
• Every scene is numbered.
• The visual concept is clear.
• Animation direction is included where necessary.
• Required assets are identified.
• Important on-screen text is included.
• Characters and recurring objects remain visually consistent.
• Camera movements are identified when important.
• Transitions between major ideas are understandable.
• The pacing works for the intended runtime.
• The CTA has enough time to be understood.
• References and screenshots are attached where needed.
• The storyboard has been reviewed by someone who understands the target audience.
• Major creative questions have been resolved before animation begins.

The goal of a storyboard isn’t to create beautiful drawings. The goal is to remove ambiguity before production starts.

A rough storyboard with clear visual ideas, timing, direction, and asset requirements can be far more useful than a beautifully illustrated storyboard that doesn’t explain how the animation should work.

When you create a storyboard for an animated video with that goal in mind, you give your animation team a much stronger blueprint—and you dramatically improve the chances that the finished animation will communicate the original idea the way you intended.

What Is An Animatic?

Some animated video projects require the creation of an animatic in addition to the storyboard. An animatic is halfway between a storyboard and the final animation. Storyboard sketches are synced up with the timing of your voiceover to create a very rough version of your video. Often times, additional images are sketched for inclusion in the animatic.

The purpose of the animatic is to create a rough timing of the animation so that everyone involved with the project can see how the timing / pacing of the visuals lines up with the pace of the voiceover. It’s helpful for identifying ‘dead’ portions of the video where very little motion is happening. It’s also useful for planning and choreographing detailed and nuanced parts of your animation to ensure the timing is right. If your animation is very detailed, it’s useful to create an animatic first to ensure your video is created properly the first time. Animatics are also useful for testing the comedic timing of jokes.

Animatics are frequently created for 3D animation projects and hand drawn animations. Standard 2D computer animation projects usually don’t require the creation of an animatic.

Here’s an example of an animatic. Below that is the video that was created from the animatic.

 

Still have questions about how to create a storyboard for an animated video?

Do you have a question about how to create a storyboard 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!

Want to know more about the production process? Learn how to make a video animation.

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 Studio 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 to help you make video animations, 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

“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.”

Anonymous Customer Feedback

Need help creating your storyboard? 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.

In today’s digital age, video content has become a powerful tool for marketers and content creators to engage and captivate their audiences.

One effective way to make videos stand out is by incorporating animation into your videos. Animation adds a dynamic and visually appealing element to videos, making them more compelling and memorable.

However, creating animations can be a complex task, which is why it’s crucial to use a reliable animated video creator like Video Igniter to help you create your dream video.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the power of creating and adding animation for videos, how to start making your animation with Video Igniter, what it costs to make an animation online and how long the production experience will take.

I. Understanding the Power of Animation in Videos

Creating and adding an animation to your video projects has a significant impact on your video content. Animated clips made for your animation enables you to convey complex ideas, create emotional connections, and deliver information in an entertaining and visually appealing way.

There are various types of animations commonly used in videos, including 2D, 3D, motion graphics, whiteboard animation, cel animation and character animation. Each style has its unique characteristics and applications, giving you the flexibility to choose the one that best suits your video’s purpose and target audience.

II. How To Create Animation For Your Video

A. Planning and Conceptualizing

Before diving into production, it’s important to plan and conceptualize your video. Start by defining your target audience and goals. Understand who you’re trying to reach and what message you want to convey.

We recommend filling out this questionnaire to think through the important details of your project. If you have writers on your team, it’s also worth it to spend some time outlining the script and storyboard for your animation. That being said, if you don’t want to create the script or the storyboard, Video Igniter can create them for you.

B. Choosing the Right Animation Style

Selecting the right animation style is crucial for ensuring that your video effectively communicates your message. Consider the tone and style you want to use to communicate with your target audience and choose a visual style that aligns with your brand and video content.

Video Igniter creates custom animated videos and can help you create any style of animation you can imagine. This variety enables you to create the perfect video that resonates with your target audience and enhances the impact of your message.

C. Creating and Customizing Animations

Once you have a plan and chosen an animation style, it’s time to create your animations. Video Igniter provides a streamlined animated video production service that makes the animation creation accessible to everyone, including those without prior video production experience.

Our platform walks you through the entire production process. Create an account, fill out a creative brief with information about your project and sit back while our team of animators creates your video for you. You get updates when it’s time to review the illustrations and voiceover we create for your video. After they get your approval, we animate your video for you.

III. Adding Animation Into Your Video

To add animation into your video, start by importing your video footage into a video editing app. Then, drag and drop the animated video we created for you into the video editing program.

You can layer animations on top of or in between your existing footage, ensuring a seamless blend between animations and real-world content. This integration of animation for your video creates a cohesive and professional look, enhancing the overall quality of your video.

IV. Exporting and Sharing Your Animated Video

Once you have added your animated video into your video project file, it’s time to export and share it with the world. Whether you’re sharing your video on social media, embedding it on your website, or presenting it in a meeting, Video Igniter ensures your animation is compatible across all platforms and devices. With just a few clicks, you can export and share your animated video and make an impact on your audience.

Why Animation In Videos Outperforms Static Content

The case for adding animation to your video content goes well beyond aesthetics. Research consistently shows that viewers retain information significantly better when it is presented as an animated video compared to text or static images alone. This is rooted in a concept called dual coding — the brain processes visual and verbal information through separate channels simultaneously, which deepens comprehension and memory.

For marketers, this translates into concrete performance advantages. Animated videos on landing pages have been shown to increase conversion rates. Animated social media posts generate higher engagement than static image posts. Email campaigns that include animated video content see improved click-through rates. These are not marginal gains — they represent a meaningful competitive edge for businesses willing to invest in quality animation for their video strategy.

Beyond retention and conversions, animation gives brands a way to communicate emotion and personality that raw footage sometimes cannot. A character’s expression, a playful transition, or a satisfying motion graphic sequence can make viewers feel something — and emotion is the primary driver of purchasing decisions.

Common Use Cases for Animation in Video Content

Understanding where animation fits into your video content strategy helps you prioritize where to invest. Here are the most impactful applications:

Intro and Outro Sequences: Animated intros and outros give your video content a polished, professional identity. A consistent animated intro reinforces brand recognition every time a viewer watches one of your videos, whether on YouTube, Instagram, or your website. Over time, viewers begin to associate that visual signature with your brand’s quality and reliability.

Lower Thirds and Titles: Animated text overlays — commonly called lower thirds — add context, introduce speakers, and reinforce key messages without interrupting the flow of your video. These small animated elements dramatically improve the perceived production value of interview-style or talking-head videos.

Explainer Segments: Long-form videos often include sections where a concept needs deeper explanation. Cutting to a short animated segment — rather than trying to explain something purely through narration or on-screen text — holds viewer attention and communicates complex ideas more efficiently.

Product Demonstrations: For software products, physical goods with internal mechanics, or services with multi-step processes, animated product demos within a video give viewers a clearer picture of how something works than any live-action alternative.

Data Visualization: Charts and statistics presented as static slides inside a video are easily ignored. Animated data visualizations — where bars grow, lines travel across a graph, or numbers count up in real time — transform dry information into engaging storytelling moments.

Transitions and Motion Graphics: Thoughtfully animated transitions between scenes give videos a cinematic quality that keeps viewers watching. Simple cuts can feel abrupt; animated transitions signal intentionality and keep the visual experience flowing smoothly.

How to Brief an Animation Studio for Your Video Project

Getting the most out of an animation studio begins with a well-prepared creative brief. Studios work faster, revise less frequently, and produce stronger results when clients come prepared. Here is what a strong brief for an animation-for-video project should include:

Project context: What is the video for? Where will it live — a website, a paid ad, a trade show booth, an internal training portal? The intended platform shapes every creative decision, from aspect ratio to pacing to tone.

Audience description: Who will watch this? A B2B animation aimed at CFOs requires a very different visual language than a consumer animation targeting college students. The more specific your audience description, the better your animation studio can tailor the work.

Tone and style references: Gather three to five examples of animation styles you admire — even from outside your industry. These references communicate far more than written descriptions. If you want your animation to feel “energetic but professional,” show examples rather than just saying it.

Existing brand assets: Share your brand style guide, logo files, color palette, and any existing video content. Animation that matches your established visual identity integrates seamlessly into your broader video content library.

Script or key messages: Even a rough outline of what the animation needs to say is more useful than starting from scratch. If you have key messages, taglines, or call-to-action language that must appear in the video, include them in the brief.

Approval stakeholders: Let the studio know upfront how many people need to approve the work and what their roles are. Projects with multiple stakeholders benefit from clear revision rounds rather than open-ended feedback loops.

Animation for Video: Aspect Ratios and Format Considerations

One of the most overlooked technical decisions in animation for video is format optimization. Animation created at the wrong aspect ratio for its intended platform delivers a weaker result — and retrofitting an animation to a new format after production is costly.

Here is a quick reference guide for common animation video formats:

16:9 (Landscape) is the standard format for YouTube, website embeds, presentations, and broadcast TV. If you are creating a primary long-form video asset, this is almost always your starting format.

9:16 (Vertical) is essential for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Stories. Mobile-first audiences consume enormous amounts of vertical video daily. If your animated video will run as a social ad or organic social post, vertical format is no longer optional — it is expected.

1:1 (Square) performs well in social media feeds across Instagram and Facebook, where it occupies more screen real estate than landscape video without requiring the full vertical format.

4:5 is a slight variation on square that Meta platforms favor for in-feed ads, as it takes up maximum feed space on mobile without triggering the vertical video player.

A smart animation-for-video strategy accounts for these formats upfront. Rather than creating one animation and cropping it down later, brief your studio to deliver your core animation in multiple aspect ratios simultaneously. The incremental production cost is small compared to the performance gain of format-native content.

Measuring the Performance of Your Animated Video Content

Creating animation for your video is an investment — and like any investment, it deserves to be measured. Here are the key performance indicators that matter most for animated video content:

View-through rate (VTR): What percentage of viewers watch your animated video to completion? A high VTR indicates that your animation is holding attention. A low VTR — particularly if viewers drop off in the first few seconds — suggests the opening of your animation needs to hook viewers more effectively.

Engagement rate: On social platforms, engagement (likes, comments, shares, saves) relative to total views tells you how strongly your animation resonated. Highly shareable animated content multiplies your reach without additional ad spend.

Click-through rate (CTR): For animated videos with a call to action — whether embedded on a landing page or running as an ad — CTR measures how effectively the animation is motivating action.

Conversion rate: Ultimately, the purpose of most marketing animation is to drive a business outcome: a purchase, a sign-up, a demo request. Tracking conversions attributed to pages or campaigns featuring your animated video content reveals its true ROI.

Heatmaps and scroll depth: For animated videos embedded on web pages, tools that show where visitors scroll and how long they engage with your page reveal whether the animation is contributing to on-page engagement or being skipped entirely.

Reviewing these metrics after your animated video has been live for 30 to 60 days gives you actionable data to guide future animation investments — and to optimize the current video through updated calls to action, revised thumbnails, or A/B tested versions.

Storytelling Best Practices for Animation in Video

One of the biggest reasons animation for video succeeds is that it allows creators to tell stories that would otherwise be difficult—or even impossible—to capture with live-action footage. Whether you’re producing a marketing video, product demonstration, educational lesson, or investor presentation, storytelling should always guide your creative decisions.

Strong animated videos typically follow a simple narrative structure:

Start With a Hook

The first five seconds determine whether viewers continue watching or scroll away.

Your opening should immediately answer one of these questions:

• What problem are we solving?
• Why should the viewer care?
• What surprising fact will they learn?
• What emotional journey are they about to experience?

Animation gives you complete creative freedom during this opening. Rather than relying on stock footage, you can create eye-catching visual metaphors, animated characters, or dynamic typography that instantly captures attention.

Introduce the Problem

Once you’ve earned the viewer’s attention, explain the challenge they face.

For example:

• Businesses waste hours on repetitive manual tasks.
• Patients struggle to understand complex medical procedures.
• New employees become overwhelmed during onboarding.
• Consumers are confused by complicated financial products.

Using animation for video allows abstract problems to become visually concrete, making them easier for audiences to understand.

Present the Solution

This is where animation truly shines.

Instead of simply describing your solution, animated visuals can demonstrate:

• How a product works
• Before-and-after transformations
• Step-by-step workflows
• Internal processes
• Software interfaces
• Customer journeys

Showing rather than telling dramatically improves comprehension and viewer retention.

End With a Clear Call to Action

Every animated video should encourage viewers to take the next step.

Examples include:

• Schedule a demo
• Request a quote
• Download a guide
• Purchase a product
• Subscribe to a channel
• Contact your sales team

A compelling ending ensures the value created by your animation translates into measurable business results.

How Motion Design Improves Video Quality

Many people think animation only refers to fully animated videos.

In reality, motion design can dramatically improve nearly any type of video content.

Examples include:

• Animated logos
• Kinetic typography
• Motion-tracked graphics
• Animated icons
• Infographics
• Lower thirds
• Scene transitions
• Callout graphics
• UI animations
• End cards

These elements help guide the viewer’s attention while making videos feel significantly more polished.

Even subtle movement can transform an average video into content that feels professionally produced.

Creating Brand Consistency Across Animated Videos

Businesses rarely produce only one video.

Over time, companies build libraries containing:

• Product demos
• Customer testimonials
• Sales presentations
• Educational content
• Social media videos
• Recruiting videos
• Training materials

Using a consistent animation style across all these assets strengthens brand recognition.

Consider creating animation guidelines that define:

• Color palette
• Typography
• Transition styles
• Iconography
• Character illustration style
• Motion behaviors
• Logo animations
• Intro sequences
• Outro sequences

Maintaining consistency allows every new animated video to reinforce your brand identity.

Accessibility Considerations for Animation in Video

Great animation should be enjoyable for as many people as possible.

When creating animation for video, consider accessibility throughout production.

Best practices include:

Add Closed Captions

Many viewers watch videos with the sound muted.

Captions improve comprehension while making videos accessible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Choose Readable Typography

Avoid decorative fonts that become difficult to read on smaller mobile screens.

Instead, use clean fonts with sufficient size and contrast.

Give Viewers Enough Time

Avoid displaying important information for only a second or two.

Viewers need enough time to read:

• Headlines
• Statistics
• Product names
• Calls to action

Avoid Excessive Flashing

Rapid flashing animations may create accessibility issues for some viewers.

Smooth transitions generally provide a better viewing experience.

Localizing Animated Videos for International Audiences

Animation is one of the easiest forms of video content to adapt for global audiences.

Instead of filming multiple live-action versions, businesses can localize existing animated videos by replacing:

• Voiceovers
• On-screen text
• Captions
• Currency
• Measurements
• Product imagery
• Cultural references

Planning for localization early makes future updates much easier.

Common Mistakes When Adding Animation to Videos

Even experienced content creators occasionally make mistakes when integrating animation into video projects.

Here are some of the most common issues.

Too Much Animation

Animation should support your message—not distract from it.

If every object is constantly moving, viewers may struggle to focus on the information that matters most.

Inconsistent Visual Styles

Mixing multiple illustration styles within the same project creates an unprofessional appearance.

Maintain a consistent artistic direction throughout your video.

Poor Timing

Animations should reinforce narration rather than compete with it.

Introducing graphics too early—or too late—can confuse viewers.

Ignoring Mobile Devices

Many videos are viewed on smartphones.

Always preview animations on smaller screens to ensure text remains legible and important details remain visible.

Weak Audio

High-quality animation deserves equally professional audio.

Invest in:

• Professional voiceover
• Clean audio mixing
• Appropriate background music
• Balanced sound effects

Audio quality strongly influences how viewers perceive production quality.

Building an Animation Asset Library

Organizations that regularly create video content can save significant time by maintaining reusable animation assets.

Examples include:

• Animated logos
• Lower thirds
• Background loops
• Branded icons
• Character poses
• UI components
• Motion graphic templates
• Transition packages
• Call-to-action animations

Rather than recreating these assets for every project, they can be reused across multiple videos while maintaining consistent branding.

Over time, this library reduces production costs and accelerates future video creation.

When to Use Animation Instead of Live Action

Animation and live-action video each have unique strengths.

Animation is often the better choice when you need to:

• Explain abstract concepts
• Visualize software
• Illustrate future products
• Show microscopic processes
• Demonstrate dangerous scenarios safely
• Simplify technical information
• Present confidential workflows
• Maintain evergreen content despite product updates

Live-action video, meanwhile, excels at showcasing real people, authentic customer stories, physical locations, and emotional testimonials.

Many successful marketing campaigns combine both approaches, using animation to clarify ideas while relying on live footage to build trust and human connection.

Future-Proofing Your Animated Videos

Businesses often underestimate how frequently marketing materials change.

Pricing evolves.

Features are added.

Brand identities are refreshed.

Regulations change.

Products improve.

When planning animation for video, consider how easily the project can be updated in the future.

A well-organized production workflow should preserve editable assets so your team can:

• Update statistics
• Replace screenshots
• Add new features
• Refresh branding
• Swap voiceovers
• Translate content
• Create shorter social media edits

Thinking beyond the initial launch dramatically extends the lifespan and value of your animated video investment.

Rather than treating animation as a one-time deliverable, successful organizations build a growing library of reusable video assets that evolve alongside their business.

This long-term approach maximizes return on investment while ensuring every new animated video benefits from the creative work that has already been completed.

Animation For Video Production Resources

The following guides and resources are popular among people reading about how to create an animation for an existing video project:

9 Things To Look For When Choosing An Animation Studio

How To Make Video Animations With Video Igniter

Read The Animated Video Production FAQ

How To Hire And Work With An Animation Video Company

Animation For Video Wrap Up

Adding animation into your videos is a powerful way to engage and captivate your audience. With Video Igniter, you have a reliable animation producer that simplifies the process of creating and integrating animations into your videos.

Whether you’re a marketer, content creator, or business owner, Video Igniter offers an intuitive interface and diverse visual styles, enabling you to easily create high quality animated video clips to add to your video content.

By understanding the power of animation, you can create increase the engagement rate of your videos and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Don’t miss out on the benefits of animation. Your audience will thank you for it.

Still have questions about creating an animation for your video?

Do you have a question about creating an animation for your video 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 Animated Video Company In The U.S.?

Video Igniter is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Animation For Video 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 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

Looking to create an animation for video? 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.

Over the last few years, Video Igniter has developed an extensive list of animated video production resources to help you produce high quality content, quicker and at the lowest budget possible. We’ve also developed a bunch of content to help you market and promote your business with your custom animated video. This page contains a list of all these resources. If there’s a resource you’d like us to create that you don’t see here, use this form to let us know!

The Complete Animated Video Production Workflow

Whether you’re creating a 30-second social media advertisement or a two-minute explainer video, nearly every successful animation project follows a structured production process. Understanding each phase helps businesses plan more effectively, reduce revisions, and keep projects on schedule.

Below is a high-level overview of the complete animated video production workflow.

1. Discovery and Creative Brief

Every project begins with gathering information about the business, audience, and objectives.

A creative brief typically answers questions like:

• Who is the target audience?
• What problem does the video solve?
• What action should viewers take?
• Where will the video be published?
• What animation style best represents the brand?
• What is the desired timeline?
• What budget has been allocated?

A thorough creative brief reduces misunderstandings and gives the production team a clear direction before work begins.

2. Script Writing

The script is the foundation of every animated video.

A well-written script should:

• Capture attention quickly
• Identify the audience’s problem
• Present a clear solution
• Explain benefits rather than just features
• End with a compelling call-to-action

Most 60-second explainer videos contain approximately 125-150 spoken words.

Since every visual is built around the narration, investing time in script development often has the biggest impact on the final video’s success.

3. Storyboarding

Once the script is approved, the production team develops a storyboard.

Each storyboard panel typically includes:

• A sentence from the script
• A rough sketch of the scene
• Animation notes
• Asset requirements

Storyboards allow everyone to visualize the finished animation before expensive illustration and animation work begins.

4. Visual Development

After the storyboard is approved, artists establish the visual style.

This stage may include:

• Character design
• Color palette selection
• Illustration style exploration
• Typography choices
• Icon development
• Environmental design

Approving the visual direction early keeps the entire project visually consistent.

5. Asset Creation

Illustrators then create every visual asset required for production.

Depending on the project, assets might include:

• Characters
• Backgrounds
• Product illustrations
• Infographics
• User interface mockups
• Icons
• Logos
• Charts
• Visual effects

Once approved, these assets move into animation.

6. Animation

This is where everything comes to life.

Animators add:

• Character movement
• Camera motion
• Scene transitions
• Motion graphics
• Text animation
• Visual effects
• Timing adjustments

Animation often represents the most labor-intensive phase of production, especially for custom 2D and 3D projects.

7. Audio Production

Great animation deserves equally strong audio.

Audio production may include:

• Professional voiceover recording
• Music licensing
• Sound effects
• Audio cleanup
• Final mixing

High-quality sound dramatically improves viewer engagement and perceived production value.

8. Final Delivery

After revisions are completed, the project is exported into the required formats.

Deliverables may include:

• 4K video
• HD video
• Vertical social media versions
• Square videos
• Captioned versions
• GIFs
• Short teaser clips

Preparing multiple versions during production often saves time compared to recreating them later.

Essential Animated Video Production Resources for Every Stage

Creating a successful animated video requires more than animation software. The right resources can improve quality, accelerate production, and reduce unnecessary revisions.

Consider organizing your production resources into the following categories.

Creative Planning Resources

These help define your strategy before production begins.

Useful resources include:

• Creative brief templates
• Audience persona worksheets
• Brand messaging documents
• Marketing campaign plans
• Competitive analysis

Visual Planning Resources

These help translate ideas into visuals.

Examples include:

• Storyboard templates
• Mood boards
• Color palette references
• Illustration examples
• Character design inspiration

Production Management Resources

Larger animation projects benefit from organized project management.

Helpful tools include:

• Revision trackers
• Approval checklists
• Asset libraries
• Production calendars
• Feedback documents

Keeping everyone organized helps projects stay on schedule.

How to Stay Organized During Animated Video Production

One of the biggest reasons animation projects fall behind schedule is poor organization.

Before production begins, create a central location for all project assets.

This folder might include:

• Brand guidelines
• Logos
• Fonts
• Product screenshots
• Scripts
• Storyboards
• Reference videos
• Music preferences
• Voiceover notes

Providing everything upfront helps your animation team begin work immediately without waiting for missing assets.

Animated Video Production Checklist

Before approving your animation project, review this checklist.

Strategy

✔ Defined target audience

✔ Clear marketing objective

✔ Single primary call-to-action

✔ Approved creative brief

Script

✔ Finalized script

✔ Brand messaging included

✔ Runtime appropriate

✔ Call-to-action confirmed

Storyboard

✔ Every scene reviewed

✔ Visual instructions included

✔ Stakeholder approval completed

✔ Transitions explained

Artwork

✔ Character designs approved

✔ Branding consistent

✔ Product screenshots current

✔ Color palette finalized

Animation

✔ Motion feels natural

✔ Timing matches narration

✔ Scene transitions polished

✔ Text remains readable

Audio

✔ Voiceover approved

✔ Music licensed

✔ Sound effects balanced

✔ Audio mixed correctly

Delivery

✔ Correct resolution

✔ Correct aspect ratios

✔ Captions included if needed

✔ Final quality review completed

Using a checklist like this dramatically reduces the likelihood of overlooked issues before launch.

How to Get More Value from Your Animated Video Production Investment

One of the most overlooked animated video production resources is planning how the finished animation will be reused.

Instead of creating a single video, consider requesting additional deliverables such as:

• 15-second social media ads
• 30-second promotional clips
• GIF animations
• Website hero animations
• Trade show loops
• Email marketing videos
• LinkedIn video snippets
• Vertical versions for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts
• Presentation assets for sales teams

Repurposing a single animation into multiple marketing assets significantly increases your return on investment.

Common Challenges During Animated Video Production (And How to Avoid Them)

Nearly every animation project encounters obstacles, but many are preventable with proper planning.

Some of the most common challenges include:

Unclear Project Goals

Without clearly defined objectives, it’s difficult to determine whether the finished video is successful.

Define success before production begins.

Too Many Revision Requests

Collect feedback from all stakeholders before submitting revisions.

Multiple rounds of conflicting feedback often create unnecessary delays.

Last-Minute Script Changes

Changing the script after illustration or animation has begun often requires extensive rework.

Finalize messaging before production starts whenever possible.

Unrealistic Timelines

High-quality animation takes time.

Planning production several weeks—or even months—ahead of your launch date provides room for thoughtful revisions and quality assurance.

Why Building a Library of Animated Video Production Resources Saves Time

The most efficient marketing teams don’t start every animation project from scratch. Instead, they build a reusable library of animated video production resources that can be leveraged across future projects. This library may include brand guidelines, approved logos, fonts, icon sets, color palettes, voiceover preferences, storyboard templates, creative briefs, production checklists, and examples of previous successful videos.

Over time, these resources reduce onboarding time, improve consistency across campaigns, and make collaboration with animation studios significantly more efficient. Whether you’re producing one animated explainer video each year or dozens of product demos, training videos, and marketing campaigns, maintaining a well-organized collection of production resources helps every future project move faster while maintaining a consistently high level of quality. By investing in reusable workflows and documentation today, you’ll streamline future productions, reduce revision cycles, and maximize the value of every animated video your organization creates.

Resources For The Animated Video Production Process

Script Writing Resources

• How to write a script for an animated video?
• 7 tips to supercharge your explainer video script writing.
• How to turn your script into an animated video?
• Examples of explainer video scripts and how to write a script for an explainer video?
• Free Download: Script Writing Template

Storyboard Creation Resources

• What is a storyboard and why do you need one?
• How to create a storyboard for an animated video?
• How to build a storyboard for an explainer video?
• Free Download: Storyboard Creation Template
• Explainer Video Storyboard Examples
• How to turn your storyboard into an animated video?

Resources To Help You Pick An Animation Producer For Your Project

• 9 Things To Look For When Choosing An Animation Studio
• Tips for hiring an animator.
• How to outsource an animated video project?
• How to hire and work with an animation studio?
• How to hire a video animator?
• What is Video Igniter?
• Why do companies like hiring Video Igniter for their animation projects?

Animated Video Pre-Production Resources

• Before production begins, you’ll want to review the Pre-Production Checklist.
• How to create an animated video?
• Learn about the different styles of animation.
• How to pick the right visual style for your animated video?
• How to turn your idea into an animated video?
• How does the production process work?

Pricing and Budgeting Resources

• Animated Video Pricing – How do I figure out the right option for me?
• How much does animation cost?
• What goes into the cost of an explainer video?
• Tips to create more affordable animation.
• Payment Terms.
• How does Video Igniter’s unlimited revisions policy work?
• Need rush delivery for your animated video?
• How to make animated videos for free?
• How to make a cheap animated explainer video?

Animated Explainer Video Production Resources

• What is an explainer video?
• How long does explainer video production take?
• Explainer Video Tips: The do’s and don’ts of explainer videos.
• Explainer Video Rates
• What goes into the cost of an explainer video?
• Examples of explainer video scripts and how to write a script?
• Explainer video storyboard examples

Animation Production Resources

• How to get production started on your animated video?
• Learn the animation production workflow
• How to review your animated video and project assets?
• What is the production process like?
• How does Video Igniter’s unlimited revisions policy work?
• Need rush delivery for your animated video?

Audio Resources

• How to record your own professional sounding voiceover for free.
• How to pick a great soundtrack for your animated video?

Post Production Resources

Sales and Marketing Animated Video Production Resources

• 6 ways to get high viewer engagement from your animated videos.
• How to interpret your explainer video statistics.
• What are the benefits of using animated videos with your digital marketing?
• How to use video to improve your sales and marketing?
• Learn how to add animation to video.

Miscellaneous Production Resources

• 6 Reasons Your Tech Startup Should Make An Animated Explainer Video.
• How does Video Igniter’s unlimited revisions policy work?
• Need rush delivery for your animated video?
• What are the different types of online animated video makers?
• Learn all about 2D animated videos!
• Learn all about 3D animation.
• Learn about 2D animation studios.
• Check out Video Igniter’s Help Center.
• Last but not least, you can learn about the various types of 3D animation makers here.

Animated Video Production Resource Questions?

Do you have a question or are you looking for an animated video production resource that’s not listed here? Use this form to contact us with your question.

You can also check out our updated list of +160 free resources to help you create animated videos.

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 animation or 3D animated video you can imagine.

Check out our animated video portfolio! Need help syndicating your animated video? Ask us about video promotion.

Watch our explainer video to learn more about how we can help you create an animated video for your business or check out our demo reel below.

 

Looking For Animated Video Production Company In The U.S.?

Video Igniter is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Animated Video Success Stories & Testimonials

“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

“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.”

Anonymous Customer Feedback

Get in touch!

Schedule a call to discuss your animated video project.

Get a quote for us to create your animation.

Request access to our newest price sheet.

Create your Video Igniter account, fill out a creative brief and we’ll start making your custom animation.

If you’re wondering how long does it take to make an animated explainer video, you’re in the right place!

Each stage of the production process takes a different amount of time. The length of your video and complexity of the illustrations and motion design also factors in.  This outline presents a breakdown of what to expect during the explainer video production process. You’ll also learn how long each stage of the production process takes.

Explainer Video Production Process Timeline

1. Pre-Production
2. Script
3. Storyboard
4. Voiceover + Auditions
5. Soundtrack
6. Concept Art
7. Illustrations
8. Animation

If you have a question about the animated explainer video production process that isn’t answered in this article, you can use our contact form to ask your question or click the image below to with a member of our production team:

Pre-Production

Before you start looking for an animation studio or freelancer to make your custom animated video, spend some time getting clear about what kind of animation you want to create. We created a guide to help you think through the important details. Once you’ve spent some time identifying the important criteria, you’ll be better prepared to pick out a video animator that can produce the video you want, within your desired budget and timeline.

After you’ve hired a 2D animation studio or Video Igniter to produce your video, we will send you a questionnaire to learn more about your video.

While you’re in the pre-production stage, you should also spend some time organizing files like fonts, logos, icons, branding documents and more.

Not sure which animation style is right for your video?  Read out our pros and cons list to learn what’s involved with producing different styles of animated videos:

Script

Under a normal production timeline, the script writing phase takes about 1 week for an animated video that’s 1 minute long. After the animator learns about your video idea, they will take 1-3 days to create the first draft of the script.

When the first draft is ready, take a day or two to review the script and organize your feedback for the production team. Once the writer receives your feedback, they can typically turn around a revised script in 24 hrs or less. Scripts typically take 1-3 rounds of edits to get to the final draft.

If you are writing the script yourself, allow 1-2 weeks for your team to review it and contribute their feedback. Ensure everyone has approved the script before you share it with your production team.

Storyboard

The next step of the explainer video production process is to turn the script into a storyboard. A storyboard is a document that explains what visuals and what motion design needs to happen during every sentence of your script. It’s essentially a blueprint for the design and animation teams so that they know what to create. 

A storyboard for a 1-2 minute video typically takes 1-4 days to produce. Then, it takes about 2-3 days to review the storyboard with the client and incorporate their edits.

You can save money on your production budget by creating your own storyboard. To learn how to create your own storyboard, check out this companion article.  We also have a free storyboard template and storyboard creation guide which you can access here:

VoiceOver + Auditions

Once your storyboard is approved, the next step of the animated explainer video production process is to get voiceover auditions for you to review. It takes about 1-3 business days to get voiceover auditions recorded and delivered from multiple artists. You should take a day or two to review the options with your team. Then, notify your animator about which audition is your favorite option. Tell your animation team if you want the voiceover artist to modify their tone when recording the full voiceover.

Your animation team will then get the full voiceover recorded in 1-3 business days. When the VO is ready to review, give it a detailed listen with your team. If you love the voiceover as is, let your animation team know. Otherwise, send them detailed feedback so that the voiceover artist will know which parts to rerecord. Provide specific instructions about how you want them to change the timing, energy or inflection used. It is also helpful to list what time in the recording the changes need to be made.

If you want to save time and a little money on your production budget, check out this video we made with tips on how to record your own professional sounding voiceover – even if you don’t have a studio or a professional microphone.

Soundtrack

Your animation team will also help select soundtracks that will enhance the presentation of your animated video. If you love one of the options, we’ll purchase the broadcast rights. Otherwise, we can select new options or wait until the first draft of your animated video is ready to view. That way, you can preview the video while listening to the different soundtrack options to feel which one is best.

Check out this guide to learn more about where to find soundtracks for your animated video.

Concept Art

After your storyboard is approved, the next phase of the explainer video production process is to create the concept art for your video. Depending on the size of your budget, you can expect to receive 1-5 different visual concepts showing how one scene of your animated video can be designed. This typically takes 2-5 days depending on the # of samples being created and the level of detail used in your animation.  

Once you receive your concept art, take a day or two to review the concepts with your team. Let your design team know which style you prefer. If you want to make visual refinements to the styleframe, now’s the time to speak up.  If you like design elements from multiple concepts, tell your design team. They can combine the best design elements into a single visual concept for you to review and approve. This typically takes another day or two for the designers to create and then run by you for approval.

Illustrations

Now that your concept art is approved, the designers will create the rest of the art for your video. It takes about one week to create all of the art for a one minute animated video. Give your illustrations a thorough and detailed review. It’s important you are happy with the art before animation begins. If you love it as-is, let them you know you approve the art. Otherwise, submit your feedback to the design team and wait 1-3 days for the update. It’s not uncommon to do a 2nd round of edits on the illustrations for an additional layer of polish.

Animation

When the art, soundtrack and voiceover are approved, the animation team will start animating your video. One animator can animate about one minute of 2D animated content in one week. Revisions can typically be turned around in 1-2 days after the animator receives your feedback.

When you receive the first draft of their video, circulate the first draft among your stakeholders. It’s a good idea to get different people’s impressions and feedback. This way, when you come back with your list of edits, all the ideas are consolidated and can be addressed at once. Going through multiple rounds of revisions at this stage will likely increase your final production cost and the amount of time it takes to get your animation completed.

Post-Production

The final stage of the animated explainer video production process is called, “Post-Production.”  Post-Production includes adding little details like sound effects, or rendering out multiple versions of the video with slight variations (perhaps you want to show a different business location’s address at the end of each video). These kinds of edits are typically simple and take 1-2 days to process after the final draft draft is approved.

Client Expectations and How to Set Realistic Timelines

Setting clear and realistic timelines for animated explainer videos is crucial to ensure the project progresses smoothly and meets both the client’s and the production team’s expectations. Often, clients may not be aware of the time commitment required for each stage of the process, from initial scriptwriting to final animation tweaks.

To avoid delays, it’s important to communicate the different phases of the project clearly. For example, the time spent on feedback rounds and revisions should be factored in early on. Be transparent about potential delays and set clear milestones so that both parties are on the same page.

By establishing a realistic production schedule upfront, both the animation studio and the client can ensure a smooth workflow and a timely delivery, reducing the risk of rushed decisions that could compromise quality.

The Impact of Animation Style on Production Time

The animation style chosen for an explainer video can significantly impact the production timeline. Simple 2D animations often take less time to produce compared to more complex 3D or motion graphics. A simple character animation might require fewer frames and less detailed design work, while a high-quality 3D animation requires detailed modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering, which takes more time. Additionally, motion graphics with advanced visual effects may involve intricate sequencing and rendering, adding extra production time.

When deciding on the animation style, it’s essential for clients to understand that more elaborate animation styles typically require more time to complete. For businesses looking to meet tight deadlines, opting for a simpler style can help keep the production time shorter while still delivering a high-quality video.

VoiceOver and Audio Considerations

VoiceOvers and sound design are integral components of any animated explainer video, and they play a crucial role in setting the tone of your video. The process of selecting a voice actor, recording the voiceover, and synchronizing it with the animation can add a significant amount of time to the production timeline. Additionally, clients may need to be involved in reviewing and approving the voiceover before finalizing the audio.

Factors like accent, tone, and pacing can all affect the time spent in this phase. Furthermore, sound design, which includes background music, sound effects, and audio mixing, also takes time to perfect. Clients should be prepared for the time it takes to incorporate these elements and ensure that all audio elements align perfectly with the visuals for a seamless final product.

Time for Iterations and Explainer Video Revisions

An animated explainer video typically goes through several iterations and rounds of revisions. After the initial draft is created, the client will usually provide feedback on elements such as animation, pacing, and overall messaging.

The number of revision rounds can greatly impact the overall timeline, so it’s important for both the animation team and the client to agree on the expected number of revisions beforehand. To ensure a quicker turnaround, clients should provide clear, constructive feedback rather than vague or general comments. This allows the animation team to make precise adjustments, rather than spending time trying to interpret unclear instructions. By planning for at least two or three rounds of revisions and setting realistic expectations about feedback time, clients can avoid unnecessary delays.

Pre-Production Time and Its Importance

Pre-production is a crucial phase in the creation of an animated explainer video, and it can often be the most time-consuming. During this phase, the script is written, the storyboard is developed, and the overall concept for the video is fleshed out.

Clients should understand that skipping or rushing through pre-production can lead to inefficiencies later on in the process. A well-developed script, storyboard, and plan will help ensure that the animation is aligned with the desired message and tone, reducing the likelihood of major revisions later.

Furthermore, the pre-production phase allows the animation team to establish a clear timeline and budget, which sets expectations for the remainder of the project. Clients who invest the necessary time in this phase can enjoy a smoother production process and a more effective final video.

Hiring Freelancers vs. Agencies For Your Explainer Video

When choosing between freelancers and agencies for animated explainer video production, it’s important to understand how each option affects the project timeline. Freelancers often have a more flexible schedule and may be able to start and complete a project faster than a larger agency.

However, agencies typically offer a more structured process, with specialized teams handling different parts of the production. This can lead to a higher-quality final product, but it may take longer, as the agency may need more time to coordinate various departments (e.g., animation, sound design, voiceovers).

For clients working with tight deadlines, freelancers may be an attractive option, but for more complex projects requiring specialized skills, an agency might be worth the additional time and investment.

The Role of Feedback in Speeding Up Production

Providing structured and timely feedback is one of the best ways to speed up the production process of an animated explainer video. Delays in receiving feedback or unclear instructions can cause the animation team to spend valuable time revising work that doesn’t meet the client’s expectations.

To avoid unnecessary back-and-forth, clients should provide specific feedback on each aspect of the video, from visuals to pacing to messaging. The more precise and prompt the feedback, the faster the production team can implement the changes, resulting in a quicker turnaround for the final video.

Cultural and Linguistic Considerations in Global Projects

For businesses creating animated explainer videos for a global audience, cultural and linguistic considerations can add additional time to the production process. Localization involves translating the video script, adapting the animation for different cultural contexts, and sometimes even adjusting the voiceover to reflect different accents or dialects.

This process ensures that the video resonates with audiences in different regions while maintaining the integrity of the original message. Clients should factor in the time it takes to localize content when planning their production timeline. Depending on the number of languages and regions involved, localization can add a few weeks to the project timeline, so it’s essential to plan accordingly.

Tracking Progress and Managing Timelines with Project Management Software

Using project management software can greatly improve communication and help track the progress of an animated explainer video project. Tools like Trello, Asana, or Monday.com allow both clients and the animation team to set deadlines, track milestones, and communicate in real-time. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page throughout the production process.

Project management software can also help identify potential delays early on, allowing teams to make adjustments to the schedule before they become bigger issues. Clients who use these tools are more likely to stay informed about their project’s progress and can quickly address any roadblocks that arise.

Finalizing and Distributing the Video

Once the animation is completed, there are still a few crucial steps before the video is ready for distribution. The final steps include exporting the video in different formats (such as MP4, MOV, or AVI) for different platforms, performing a quality check to ensure there are no errors, and optimizing the video for web usage. Depending on the platforms where the video will be distributed (e.g., YouTube, social media, website embedding), certain adjustments might be necessary, such as adjusting the video size, aspect ratio, or adding captions. Clients should factor in time for these final steps when planning the project timeline. Having a clear plan for distribution ensures that the video will be properly optimized for the audience and platforms, leading to a successful launch.

Explainer Video Production Timeline by Project Type

When businesses ask, “How long does it take to make an animated explainer video?”, they’re often surprised to learn there isn’t a universal answer. The production timeline depends heavily on the type of video you’re creating, the complexity of the visuals, and how many people are involved in reviewing the project.

Below are some general production timelines for different types of animated videos.

Simple Motion Graphics Videos

These projects typically include:

• Animated icons
• Text animations
• Basic transitions
• Limited custom illustrations

Average timeline:

2-4 weeks

These projects are ideal for startups, product announcements, and internal communications because they require fewer custom assets.

2D Character Explainer Videos

Most marketing explainer videos fall into this category.

Production usually includes:

• Script writing
• Storyboarding
• Character design
• Custom illustrations
• Voiceover
• Animation
• Sound design

Average timeline:

4-8 weeks

This allows enough time for revisions throughout each production milestone while maintaining high visual quality.

3D Animated Explainer Videos

3D production introduces several additional stages including:

• 3D modeling
• Rigging
• Lighting
• Texturing
• Rendering
• Simulation

Average timeline:

8-16+ weeks

Highly detailed product visualizations, medical animations, and architectural animations often require even longer production schedules.

Whiteboard Animation

Whiteboard videos generally involve fewer design decisions than fully illustrated animations.

Average timeline:

2-5 weeks

Because the illustration style is relatively simple, production can often move faster.

Training & Educational Videos

Training videos are frequently longer than marketing videos.

Although the animation style may be simple, longer runtimes naturally increase production time.

Average timeline:

6-12 weeks

Large employee onboarding projects may be delivered in phases rather than all at once.

What Causes Delays During Explainer Video Production?

Most production delays don’t happen because animation is slow.

Instead, delays usually occur during communication and approvals.

Here are the most common reasons production timelines expand.

Delayed Client Feedback

Animation teams often cannot begin the next stage until the current stage has been approved.

For example:

• Storyboard approval
• Concept art approval
• Voiceover approval
• Illustration approval
• Animation approval

If feedback takes several days—or several weeks—to arrive after each milestone, the project timeline can grow considerably.

Whenever possible, gather feedback from all stakeholders before sending revision requests to your animation studio.

Too Many Decision Makers

Projects involving multiple departments often take longer.

Marketing may want one thing.

Sales may request another.

Leadership may have additional revisions.

Legal may require compliance updates.

Consolidating everyone’s comments into one revision request saves significant time throughout production.

Scope Changes

One of the biggest production delays occurs when the project changes after work has already begun.

Examples include:

• Rewriting the script
• Adding new scenes
• Changing animation styles
• Updating branding
• Introducing new products
• Replacing screenshots

Even small changes can affect multiple production stages.

For example, adding one sentence to the script may require:

• Storyboard updates
• New illustrations
• Additional voiceover recording
• Extra animation
• Updated sound effects

Finalizing your messaging before production starts helps prevent these delays.

How to Speed Up Explainer Video Production

If your business has an important launch date approaching, there are several ways to shorten the production schedule.

Prepare Your Brand Assets Early

Before production begins, gather everything your animation team will need.

Examples include:

• Logo files
• Brand guidelines
• Fonts
• Product screenshots
• UI mockups
• Company colors
• Existing illustrations
• Photography

Having these assets ready eliminates unnecessary waiting later.

Finalize the Script First

The script influences nearly every stage of production.

Illustrations, voiceover, animation, and timing all depend on having an approved script.

Resist the temptation to continue editing the script after production begins.

Assign One Project Owner

Rather than having multiple people communicate directly with the animation team, designate one person to:

• Collect internal feedback
• Resolve conflicting opinions
• Submit consolidated revisions
• Approve milestones

This greatly improves communication efficiency.

Schedule Review Meetings in Advance

Many projects lose days simply waiting for stakeholders to schedule review meetings.

Instead, schedule milestone reviews before production begins.

For example:

• Script review
• Storyboard review
• Concept art review
• Illustration review
• Animation review

Having review dates already on everyone’s calendar keeps the project moving.

Why Rushing an Explainer Video Can Increase Costs

Businesses occasionally ask whether an animation can be completed in just a week or two.

While rush production is sometimes possible, it often increases production costs.

Rush projects may require:

• Multiple designers working simultaneously
• Evening or weekend production
• Expedited voiceover recording
• Priority rendering
• Overtime for animators

More resources are needed to compress the schedule without sacrificing quality.

Whenever possible, begin production several months before your planned launch.

To learn more about rush delivery, you can read Video Igniter’s companion article about rush delivery animation.

Questions to Ask Before Starting Your Animation Project

Before hiring an animation studio, ask these questions to better estimate your timeline.

• How many revision rounds are included?
• How quickly should we provide feedback?
• What happens if our deadline changes?
• Will one project manager oversee production?
• How frequently will we receive progress updates?
• What files should we prepare before kickoff?
• Can multiple production stages happen simultaneously?
• Is there a rush production option if needed?

Understanding these expectations early helps prevent scheduling surprises later.

Sample Timeline for a 60-Second Animated Explainer Video

While every project is unique, a typical production schedule might look something like this:

Week 1

• Creative brief
• Discovery meeting
• Script writing

Week 2

• Script revisions
• Storyboard creation

Week 3

• Storyboard approval
• Voiceover auditions
• Concept art

Week 4

• Final voice recording
• Illustration production

Week 5

• Illustration review
• Animation begins

Week 6

• First animation draft
• Client revisions

Week 7

• Final animation polish
• Sound effects
• Music mixing
• Exporting final deliverables

Projects with longer runtimes or more sophisticated animation styles naturally require additional time.

Planning Ahead Leads to Faster, Better Explainer Videos

The answer to “How long does it take to make an animated explainer video?” depends on far more than the length of the finished video. Factors like animation style, project complexity, stakeholder feedback, revision cycles, asset preparation, and production scheduling all influence the timeline.

The most successful projects are typically the ones that begin with careful planning. Businesses that finalize their messaging early, organize their brand assets, provide prompt feedback, and work collaboratively with their animation studio often experience a smoother production process and faster delivery. Rather than focusing solely on speed, aim for a production schedule that provides enough time for thoughtful creative development and quality assurance. A well-planned explainer video not only launches on time but also delivers stronger messaging, better viewer engagement, and a higher return on investment for years after it’s published.

Animated Explainer Video Production Resources

Now that you can answer the question, “how long does it take to make an animated explainer video,” here are some additional resources that will help you turn your idea into a custom animated explainer video:

• How to make video animations
• What explainer video services does Video Igniter offer?
• How much does it cost to hire an explainer video production company?
• How to make a 3D explainer video
• What is it like work with an animated explainer video company?

What is Video Igniter Animation?

Video Igniter is an animated video production company that creates 2D and 3D videos. Check out our animated video portfolio to see our latest and greatest creations!

Interested in learning about pricing for your video project? Request access to our pricing page here.

 

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