Hand Drawn Animation

Hand Drawn Animation

Do you want to work with an animator or an animation studio to create a custom designed hand drawn animation? If so, you’re in the right place! Video Igniter is the easiest way to make professional quality hand drawn animations. Don’t worry if you don’t have any video production experience. Our team will guide you through the entire process to make your custom hand drawn animation.

So how does it work?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll answer all of your top questions, including:

  • How can I make a hand drawn animation with Video Igniter?
  • How much does it cost to make a hand drawn animation?
  • What sort of timeline is needed to create a hand drawn animation?

Answers to all these questions and more are coming up in this guide – including tips to help you save 10%-25% or more off the cost of making your hand drawn animation. But first, let’s take a look at examples of hand drawn animations that Video Igniter’s team can make for you.

Hand Drawn Animation Examples

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

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









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

What is hand drawn animation?

hand drawn animation illustrator

Hand drawn animation is a style of animation that’s created by individually drawing motion design details for each frame in the video. Modern computer animation enables animators to use software to automatically add motion design to illustrations which speeds up the production process. Hand drawn animation requires more time to create all of the individual frames with humans which leads to a more natural looking motion design.

Often times, hand drawn animation is now done on a computer. Even though the art may not look like it was drawn on pencil and paper, the individual movement of characters or elements in each scene can be drawn in frame by frame to create realistic organic movements.

Hand drawn animation is also referred to as “Traditional Animation,” “Frame by Frame Animation” and “Cel-Animation.”

How can I make a hand drawn animation with Video Igniter?

When you’re ready to create a hand drawn animation, Video Igniter will guide you through these 7 steps to create your dream video:

1). Get A Quote

Before production begins, let’s get in touch to discuss your video project and goals (send us a message or schedule a call). Video Igniter’s production team will work with you virtually to learn about the hand drawn animation you want us to create. Once we agree to the scope for the project, we will develop a budget and a production timeline to make your video.

hand drawn animation quote

You will receive a production agreement to sign and an invoice for the first 50% of your production budget.

2). Script

hand drawn animation script

After we receive your signed production agreement and the first half of your production budget, our writers will meet with you virtually to learn more about what you want to communicate in your hand drawn animation. We like to ask the following types of questions:

  • What are the key messages you want to include in your animation?
  • What do you want us to show in your animation?
  • Who is your target audience?
  • What problems do they experience?
  • What do you want viewers to do when they’re done watching your animation?

From there, we’ll develop the first draft of your video’s script. You will receive a digital copy of the script which you can review with your team. Add your feedback directly on the script document and let us know when everyone has finished adding their notes. Then, our writers will revise your script and share the 2nd draft with you to review and approve.

If additional edits are needed, we will continue to work with you to revise and polish your script until it’s perfect.

3). Storyboard

hand drawn animation storyboard

Following the approval of your script, our storyboard artists will turn your script into a storyboard. The storyboard functions like a blueprint of your hand drawn animation. It’s essentially a rough draft of your entire animation. Each page of the storyboard includes:

  • A sentence from your script.
  • A rough sketch of the scene.
  • Instructions that explain how elements will move in the scene.

You will receive a digital copy of the storyboard to review with your team. We recommend focusing on the visual storytelling elements we developed. Do the visual storytelling elements help the viewer understand the key messages in your script? Are there key visual details we need to show that aren’t currently included in the storyboard?

Add your feedback directly on the storyboard and let us know when you’ve finished adding your notes. Our sketch artists will integrate your edits and then share the 2nd draft of the storyboard for you to review and sign off. If additional edits are needed, we’ll continue to work with you to polish your storyboard until you love it.

4). VoiceOver

voiceover

Once your storyboard is approved, we’ll begin working on the voiceover, soundtrack and illustrations for your hand drawn animation.

For starters, you will receive a selection of voiceover auditions for your animation. Give them a listen and let us know which voiceover artist is your favorite. We’ll hire that person to record the full voiceover for your animation and acquire the appropriate license(s) for the recording so we can legally use it when we make your hand drawn animation.

When the recording is ready, you will receive a link to give it a listen. Let us know if there are any parts you’d like to revise and we’ll coordinate with the voiceover artist to get those parts rerecorded.

5). Soundtrack

soundtrack

Our team will hand pick a selection of songs that we can use in your hand drawn animation to enhance the presentation of key moments in your video. Give the music a listen and let us know which option is your favorite.

We’ll take care of acquiring the appropriate license(s) so we can legally use the music when we make your animation.

6). Illustrations

Creating illustrations for a hand drawn animation is one of the longest phases of the production process. To get things started, our art director will review your brand guidelines and any visual style references you may have shared.

hand drawn animation concept art

From there, the art director will select a few scenes from your storyboard and use them to develop multiple pieces of concept art.

When you receive the concepts, give them a thoughtful and honest review. Let the art director know what you like and dislike about each visual concept. This way, the art director can work with you to revise and polish your favorite visual concept until it’s perfect!

After you sign off on the concept art, the art director will lead the illustration team while they create art for all of the key frames in your hand drawn animation. You will get an opportunity to review all of the art and request edits before we proceed to create the full animation.

7). Animation

hand drawn animation animator

Now that everything is approved, it’s time to create your hand drawn animation. Video Igniter’s illustrators and animators will line up all of the key illustrations for your video so they match up with the timing of the voiceover. Then, the artists will create all of the remaining illustrations that happen in between the key frames. Creating all of these in between illustrations is what makes your animation come to life.

When the first draft is ready, you will receive a link to download a watermarked copy of your hand drawn animation. Give the animation a thorough review with your internal team and members of your target audience.

Collect everyone’s revision notes and send them to us. We’ll integrate your revisions and render out the 2nd draft of your hand drawn animation. If additional edits are needed, let us know and we’ll take care of them.

After you approve the animation, our sound team will take an extra day or two to add subtle sound effects to your animation.  They’ll also spend a little time balancing the audio levels so the music, voiceover and sound effects all sound loud and clear.

At this point, you will receive the final invoice for your hand drawn animation. After the invoice is paid, you will receive a link to download the final, unwatermarked version of your animation.

How much does it cost to make a hand drawn animation?

hand drawn animation cost

Hand drawn animations typically cost between $7,500-$25,000 to create each minute of video content. To put that into perspective, modern 2D computer animation usually costs $1,750-$7,500 to create each minute of video content.

The difference in price is due to the large number of hours required to create hand drawn animations. This style of animation requires more time and more illustrators to create each individual frame that’s used in the video. Modern 2D animation takes less time to produce because computer animation software can be used to speed up the process of animating all the elements that move.

Here are 4 ways you can get a quote for your hand drawn animation:

1). Send us a message.

2). Fill out this questionnaire.

3). Schedule a call with our production team.

4). Request access to our pricing page.

How long does it take to create a hand drawn animation?

hand drawn animation production timeline

A 60-second hand drawn animation will take 6-10 weeks to create. If you have a deadline that’s coming up quickly, send us a message and ask us about rush delivery animation. We’ll work with you to develop a plan to create your animation quickly.

That being said, we always recommend starting production as soon as possible to minimize the need for rush delivery.

How to save money when you make a hand drawn animation?

hand drawn animation budget saving tips

Combine these tips to save 10%-25% or more off your production budget when you hire Video Igniter or another animation studio to create your hand drawn animation:

1). Write The Script

Writing the script for your hand drawn animation earns you a discount of $500 off the price of each minute of animation we produce for you. Download our script template for help writing your script. The template provides recommendations for ways to structure your video’s script.

hand drawn animation script template

2). Create The Storyboard

Creating the storyboard for your hand drawn animation earns you an additional discount of $500 off the price of each minute of video content we produce for you. Download our storyboard template and check out the included storyboard creation guide to see how easy it is to create a storyboard. No artistic ability needed.

hand drawn animation storyboard diagram

3). Record The VoiceOver

If you record the voiceover for your hand drawn animation, we’ll deduct voiceover recording and licensing costs from your production budget.

4). Use Free, Legal Music

Sites like Incompetech and Facebook’s sound collection offer large libraries of free music that we can use in your hand drawn animation. If you find a free song you want us to use in your animation, we’ll deduct music licensing costs from your animation budget.

5). Start Production ASAP

Rush delivery is available if you need to speed up the production process to meet your deadline. However, rush delivery can increase your production budget by 10%-25% or more! If you want to minimize or avoid paying extra for rush delivery, schedule a call with our production team ASAP or send us a message so we can start discussing the production plan for your hand drawn animation.

Hand Drawn Animation Production Resources

hand drawn animation production resources

These resources are popular among people reading and researching about ways to produce a hand drawn animation:

How To Make Custom Animated Videos

What Is Traditional Animation?

How To Hire An Animation Studio?

What Style of Animation Should I Use For My Video?

How To Make A Whiteboard Animation

Still have questions about hand drawn animations?

Do you have a question about hand drawn animation 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.

questions

What is Video Igniter Animation?

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

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

 

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

Video Igniter is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Success Stories & Testimonials

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

“Couldn’t be happier with Derek and his team. The quality of the work for the cost far exceeded expectations and surpasses anything in the market. Derek was patient, offered many revisions, and was overall great to work with.”

Alex Novick – Founder, Sproutly.com

“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

testimonials

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.

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