Hire A 2D Animator

Hire A 2D Animator

Do you want to hire a 2D animator to make a custom animated video but aren’t sure how or where to get started?

You’re in the right place!

Video Igniter’s guide to hiring and working with a 2D animator will answer all of your top questions, including:

  • Where can I hire a 2D animator?
  • How much does it cost to hire a 2D animator?
  • How do I work with a 2D animator to make my video?
  • What should I look for when I hire a 2D animator?
  • How long does it take a 2D animator to make custom video?

Answers to all these questions and more are coming up in this comprehensive guide, including tips to help you save 10%-25% or more off your production budget! But first, before we get to all that, let’s take a look at examples of the types of animations you can create when you hire one of Video Igniter’s 2D animators.

2D Animator 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.

Where can I hire a 2D animator?

Where can I hire a 2D animator

Your best options for finding a 2D animator are to look on Google, YouTube, Instagram and portfolio websites like Dribbble and Behance.

When you evaluate animators for your project, we recommend you look beyond their animation portfolio. Do their animations effectively convey their key messages? Does the animator have positive reviews? Are revisions included the price?

For more tips on finding and hiring the right animator for your project, we recommend checking out this companion article.

How much does it cost to hire a 2D animator?

hire a 2d animator cost

If you want to hire a 2D animator by the hour, you can spend between $10-$100/hour (and you get what you pay for!) These days, most 2D animators are hired on a flat-rate basis. Expect to spend between $1,750-$7,500 to create 60-seconds worth of 2D animated content.

High end 2D animation (known as cel animation or hand drawn animation) will cost more than $7,500 to create 1 minute of animation.

Here are 4 ways you can get a quote to hire one of Video Igniter’s 2D animators for your video project:

Deep Dive: How To Estimate Your Animation Cost

How do I work with a 2D animator to make my video?

When you’re ready to hire one of Video Igniter’s 2D animators, we will guide you through the following steps to help you turn your idea into a custom animated video.

1). Contact Us For A Quote

Get in touch with our team by scheduling a call or sending us a message so we can learn about your project and you can evaluate if we are a good fit to make your 2D animation.

hire a 2d animator quote

Our producers will take the time to learn what you want to accomplish with your video by asking a series of questions about your key messages and your target audience. Then, we’ll come up with a plan to determine which visual style is best for your animation budget.

From there, you will receive a production contract to sign and an invoice for 50% of the cost of hiring one of our 2D animators to create your video. Once that’s squared away, production begins!

2). Script

hire a 2d animator script

Now that production is underway, the 2D animator will spend time learning more about the key message(s) you want to include in your video. Then, they will oversee the creation of the script for your 2D video.

You will be given a copy of the script to review with your team. Add your comments directly to the document and the 2D animator will revise your script accordingly.

If the 2nd draft of your script needs further revisions, let us know and we’ll continue to work with you to polish your script until it’s perfect.

3). Storyboard

hire a 2d animator storyboard

Next, the 2D animator will turn your script into a storyboard. The storyboard functions like a blueprint for your animation. It’s a way to get consensus with the animator about what will be shown in each scene of your video.

Each page of the storyboard includes:

  • A sentence from your script.
  • A mockup of the scene.
  • And list of instructions that explains what will happen in each scene.

You will get a digital copy of the storyboard to review with your team. Add your notes directly to the storyboard and then the animator will revise your storyboard accordingly. You will get an opportunity to review the 2nd draft of the storyboard and request additional edits, if needed.

4). VoiceOver

voiceover

After the storyboard is approved, you will receive multiple voiceover auditions to listen to. Let us know which one is your favorite and we will hire that person to record the full voiceover for your 2D animation. When the recording is ready, you will get an opportunity to listen to the audio and request edits (if needed).

5). Soundtrack

soundtrack

You will also receive a selection of soundtrack options for your 2D animation. Give them a listen and let us know which one is your favorite. We will take care of acquiring the appropriate broadcast and commercial licenses so we can legally use the music in your video.

6). Illustrations

Now it’s time to create the illustrations for your 2D animation. The 2D animator you hired will begin by creating multiple pieces of concept art for your video. To get started, they will review your style references and brand guidelines you shared at the beginning of the production process. Then they will select a few scenes from your storyboard and create concept art for those scenes.

hire a 2d animator concept art

Share your honest feedback about the concept art. Let the animator know what you like and dislike about each concept. This way the animator can polish your favorite piece of concept art until it’s perfect.

After the concept art has approved, the 2D animator will create the rest of the illustrations for your videos so they match the concept art. You will get an opportunity to review all of the illustrations and requested edits before we animate your video.

7). Animation

hire a 2d animator animation

After everything is approved, it’s time to animate your video. The 3D animator will line up all the illustrations they created with the timing of the voiceover. Then they will animate each scene and render out the first draft of your video.

Give the animation through a review. We recommend sharing it with members of your target audience to collect a wide range of feedback. After you organize everyone’s feedback, send it our way so the 2D animator can integrate your revisions. Once you receive the second draft of your animation give another review and let us know if there any final edits you want us to make.

Once the animation is approved, we will take another day to add subtle sound effects and master the audio levels for your video so it’s ready for showtime.

What should I look for when I hire a 2D animator?

hire a 2d animator checklist

Before you hire a 2D animator, we recommend evaluating them based on the following criteria:

1). Animation Portfolio

Review the 2D animator’s portfolio to see if they can produce animations similar to the style and quality you envision for your video. It’s ok if they don’t have an exact match. Evaluate their use of color, overall design and movement quality.

2). Storytelling Ability

Lots of animators can make beautiful 2D animations. Not all 2D animators are expert storytellers. Before you hire a 2D animator, make sure you evaluate the ability of their videos to tell good stories. Do their videos feel like they will resonate with the video’s target audience?

3). Reviews & Testimonials

reviews testimonials

Check to see if the animator has any reviews or testimonials. Don’t hesitate to ask for references you can call before hiring the 2D animator.

4). Pricing & Edits

Of course, you’ll want to get a quote for your project before you commit to hiring the 2D animator. When you get a quote, be sure to ask how many revisions are included in the price. Some animators only include 1-2 rounds. Video Igniter offers unlimited revisions for certain projects.

How long does it take a 2D animator to make custom video?

hire a 2d animator production timeline

If you’re starting from scratch and don’t have a script for your 2D animation, the production process can take 4-6 weeks to create a 60 second animation. High end hand drawn animations will take a few extra weeks to complete.

Need to speed up the production process? Send us a message and ask us about rush delivery for your video.

Tips To Save $ When You Hire A 2D Animator

hire a 2d animator budget saving tips

Combine these tips to save 10%-25% or more off the cost of hiring one of Video Igniter’s 2D animators for your project.

1). Write the Script

You can save $500 off the price of each minute of content we produce for you if you write the script for your 2D animated video. Need help writing the script? Download our free script template.

script template

2). Use Free (Legal) Music

If you have a song you want us to use in your video, send it to us and we’ll deduct music licensing costs from your production budget.

Looking for good sources of free music? Check out Incompetech and Facebook’s sound collection.

3). Record Your Own VoiceOver

If you provide the voiceover for your 2D animated video, we’ll deduct voiceover recording and licensing costs from your production budget. Watch 1:31 in this video to see how easy it is to record a professional sounding voiceover at home for free without having to buy any expensive software or equipment.

4). Create The Storyboard

You can save an additional $500 off the price of each minute of content we create for you if you create the storyboard for your 2D animation. Download Video Igniter’s free storyboard template and review the included storyboard creation guide to see how easy it is to make.

storyboard diagram

5). Start Production ASAP

You can save 10%-25% or more off your production budget if you start production sooner than you anticipate. Rush delivery is available if you need to speed up the production process to meet a deadline. However, it can increase your budget by at least 10%. If you want to avoid paying extra for rush delivery, send us a message today or schedule a call with our team to discuss hiring one of our 2D animators for your project.

Still have questions about hiring a 2D animator?

Do you have a question about hiring a 2D animator 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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