How To Make Cartoon Animation

Are you researching animation options because you want to learn how to make a cartoon animation? Video Igniter’s guide to making cartoon animations has answers to all your top questions including:

• How much does it cost to make cartoon animation?
• How do I make a cartoon animation with a professional animation team?
• How long does it take to make cartoon animation?

All that and more coming up in this comprehensive guide – including tips to help you save $1,000 or more off your production budget when you hire an animation producer to make a cartoon animation. But first, let’s take a look at examples of cartoon animations that Video Igniter can create for you:

Cartoon Animation Examples

Video Igniter can make any kind of 2D or 3D cartoon 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.

How To Make Cartoon Animation With A Professional Animation Team

We’re going to show you how to make a cartoon animation when you hire Video Igniter or another production company. Follow these steps to turn your idea into a custom animated cartoon – even if you have zero video production experience.

1). Contact Us For A Quote

To start making your cartoon animation, send us a message about your project and we’ll help you generate a production quote. It’s helpful to include the following types of information:

• What kind of cartoon do you want to make?
• How quickly do you want to the final draft of your cartoon animation?
• Will you be providing the script and or the storyboard for your cartoon animation?
• How long is the cartoon animation (and how many episodes do you want to make?)

Once we agree to scope and budget for your cartoon animation, you will receive a production agreement to sign and an invoice for the first 50% of your production budget.

2). Script

Now that production is underway, we’ll develop the first draft of the script for your cartoon animation. Our writers will spend some time learning what kind of story you want to tell, who your target audience is and what sorts of characters you want to include in your animation.

As soon as the first draft is ready, you will receive a link to review a digital copy of your script. Add your comments directly to the document and we’ll integrate your revisions and polish your script until it’s perfect.

3). Storyboard

Next, we turn your script into a storyboard. The storyboard acts like a blueprint when we make your cartoon animation. It tells our illustrators how to make each scene for your cartoon animation. It also tells our animators how to animate each scene of your cartoon.

You will receive a digital copy of the script to review with your team. Add your revision notes to each slide of the storyboard (as needed). We’ll integrate your revisions and polish your storyboard until you love every detail.

4). VoiceOver

After your storyboard is approved, you will receive several voiceover auditions for each voice featured in your cartoon animation. Give them a listen and let us know your favorite option for each character. We’ll take care of producing and licensing the voiceover(s) for your video. You get an opportunity to listen to the full voiceover and request edits (if needed).

5). Soundtrack

You will also receive a selection of soundtracks we can use when we make your cartoon animation. Give them a listen and let us know which are your favorites. We’ll acquire the appropriate license(s) to use them in your video.

6). Illustrations

Next, we’ll explain how to make illustrations for your cartoon animation in two phases.

First, we develop concept art. Our art director will review your style references and select a few key frames from your storyboard to design. You will receive multiple concepts to review with your team. Share your honest feedback with the art director about which concept is your favorite. You can also collaborate with the art director to revise and refine your favorite visual concept until it’s perfect.

Next, we use the concept art as a visual reference to create all of the remaining illustrations for your cartoon. You get an opportunity to review all of the art and request edits before we animate your cartoon.

7). Animation

Now that everything is approved, it’s time to make your cartoon animation! It takes about one week to animate each minute of your cartoon. For longer projects, we’ll add additional animators to the project to speed up production.

As soon as the first draft is ready, you will receive a link to download a digital copy of your cartoon animation. Give it a detailed review with members of your target audience. Organize everyone’s feedback and send it over to us. We’ll integrate your revisions and render out the final draft of your animated cartoon.

How much does it cost to make cartoon animation?

Cartoons you see on TV and streaming channels cost tens of thousands of dollars to produce each minute of animation. Programs like The Simpsons cost over $100,000 to create each minute of animation (and that doesn’t include the expensive voiceover artists). Luckily, Video Igniter’s production process enables us to help you to make cartoon animations for much less.

With Video Igniter, 2D cartoon animation costs between $1,500-$7,500 to create each minute of video. Fancier forms of 2D cartoon animation that are created using hand drawn animation cost about $10,o00-$15,000 to create each minute of video.

Get a quote for Video Igniter to make your cartoon animation.

How long does it take to make cartoon animation?

A single episode of a cartoon animation can take 12-18+ months to go from script to final draft of the animation.

Fortunately, Video Igniter’s streamlined production workflow enables us to make cartoon animations much quicker. We can make a 1-2 minute cartoon animation in about 4-8 weeks. Full length animated episodes can be produced in just a few months.

Need to speed up production? Video Igniter offers rush delivery animation.

Schedule a call with our production team to discuss how to make your cartoon animation.

How To Make A Cartoon Animation On A Budget?

Now that you know how to make a cartoon animation, the only thing that might be stopping you from moving forward is the size of your budget. Below are 5 tips you can combine to save $1,000 or more off the cost of each minute of animation we make for you.

1). Write The Script

When you make the script for your cartoon animation, you will save $500 off the cost of each minute of video we make for you. Download our free script template so you can see how to make the script for your cartoon animation.

2). Create The Storyboard

When you make the storyboard for your cartoon animation, you will save an additional $500 off the cost of each minute of video we make for you. Download our free storyboard template and review the storyboard creation guide to see how to make the storyboard for your cartoon animation.

3). Use Free, Legal Music

We can use free legal music to lower the music licensing costs for your cartoon animation. If you spend time looking for free, royalty free music (check sites like Incompetech), we can remove music licensing costs from your production budget.

4). Record The VoiceOver

Did you know it’s possible to record professional quality voiceovers at home for free? Watch 1:31 in this video to see how.

5). Start Production ASAP

The easiest thing you can do to save 10% or more off the cost of making your cartoon animation is to start production as soon as possible. Rush delivery is available if you need to speed up the production process. However, rush delivery can add 10%-25% or more to your production budget. To minimize or avoid paying extra for rush delivery, send us a message to get a quote or schedule a call to start discussing your project.

Cartoon Animation Production Resources

These resources are popular among people interested in learning more about how to make cartoon animation:

• How To Make An Animated Cartoon Video
• How To Make A 2D Cartoon Animation
• What is A Cartoon Video Maker?
• How To Hire And Work With Animation Studios?
• What Is A Cartoon Videographer?

Still have questions about how to make cartoon animation?

Do you have a question about how to make a cartoon 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.

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 A Cartoon Animation Production Company In The U.S.?

Video Igniter is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Cartoon Animation 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 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

“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

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.