The animated video production process is broken into 6 stages: Scriptwriting, Storyboarding, Recording VoiceOvers, Creating Illustrations, Sound Design and Animating your video. Each of them requires a different type of review process to ensure you are happy with what we create for you before we proceed further with the animated video production process. In this article we teach you how to review your animated video and project assets so that you can provide feedback on the relevant details that will move production forward and ensure we create the custom animated video you are aiming to produce.

Examples of Videos You Can Create With Video Igniter

Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animated video for you. Check out the example videos below.

To start your project contact us, or schedule a call with our production team or request access to our new pricing page.

How to review the script for an animated video

When you receive the first draft of your script is ready to review, your goal is to make sure it includes all of your main talking points and ensure that those talking points are communicated in a way that resonates with your target audience. After you’ve reviewed the script, we recommend annotating the document with your feedback using short concise language so that your instructions are clear and unambiguous.

If your project is a Simple Animation or a Standard Animation project, your project includes unlimited revisions which means we will continue to revise your script until you love it.

Download Video Igniter’s Free Script Writing Template

Budget & Time Saving Tip #1:

Want to save time and money on production and create the script yourself? Download our free scriptwriting template and guides.

How to review the storyboard for an animated video

After your script is approved, we will develop the storyboard for your animated video. The storyboard is like the blueprint for your animated video. It tells the animators and designers what to create. Each page of your storyboard includes:

• A sentence from your script
• A rough visual mockup of the scene
• A list of assets that are needed to create the scene
• Instructions so the animators know how they are supposed to make things move

Download Video Igniter’s Free Storyboard Template

When it’s your turn to supply feedback, you want to focus on the visuals that are being described for each scene. Are the details accurate? Do they make it easy for the viewer to understand what is being communicated? These are the kinds of things to focus on when reviewing and requesting edits for your storyboard.

What about the visuals? The visuals in your storyboard are not considered official art. They’re usually mockups made of clip art, icons or hand drawn sketches. In either case, the purpose isn’t to show what the scene is going to actually look like. The point is to just create a rough mockup to help make it easier to picture what is happening in a particular scene. If there are specific details that need to be included, ask your production team to include those details in the notes, even if they aren’t specified in the visual mockup.

Budget & Time Saving Tip #2:

You can save hundreds or thousands of dollars and 1-2 weeks of production time if you create the storyboard for your animated video yourself. Get our free storyboard creation PDF template here and read our storyboard creation guide to build the best storyboard for an animated video.

How to review the voiceover for an animated video

VoiceOver reviews happen in two phases.

Phase 1 is to review the voiceover auditions. Our team will identify a handful of voiceover artists and hire them to record a sample from your script. We will send you the auditions and give you a chance to listen to them to feel which one conveys the right tone and energy for your animated video. If you love one of the VO artists, we’ll proceed to phase 2. Otherwise, we’ll order up some new voiceover auditions for you to review until we find one you love.

Phase 2 is where we hire the voiceover artist and work with them to record the full script with the proper pacing, energy and pronunciation. We will send you the full recording to review. When you review the voiceover you want to listen for the following things:

– Did they pronounce everything correctly?
– Does their tone/energy/pacing feel right?
– Do pauses happen at the right moment?
– Are there any unintended background noises or ‘mouth sounds’ from the VO artist speaking too closely to the mic?

Collect all your feedback and organize it in chronological order like this:

0:03: VO sounds too loud when they say the company name; dial it down a little.

0:10: Feels like there should be a pause here

1:22-1:35: Sounds like there’s some unintended background noise during this part.

After you send us your feedback, we will work with the VO artist to have them rerecord those parts of the script. You will get another opportunity to review the updated voiceover and request revisions if necessary.

Budget & Time Saving Tip #3:

You can record the voiceover for your animated video and save $60-$300+ on your video production budget. Best part is, you don’t even need to buy any fancy equipment or software. Check out 1:31 on this episode of The Video Igniter Show.

How to review the soundtrack for an animated video

The right soundtrack can enhance the emotional component of your animated video. Sounds are used to draw people into your world.

The wrong sounds and soundtrack will be distracting and clash with the presentation of your video.

Our team will select a handful of soundtrack options for you to review. Give them a listen and let us know if one of them stands out or if they don’t seem like they fit the energy you’re trying to present in your video.

What if there’s a few soundtracks you like but can’t settle on which one is the best for your animated video? In that case, we recommend waiting until the first draft of your animated is ready to review. Then, you can listen to the soundtrack options on low volume while watching your animated video. This enables you to listen to the voiceover and soundtrack while watching the visuals so you can see and feel which soundtrack option fits best within the context of your video.

For more tips about how to pick the right soundtrack for your animated video, check out this video.

How to review the concept art & illustrations for an animated video

Creating the art for your custom animated video is one of the longest phases of the animated video production workflow.

Illustration Review Phase 1

The first part of this stage of production is creating and refining the concept art. Our our art director will review your brand guidelines, style references and storyboard. Then, they will take a key scene from your storyboard and design a custom illustration for that scene using one or more unique visual styles.

This concept art is going to set the visual style for the entire video so it’s very important that you love the style before you approve it – because we then use the approved concept art as the visual reference for all the art that needs to be created for your animated video.

If you love one of the concepts as-is, great! We’ll start creating all the art and give you a chance to review it and request edits before we move forward with production. We’re happy to revise and refine the selected style before creating all the illustrations.

Suppose you like aspects from multiple pieces of concept art. Let us know what those are and we will combine the best of both worlds into a new piece of concept art. Our team will work with you to refine the visual until you love it.

But what happens if you aren’t thrilled with any of the visual concepts? That’s ok! Just let us know why and what you want to see instead. Our team will take your notes and use it to develop some brand new concept art. We will continue to work with you to design and refine the visual style until you are thrilled with it. Then, we’ll create all the art for your animated video.

Illustration Review Phase 2

Now we can move on to the second phase of creating the illustrations. After the style frame is approved and all the illustrations are created for your video, it’s time to give them a detailed review. Make sure all the visual details are accurate and that there are no mistakes (i.e. maybe a character is missing a finger or one of the layers of one of the images is overlapping something the wrong way).

At this stage of production, when you are reviewing the illustrations, your goal is to help refine the details. This is not the time to make significant changes. Asking the illustrator to change the blue car to a red car is a fair change. Asking the illustrator to change the car into an airplane is a much bigger change. Think about it… not only does the vehicle need to change, but the scenes need an update, the voiceover may need a change and the storyboard instructions may need some updates as well.

As long as your revision requests don’t contradict something that was previously specified in your storyboard, we will continue to help you revise and refine the details of your illustrations until you are satisfied. If you request edits outside the scope of what has been approved, your project manager will discuss what is needed to make your requests possible.

We recommend providing feedback in a format like this:

Slide 1: Make the logo 50% larger

Slide 4: Can we show an blue phone instead of a red phone?

Slides 10-13: The car is on the wrong side of the road in these slides.

How to review your custom animated video

When the first draft of your animated video is ready, we recommend reviewing it with your internal teams and members of your target audience (if possible). Collect everyone’s feedback and send it to us to create the final draft.

At this stage in the production process, the visuals and voiceover should already be locked in. Now, it’s more about approving the timing, pacing and movement of the elements on screen. Ensure everything is displayed properly throughout the video. While it is possible to make more substantial edits at this phase of production, it’s possible that revision requests may result in an increased production cost. It depends whether the requests are within the scope of the work that was already approved or if something radically new is being requested. If your team wants to change a sentence in the video, that might require that we hire the voiceover artist again, design new illustrations, and animate the new sequence. Our production team will contact you if your requested edits require a budget increase.

When you prepare your edits, it makes sense to organize them in chronological order and to write with clear, concise language so that the animators aren’t ambiguous about the edits that you are requesting. Example edits look like this:

0:10: It looks like the character’s hand is moving the wrong way.

0:15-0:20: Please speed up the logo appearance so that it finishes animating into view before 0:17 – that way the logo can sit on screen for 3 seconds.

Deep Dive: How To Create An Animated Video.

What is the Video Igniter animated video creation platform?

Video Igniter offers animated video production services online. We modernized the experience of creating a custom animated video to help you save on your production costs and create high quality custom animated content faster. Video Igniter streamlines the complex process of making a custom animated video and does 99% of the work for you. All you need to do is tell us what you want us to create and review the assets we create for your video (script, storyboard, voiceover, soundtrack, art and animation).

If you’re looking for a website to create an animated video online, Video Igniter’s custom animated video production service enables you to create any kind of animated video you can imagine. Our talented staff collaborates behind the scenes to create custom 2D and 3D animated videos so you don’t have to figure out if you have the right video animator for the job. We handle all the technical and creative aspects of production including helping you develop your video script and storyboard (if you haven’t already created them yourself).

Hire Video Igniter To Create Your Animated Video

– World class design talent at prices small businesses can afford.

– You can use Video Igniter to outsource the production of any kind of 2D or 3D animated video you can imagine.

– Check out our portfolio!

– +20 reasons companies love outsourcing their animated video projects to Video Igniter.

– Do you want to create an animated cryptocurrency video or an animated blockchain explainer video that explains how your technology works? We can help with that too.

Animated Video Demo Reel

Success Stories & Testimonials

“Video Igniter came to us with a number of creative and engaging ideas and were able to create an exciting, impactful video in a short period of time. And the best part was that it cost much less than other options of similar quality. The video they made is a great marketing tool for us.”

Alex Raymond – Founder, Kapta Systems

“Video Igniter offered us the critical combination of creative value, clear communication, and patience with stakeholder feedback. We ended up with truly high-quality design assets for our video series largely due to the extra level of commitment — and the right balance of efficiencies with flexibility in the process when called for.”

Larry Schlessinger – Sr. Creative Program Manager, Amazon Web Services

“I run a video production company and outsource animation. The team at Video Igniter did a great job in taking the concept I very crudely drew out and made it into a beautiful animation. The review process was easy and their turnaround time was very quick. I’d def recommend them if you’re looking for an animation project.”

Pat Henderson – Founder, Path8 Productions

Get in touch

Get a quote for your animated video project.

Request access to our newest price sheet.

Check out our animated video portfolio to see our latest and greatest creations.

Schedule a call to discuss how Video Igniter’s animated video service can help you create custom animated videos.

Do you have questions about animated video payment terms? This article explains Video Igniter’s payment terms for the production of custom animated videos and answers the most frequently asked questions we get about paying for production.

Video Igniter’s Animated Video Payment Terms

We collect 50% of your production budget up front before we begin production. The remainder of your production budget must be paid before we deliver the final, unwatermarked version of your animated video.

Simple Animation and Standard Animation projects include unlimited revisions. For all other animated video projects – including projects that received a discounted production budget, your project does not include unlimited revisions and will be capped at 2 or 3 rounds of edits for each stage of the production process.

What does it cost to make an animated video?

Check out our companion article: “How much does animation cost?” to learn about all the factors that go into calculating your production budget.

You can request access our latest price sheet here.

Or, contact us if you want to get a custom quote.

Animated Video Payment FAQ:

What does flat rate pricing mean?

For most projects we quote a flat rate for the project based off of your specific criteria. The price includes unlimited revisions which means we will continue to revise your script, storyboard, voiceover, soundtrack options, illustrations and animation until you mark them as approved.

Are there any hidden costs?

No

Is there anything that may change my production budget?

Yes! And we will discuss any production budget changes with you before proceeding. Sometimes, when we’re in the middle of production, clients will get a new idea for something different from what they already approved or specified in their production brief.

What does “Unlimited Revisions” mean?

Read our article about the unlimited revisions policy to learn which types projects are eligible for unlimited revisions.

Increasing the length of the video

If you decide to add new scenes or extend the voiceover of your animated video longer than the original length we quoted for, we will discuss with you how much the production budget will need to increase in order to accommodate your requests.

What services do you use to collect payment?

In the past we have used services like PayPal and Payoneer to collect payments via debit and credit cards. Moving forward we prefer to take payment via bank transfer, Venmo or USDC cryptocurrency because PayPal’s transaction fees eat into our budget which is supposed to go towards producing your amazing video. Using these non-PayPal services to collect payment enables us to offer lower rates to save you money on your production budget.

Adding a rush delivery deadline

We ask that you plan for at least 4-5 weeks to create a 60 second custom animated video. If we start the project with the expectation that the project doesn’t need to be rushed for a deadline and then, out of the blue, a rush delivery deadline appears, we will discuss with you what sorts of resources will be required in order to fast track the production of your animated video. To learn more about rush delivery animation and how rush delivery cost increases go towards expediting your video, check out this companion article:

https://videoigniter.com/rush-delivery-animation/

Decreasing the length of your video

If you decide to shorten your video during production, it’s possible, but not always guaranteed to result in a lower final production budget. Example: Let’s say we deliver the first draft of your 60 second animated video and then you decide you want to cut out 15 seconds; you will still pay the rate for a 60 second animated video. On the other hand, if we’re early in the production process and you tell us to take the 60 second animated video and shorten it to a 30 second script, the final production price you pay for the video will be closer to a 30 second animated video instead of a full minute.

Special Edits

Example: If you hire our animators to create a 60 second animated video and then ask if we can create shorter 15 and 30 second versions for your social media, we will discuss with you what extra budget is required to accomplish this. In some cases, the edits are very simple – just a matter of cutting out certain parts of the animation and sticking them next to each other. On the flip side, animation uses beautiful complex transitions to go from scene to scene, so it’s not always as straightforward as cutting video clips apart and sticking them together in a new order. In type of scenario, a slightly larger budget increase would be needed to create the shorter variations of your animation so that the animation motion design remains consistent.

Adding 3D

If you hire us to create a 2D animated video and then ask us to create some 3D animations to insert within it, we will need to assess how much extra it costs to produce the 3D animated segment(s).

Translating your animated video into other languages

Let’s say we’re working on a Spanish-language animated video for you and then you tell us you want to create a Portuguese version as well… here’s what we’d need to figure out to see what the added production cost would be:

1). Will you be providing the translated script or do you want us to use one of our certified translation partners to translate the script and test the script with native speakers for accuracy in the translation?

2). Can you provide the voiceover or do you want us to be responsible for hiring the voiceover artist?

3). How will the visuals of the animation be affected by the change of language? Do we need to change a bunch of text and images on screen to match the new language?

4). Have any of the character’s mouths been animated in sync with the original voiceover and now require adjustments so the mouth movements line up with the new voiceover?

These are the types of the details we’ll look over when assessing what sort of budget increase is required to translate your animated video into another language.

Adding animated characters to a non-character project

Our lowest pricing option “Simple Animation” can be produced with or without animated characters for the same price. If we are producing more detailed animations (Standard Animation or High End Animation), we offer lower pricing for your animated video if it doesn’t include animated characters.

If you indicate you don’t want animated characters in your standard animation or high end animation project and then decide at some point during production that you do want to add animated characters, mascots, animals, etc in the video, we will need to assess how much of a production budget increase is required for your animation – based on the # of custom animated characters being created and the amount of movement they will do on screen.

Questions about animated video payment terms?

– Access our current price sheet here.

– How much does animation cost and what goes into the price?

– How does rush delivery animation affect my production budget?

– Get a custom quote.

– Schedule a call with our production team to discuss pricing for your custom animated video.

Miscellaneous Production Questions

What does the animated video production workflow look like?

Learn about the animated video production workflow including how long each stage of production takes and what to expect at each stage of the production process.

How do I create the script for my animated video?

Download our free scriptwriting template.

How do I create the storyboard for my animated video?

How to create a storyboard for an animated video?

Download our Free Storyboard PDF Template.

Can I provide the voiceover for my animated video?

Yes! Check out 1:31 in this voiceover video for tips on how to make a pro-sounding VO at home for free

How Do I Use Video Igniter To Make An Explainer Video?

Check out our comprehensive guide about our explainer video production company.

How do I make cheap animated videos?

See our: Cheap Animated Explainer Video Production Guide. We also have +160 free resources to help you create animated videos.

Does Video Igniter Offer White Label Pricing?

Yes! This guide explains our white label pricing and payment terms for animated videos.

Where else can I look for an animator for hire?

This article has a list of places you can find an animator for hire.

Hire Video Igniter For Your Next Animated Video Project

– World class design talent at prices small businesses can afford.

– You can use Video Igniter to outsource the production of any kind of 2D or 3D animated video you can imagine.

– Check out our animated video portfolio!

– +20 reasons why companies love hiring Video Igniter to make animated videos.

Animated Video Demo Reel

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

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

“I run a video production company and outsource animation. The team at Video Igniter did a great job in taking the concept I very crudely drew out and made it into a beautiful animation. The review process was easy and their turnaround time was very quick. I’d def recommend them if you’re looking for an animation project.”

Pat Henderson – Founder, Path8 Productions

Get in touch

Get a quote for your video project.

Schedule a call with our production team to discuss your project.

Check out our animated video portfolio to see our latest and greatest creations.

Request access to our newest price sheet.

Create your Video Igniter account and fill out a creative brief to start the production process.

What is Video Igniter Animation?

This article is Video Igniter‘s comprehensive guide for explainer videos. Here, we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions we get about making explainer videos including what to expect during the production process, how much it costs to make an explainer video and how to keep your production budget low.

What Is An Explainer Video?

Explainer videos are short entertaining videos that make it easy to learn and remember new information. Lots of companies and publications are creating video explainers because they simplify complex topics and use colorful animated images to hold the viewers attention while helping them learn something new.

Animated Explainer Video Examples

Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animated explainer video for you. Check out the example videos below.

To start your project contact us, schedule a call with our production team or request access to our new pricing page.

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

When To Use Animated Explainer Videos?

Animated explainer videos can help your company improve it’s business outcomes at every level of your marketing and sales funnel. We recommend using animated videos if you want to:

Gain Awareness

Animated explainer videos are fantastic at grabbing people’s attention because they are colorful, they move, and they are concise. If people are intrigued by your short 15 – 30 explainer video, they’re more likely to visit your website to watch a longer more in depth video.

Increase Conversions, Acquire More Leads and Close More Sales

Animated explainer videos have been shown to increase conversion rates on landing pages and can be used to increase sales on a landing page or increase the % of people who opt to give you their email address for future marketing contact.

Educate Customers

Animated video explainers hold people’s attention longer than regular videos. The combination of colorful animated images synced with a voiceover creates a self-reinforcing educational learning experience. Viewers are more likely to understand the information better and remember the information longer than if they had merely read it.

How To Make An Explainer Video

Find Your Producer

The first step is to figure out who is going to produce your video. Are you going to make the animated video? Or are you going to hire Video Igniter, an old-school animation studio or a freelance animator to make it for you? For tips, information and resources on how to pick out an animator for your video, scroll down to the next section titled, “How To Find An Explainer Video Animator.”

We also recommend checking out this article on the different types of Online Animated Video Makers.

Write The Script For Your Video Explainer

Once production is underway, it’s time to create the script. You can write the script yourself to save money on your production budget or your video producer can write it for you. When the first draft of the script is ready, we’ll send it to you to review and collect your feedback. Then, we will revise your script and send it back to you to review and approve. We will continue to work with you to refine your script until you are 100% satisfied with it.

Download Video Igniter’s Free Script Writing Template

Script Writing Resource: Want to write your script yourself? Check out our scriptwriting resources to learn how to write your script and download our free explainer video script writing template. Also, check out these explainer video script examples.

Download our free template to help you write the script for your explainer video.

Create The Storyboard For Your Animated Explainer

After the script is approved, we will create the storyboard. The storyboard is like the blueprint for your animated video – it tells the animators and illustrators what they are supposed to create. It’s important we agree on all the details that are specified in the storyboard before we proceed with production. Otherwise, it could lead to budget increases because details weren’t specified in the storyboard before the illustrators and animators got to work. You will get an opportunity to review the storyboard and send us your feedback so that we can revise your storyboard before moving forward with production.

Download Video Igniter’s Free Storyboard Template

VoiceOver

Now that the script and storyboard are locked in, we can get the voiceover(s) recorded for your explainer video. We’ll start by ordering voiceover auditions from several voiceover artists that we feel will bring the right tone and energy to your animated video. Let us know which voice you prefer and we’ll get the full voiceover recorded. Not in love with any of the auditions? We’ll happily order up some fresh auditions after you let us know how the first examples missed the mark. When the full voiceover is recorded, you will get an opportunity to review it and request revisions before approving it for production.

Soundtrack

We’ll also select some soundtrack options that we feel would be appropriate for your video explainer. If you love one of them, we’ll secure the license for the platforms you plan to use your video on. Can’t decide which soundtrack would be best? We’ll help you preview the options alongside your explainer video when the first draft is ready to review so that you can hear which one feels right within the context of your video.

Read this guide for more tips on selecting an animated video soundtrack.

Illustrations

Time to illustrate! After the storyboard is approved, our art director will start creating concept art for your explainer video. The process starts by reviewing your company’s branding and any style references you provided. Then, the art director will select a key scene from your storyboard and design it using one or more unique visual styles, based off of the branding examples you provided. We’ll send you the concept art and wait for your feedback.

If you love one of the concepts as-is, let us know and we’ll create the rest of the art using that image as the style reference for the whole video.

What if you like aspects of multiple pieces of concept art? Just let us know which aspects you like from each piece of concept art and we’ll develop a new piece of concept art for your explainer video. We can continue to work with you to refine the details of the style until you are completely happy with it – then we’ll create the rest of the art for your video.

Not satisfied with any of the concepts? That’s ok – just let us know your honest feedback and we’ll use it to create a completely new concept for you to review and iterate on until you are happy.

Animation

Now that the illustrations and the voiceover are locked in, our animators can get to work. It takes about a week to animate each minute of video. Longer videos will use more animators to speed up the production process. When the first draft is ready, give it a review with your internal team and members of your target audience to ensure everything makes sense. Collect everyone’s feedback and send it to your animation team to polish up the final draft.

Types Of Explainer Videos:

There are many types of explainer videos you can create and we’ve written FAQ guides for most of them. To learn more about how to make and use specific types of video explainers, check out the following resources:

Corporate Explainer Videos

How To Make Animated Corporate Videos:

https://videoigniter.com/animated-corporate-video/

How To Make An Animated Company Video:

https://videoigniter.com/animated-company-video/

How To Make An Animated Advertisement:

https://videoigniter.com/how-to-make-animated-advertisement-video/

Free / Cheap Explainer Video

How to make animated videos for free:

https://videoigniter.com/free-animated-video/

Educational Videos

How To Make Animated Educational Videos:

https://videoigniter.com/animated-educational-video/

Cartoon Explainer Video

How To Make An Animated Cartoon Video:

https://videoigniter.com/animated-cartoon-video/

Animated Product Explainer Video

How To Make An Animated Product Video:

https://videoigniter.com/animated-product-video/

Animated Infographic Explainer Video

How To Make An Animated Infographic Video:

https://videoigniter.com/animated-infographic-video/

2D Animated Explainer Video

How To Make A 2D Animated Video:

https://videoigniter.com/2d-animated-video/

3D Explainer Video

How To Make A 3D Animated Video:

https://videoigniter.com/3d-animation-maker/

How To Find An Explainer Video Animator

If you’re interested in ordering an explainer video, here’s some resources to help you find a video animator or an animation company to help you produce your video:

• 9 Things to Look For When Hiring An Animator to create an explainer video.
• What is Video Igniter Animation?
• How to outsource an animated explainer video project?
• How to hire an animator?
• What’s the difference between hiring an animation studio, a freelance animator and Video Igniter?
• What goes into production cost of an explainer video?
• Considering making the animated video yourself? Learn about DIY options.
• Need your video fast? Learn about rush delivery.
• Pros and Cons of Different Animation Styles

How Long Does Take To Make Video Explainers?

It takes about 3-8 weeks to create a 1-2 minute 2D animated video. It takes about twice as long to make a 3D animated video. Need your video produced quicker? You can save some time by writing your script and building your storyboard.  Need it quicker? Read about our rush delivery animation option and then contact us to get a custom quote with rush delivery.

What Does It Cost To Make An Explainer Video?

It costs between $1,500-$7,500 to create a 60 second 2D animated video. 3D animations cost about twice as much. It is possible to make cheap animated explainer videos but the reduced production quality can lead to a poor educational experience for the viewer and decreased perception of your brand. Check out this companion article to learn what goes into the cost of an explainer video.

Interested in pricing information for your explainer video?

Get a custom quote.

Request access to our current price sheet.

How To Keep Your Explainer Video Production Costs Down?

Write Your Script

You can save several weeks and several hundred (or thousand) dollars off your explainer video production cost by writing the script yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect; if you can write the first draft of your script, your animation producer can help you polish it to make it production ready. Check out these resources to help you write the script for your video:

How to write a script for an animated explainer video.

Examples of explainer video scripts.

Tips to supercharge your video script writing.

Download our free script writing template.

Create Your Storyboard

Creating the storyboard for your explainer video is another way you can save hundreds-thousands of dollars off the cost of your video. Download our free storyboard creation PDF and check out the following resources to help you create your own storyboard:

What is a storyboard? And why do you need one?

How to create a storyboard for an animated video?

Tips for building a great storyboard for your video.

Download our free storyboard creation template.

Record The VoiceOver

Would you believe me if I told you that you can record your own professional sounding voiceover at home or in your office for free? There’s no need to buy any fancy equipment or expensive software. Check out 1:31 in the Video Igniter Show episode about voice overs to learn how you can record your own high quality voiceover for free.

Consider Using Stock Assets

Video Igniter specializes in making custom animated videos. But every detail of your video doesn’t need to be custom designed. To help save on cost, consider using stock assets like icons, text, 3D models, stock images and videos.

Use Free (Legal) Music

Incompetech allows people to use their music for free when you credit the artist. Facebook’s Sound Collection offers free music to use in your animated promotional videos.

Explainer Video Production Resources

These resources are popular among people interested in creating an explainer video:

How long does it take to make an animated explainer video?

Learn how to create a 3D explainer video.

Which explainer video services does Video Igniter offer?

Still have questions about explainer video animation?

Do you have a question about how to make an animated explainer videos 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.

Why Hire Video Igniter To Make Your Custom Animated Explainer Video?

World class animation and design talent at prices startups can afford.

Check out our portfolio – we can make any kind of 2D or 3D animated video you can imagine.

+20 reasons companies love hiring us to create animated videos.

Do you want to create an animated cryptocurrency video or an animated blockchain explainer video that explains how your technology works? We can help with that too.

Explainer Video Production Reel

Looking For An Animation Explainer Video Company In The U.S.A.?

Video Igniter is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Explainer Animation Success Stories And 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

How To Hire Video Igniter – The Animated Explainer Video Company:

Get a quote for us to create your explainer video.

Schedule a call with our production team.

Request access to our newest price sheet.

Create your Video Igniter account, fill out a creative brief, and we’ll start creating your explainer video.

 Video Igniter’s Explainer Video

Looking for rush delivery animation to get your video produced quickly? In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions we get about making custom animated videos, fast!

If you have a question about rush delivery animation 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:

When Do I Need Rush Delivery For My Animated Video Project?

> 30 second animation

30 second animated videos normally take 2-4 weeks to produce. If you need to guarantee delivery in less than 3 weeks, get a quote and let us know how quickly you need your video and we’ll help generate a custom quote and develop a production plan to get your animated video produced on time.

60 second animation

60 second 2D animated videos take 4-5 weeks to create without rush delivery. If you need to guarantee delivery of the final draft in less than 3-4 weeks, contact us and let us know how quickly you need your animated video. Rush delivery in 2-3 weeks isn’t recommended but is possible with simpler animation visual styles or if you have your script and storyboard already ready for production.

+60 seconds or 3D animations

Rush delivery isn’t recommended, especially for longer projects or 3D animated videos. That being said, we’ve taken on our fair share of aggressive deadlines and are happy to discuss what it will take to accomplish your vision, on time. to get the ball rolling.

What is the normal, un-rushed animated video production process like?

The production process for making an animated video goes sequentially through this process:

• Script
• Storyboard
• Voiceover
• Illustration
• Sound Design
• Animation

You can create the script and or the storyboard for your animated video to save on your animation production cost – or you can hire Video Igniter to create it for you. After that, we create concept art for your animation, we audition some voiceover artists and select some soundtrack options for your video.

After you send your feedback to us, we will create all the art for your animated video, record the full voiceover from your favorite voiceover artist, and license the soundtrack for your video. You will get a chance to review all of them and request revisions before approving them for animation. For a more detailed look at the animated video production process, check out this article.

How Much Does Rush Delivery Animation Cost

Rush delivery is calculated as an extra percentage based on top of our normal prices. Depending how quickly you want your animated video produced and how detailed the visual style is, rush delivery can account for a 10%-100% animated video production budget increase over the normal, non-rush delivery price. The best way to figure out your rush delivery cost is to contact us via our get a quote form and let us know how quickly you need your animated video, what style of animation it is (2D or 3D), how long the animation is, and whether or not you will be providing the script or storyboard.

What do rush delivery costs go towards?

We agree, rush delivery adds a lot to a production budget. But quality work takes many hours and there’s only so many hours in a week.  Rush delivery production costs go towards expediting your project and paying our team to work longer, later hours and on weekends, if needed, to meet your deadline. Rush delivery also provides funding to add additional animators and illustrators to a project in order to help it get produced quicker. This in turn requires additional project manager time to ensure illustrations and animation design is consistent between each video animator/designer before all the pieces are stitched together into a single animated video. We don’t like having to charge extra for rush delivery, but now you know what the extra costs go towards.

To learn more about what goes into the cost of making an animated explainer video, check out this companion article: “What goes into the cost of an explainer video?”

When possible, try to avoid rush delivery animation projects.

This goes without saying but creative work shouldn’t be rushed. On the flip side, we know the internet runs very fast, 24/7 and people want to make high quality video animations as fast as possible. With simple visual styles and animations, it’s possible to crank out easy animations in short amounts of time. But more detailed animation requires planning and creative time from the storytelling team, the visual design team, and the animation team.

We come up with our best work when we can bounce ideas off each other and ideally test them with the target audience if time and budget allows. But when rush delivery deadlines are looming, we often need to make the best design decisions we can with the time we have available. Sometimes this means we have to leave out fun ideas – or at least for the first draft. Whenever possible, it’s best to plan 4-8+ weeks ahead of your deadline for the best production outcomes.

Hire Video Igniter For Your Rush Delivery Animation

– World class animation services at prices small businesses can afford.

– You can use Video Igniter to outsource the production of any kind of 2D or 3D animated video you can imagine.

– +20 reasons companies love outsourcing their animation projects to Video Igniter.

Animated Video Demo Reel

Rush Delivery Animation Success Stories & Testimonials

“Video Igniter came to us with a number of creative and engaging ideas and were able to create an exciting, impactful video in a short period of time. And the best part was that it cost much less than other options of similar quality. The video they made is a great marketing tool for us.”

Alex Raymond – Founder, Kapta Systems

“Video Igniter offered us the critical combination of creative value, clear communication, and patience with stakeholder feedback. We ended up with truly high-quality design assets for our video series largely due to the extra level of commitment. And the right balance of efficiencies with flexibility in the process when called for.”

Larry Schlessinger – Sr. Creative Program Manager, Amazon Web Services

“I run a video production company and outsource animation. The team at Video Igniter did a great job in taking the concept I very crudely drew out and made it into a beautiful animation. The review process was easy and their turnaround time was very quick. I’d def recommend them if you’re looking for an animation project.”

Pat Henderson – Founder, Path8 Productions

Get in touch about rush delivery animation for your video project

Schedule a call to discuss rush delivery for your animated video.

Get a quote for your rush delivery video project.

Request access to our newest price sheet.

Check out our animated video portfolio to see our latest and greatest creations.

To get your animated video created as fast as possible, create your Video Igniter account and fill out a creative brief to start the production process.

What is Video Igniter Animation?

Building a great storyboard for an explainer video will set your video project up for success. Whether you’re creating the storyboard yourself or hiring an animation studio/freelancer to create it for you, this article will teach you how to ensure you end up with a polished storyboard that will be easy for your illustrators and animators to understand what you want them to create.

What is a storyboard?

A storyboard is like a blueprint for your animated explainer video. It’s a document made by the creative team that needs to be approved by the client before moving forward with production. The storyboard specifies what visuals need to be created for each sentence of the script and how the images are going to move in sync with the narration.

Download Video Igniter’s Free Storyboard Template

Why make a storyboard for your animated explainer video?

Helps lower your production budget

Creating your own storyboard can help you save hundreds or thousands of dollars off the price of your explainer video. You can create a storyboard even if you don’t think you have any artistic abilities. Stick figure sketches are good enough to help our illustrators know what you want them to create.

Helps production run smooth

The storyboard helps everyone involved with your explainer video get consensus about what is going to be created. It’s the blueprint that tells the illustrators what they need to illustrate for each scene. It also provides instructions for the animators so they know how to make the illustrations move in sync with the voiceover.

Without clear documentation, the illustrators might waste time creating the wrong art and the animators wouldn’t know exactly what they’re supposed to animate.

It’s important to take the time to clearly and unambiguously document everything you want the animation team to create. Every detail left unspecified means you are ok with the creative team coming up with their own way to show something. If a character’s hair needs to be a specific color, say so in the storyboard. If a certain movement shouldn’t happen in a scene until a key word is spoken by the narrator, include that detail in your storyboard’s instructions. The more specific you are, the smoother production will go.

How to create a storyboard for an explainer video?

1). Download our free explainer video storyboard template

Our free explainer video storyboard template is a great way to keep your production budget low. You can create a storyboard even if you don’t think you have artistic abilities.

2). Use Powerpoint, Keynote or Slides to create your storyboard

Count how many sentences are in the script for your explainer video. Then, open up our storyboard template in Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote. You will see one page of the storyboard template in the document. Duplicate that page so that you have as many pages in your storyboard as you have sentences in your script.

3). Add your script

Copy the first sentence of your explainer video’s script. Paste it in the box in the lower left corner of the storyboard. Repeat for every sentence of your storyboard.

Put one sentence on each slide of your explainer video’s storyboard.

If a sentence is particularly long or there is a lot of action happening during it, consider breaking that sentence up into multiple slides. This will allow more space for you to provide instructions to the illustrators and animators.

4). Mock up the visuals

Next, you’ll mock up the visuals for each scene in the upper left corner of the storyboard. All you need is a rough napkin sketch of what you want to show in the scene. Something that provides a rough layout of what you want to show in the scene. Take a photo of your sketch and paste it into the storyboard. Repeat for each slide.

Add visuals to your explainer video’s storyboard so the design team knows what to create.

Alternately, if you don’t want to sketch out each scene, you could mock up each scene using free clip art and stock assets you find online.

Use free clip art and stock assets to mock up the visuals for your explainer video’s storyboard.

Don’t worry about making your scene mockups or sketches look perfect. It’s our job to turn your storyboard into the finalized art for the explainer video.

5). Describe the motions

After the visuals are established, you’ll want to explain how you expect the elements in the scene to move. Use the box in the upper right corner to provide a bullet point list of simple instructions that tell the animators what you want to see happen in sequential order. If two things happen simultaneously, say so. If something is supposed to happen in sync when the voiceover says a certain word, say so. When in doubt, over explain what you want to happen. The more information the better.

Add instructions for your explainer video’s storyboard

6). Create the asset list

The final piece of information that needs to be included in your storyboard is a list of the assets that need to be created for each slide. This can include background and scene design, characters and the clothes they wear, objects, special effects, icons, logos, sound effects and more. Be specific. The storyboard sketch isn’t detailed so use this place to provide information about how you want things to look. What does the character look like? What color surfboard are they holding? How intense should the waves sound in the background, etc.

Describe what assets are needed for each scene of your explainer video

7). Review with your team + target audience

When the first draft of your explainer video’s storyboard is complete, share it with your in-house creative team. Make sure it accurately reflects the messages you want to broadcast to the world. It’s also wise to run the storyboard by members of your target audience to ensure it makes sense with them. If any last minute changes need to be made, it’s much better and less expensive to address them during the storyboard phase rather than waiting til the art and animation have been produced.

8). Export the storyboard as a PDF for production

After your storyboard is approved for production, export it as a PDF so you can easily share it with the illustrators and animators working on your animated video.

Now you’re ready to choose a video animator to help turn your storyboard into a custom animated explainer video. Not sure what kind of animation service provider is right for your project? Check out our pros and cons list to help you decide what kind of animator is right for your project.

Tips to help you build a great storyboard for an explainer video

Use clip art to mock up your visuals

Storyboards for big budget animations are created with detailed sketches for each part of the script.

Most short animated videos that are created these days don’t require something this detailed. In most cases, you can create a simple stick figure sketch. If you’re still not feeling comfortable sketching out your ideas, consider using free clip art and stock images you find online to mock up the scenes in your storyboard. You just need enough detail to give the illustrators an idea of what you want to show in each scene and how everything is positioned and framed relative to everything else.

Example of an explainer video storyboard created using clip art and stock images to mock up the scene.

Use icons for your mockups

Can’t find the right piece of clip art to mock up your scene? Odds are you can find a free icon of the thing you’re looking for on The Noun Project.

How to use sketches for your storyboard?

When you build a storyboard for an animated explainer video, it’s best to sketch out each scene with enough detail as possible so that the illustrators have the clearest picture of what it is you want them to create. Of course, most people don’t have the ability to sketch decent images. Luckily, it isn’t a requirement to sketch images, illustrators can work from rough mockups.

If you are confident enough in your stick figure drawing abilities, it’s worth it to sketch out what you want to show in each scene. Use plain white paper to sketch each scene. Consider using a pencil in case you need to revise the storyboard. After you finish a sketch, take a photo of the sketch and send it to your computer. Then, paste the image into your storyboard.

Sketch the scenes for your explainer video’s storyboard

Use basic language to explain what you want

When you write the instructions for the animators and describe the visuals that need to be created by the illustrators, use basic language. Make it easy to understand. The more detail you can provide, the better. This will ensure the animators and illustrators stay on task and minimize the chance they will need to redo their work or take a pause because the instructions were unclear and they need clarification from the client.

Animated Video Production Resources

Here are some popular articles and resources we recommend for your video production journey:

Free Download: Storyboard Template + Storyboard Creation Guide

Free Download: Script Writing Template

How long does it take to make an animated explainer video?

How do I create a digital marketing animated video?

How to make an animation clip for a video project?

Hire Video Igniter to Create Your Storyboard and Explainer Video

World class design talent at prices small businesses can afford.

We can make any kind of 2D or 3D explainer video you can imagine.

+20 reasons companies love hiring us to create storyboards and animated explainer videos.

Do you want to create an animated cryptocurrency video or an animated blockchain explainer video that explains how your technology works? We can help with that too.

Demo Reel: 

Success Stories & Testimonials

“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

“I run a video production company and outsource animation. The team at Video Igniter did a great job in taking the concept I very crudely drew out and made it into a beautiful animation. The review process was easy and their turnaround time was very quick. I’d def recommend them if you’re looking for an animation project.”

Pat Henderson – Founder, Path8 Productions

“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

Get in touch

If you need help building a great storyboard for an explainer video, get in touch with our team. We can help!

Schedule a call to discuss your animated video and storyboard.

Get a quote for your storyboard and explainer video.

Check out our animated video portfolio.

Request access to our newest price sheet.

Create your Video Igniter account, fill out a creative brief, and we’ll start creating the storyboard for your explainer video.

What is Video Igniter Animation?