Animated videos are a great way to tell your story and reach new people online. Whether you're looking for an animated explainer for your product, or perhaps an educational piece to talk about a particular topic, there's an ideal animation just waiting to be made.

This handy guide runs through the process you can expect for producing an animation for your business. If you've never had an animation created, or if the whole process is new to you, don't worry! We'll work together to create a wonderful animation you'll want to share with everyone.

Animated Explainer Example

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This project shows animated video production in action from start to finish: a script written to explain a fairly dry topic simply, storyboards to plan out each scene, and 3D-assisted animation to bring it all to life.

This animated explainer produced for The Guardian runs through the topic of writing a cover letter when applying for jobs.

How much does an animation cost?

Animated explainers typically start at around £5000 depending on the style and requirements of the video being produced. The example here would cost more because of the additional 3D animation used throughout. For more information, read this quick post on how much an animation costs.

What's involved in animated video production?

Every project follows the same five stages, each one signed off before moving to the next so nothing gets re-worked further down the line:

  1. Planning — establishing what the video needs to achieve and who it's for.
  2. Script — the structure for everything that follows, trimmed down to only what's necessary.
  3. Storyboards — illustrated frames showing how the animation will look and flow, scene by scene.
  4. Voiceover & music — recorded and chosen to match the tone of the script.
  5. Animation — where the storyboards and script come together to produce the finished video.

For a longer walkthrough of each stage, read making an animation for your business.

How long does animated video production take?

Most projects take between four and eight weeks from initial script to finished animation, depending on length, style, and how much back-and-forth is needed at each review stage. Simpler projects, like a logo animation, can turn around much faster.

Whatever the scope, animation isn't something that can be rushed — the more time available for the animation stage itself, the better the end result.

What can animated video production be used for?

Animation works well anywhere a story or process needs explaining clearly: an animated explainer for a product or app, an educational piece on a particular topic, or a promotional video for social media. If you've got an idea but aren't sure it fits, get in touch and we can figure it out together.