The cost of an animated video can vary greatly from agency to agency. But if you are willing to work with a reputable animated video producer expect to spend anywhere from £1,000 to £10,000. We know the price difference is high, but the thing is that the cost of your animated video will depend on many factors, including the quality of production, the level of customisation or the timeframe.
What factors influence the cost of an Animated Video?
Several production steps are behind the final animated video and each of them comes with its own expense. Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps.
STEP 1: Research
The production agency starts the production process by understanding the company and their products and services. It identifies those features that make the company stand out from the crowd and most importantly, their target audience. Based on the findings, the production agency decides the best video format for the company. The total cost of this step may depend on the amount of time spent by the crew concepting and strategizing.
STEP 2: Scripting
Right after, the scriptwriter starts crafting a compelling story. It is extremely important to find out a message that will connect with the audience. Cost factors for scripting are generally related to the skill level of the person writing the script.
STEP 3: Storyboarding
Once the script is finished, the illustrator creates a storyboard, which is a visual representation of how the story will play out scene by scene. The cost of production of the storyboard depends on the number of assets and the level of detail provided in each scene.
STEP 4: Voice-Over recording
The next step is to record the voice-over. A suitable voice-over is critical for the success of the animated video. The cost of the recording will depend on the experience of the voice artist and on the time spent to record it.
STEP 5: Animation
This is the most time-consuming part of the production process. Here, animators or creative directors add movement and the voice-over to the previously illustrated scenes. The amount of time spent on this stage (and consequently the cost) will vary greatly depending on the animated video type. 3D animated videos, for example, which are more time-consuming, are more expensive than 2D animated ones. Simultaneously, within 2D animation, a character animated video is more costly than a kinetic typographic one.
STEP 6: Music and sound effects
For the final step, we have the addition of music and sound effects which can greatly influence the feel of the overall video. Companies can either create a soundtrack or find a suitable track from a stock music website. The option chosen will depend on the company’s budget as custom music is more expensive than an existing track.
In addition to these steps, other factors influencing the final price of the animated video are video length, timeline, and amends. As for the video length, the longer the video, the more expensive it is, especially if the animator needs to create new assets. With regards to the timeline, the faster you need the video, the more expensive it can become. Lastly, regarding the amends, if you continuously ask for amends, the company will probably charge you more money as the animator will have to allocate more time to the project than expected. Therefore, make sure you spend enough time thinking about the changes you would like to make once the video production agency sends you the first draft.
Finally, we have hours of calls, meetings and emails which also add up to the total cost.
What is the right amount to spend?
The answer to this question varies depending on the company’s objectives, target audience or total budget. However, we can give you some key advice: avoid hiring companies that charge you less than £500 for an animated product video. They will use templates and stock images with little or no customisation. And that’s the opposite of what you need. You should rather hire companies that produce custom videos that appeal to your target audience.
- What is your budget?
- What information does the video need to convey?
- How long does the animated video need to be? Do you need different video lengths for different platforms (website, social media, etc.)?
- Which animation video type would you like us to produce?
- When should the final video be delivered?
Thank you for reading,
Maria.
Contact Impress Video now
If you would like to do an Animated Video with video production and marketing professionals, or any other type of video, we can help you at Impress Video. We make video production for businesses, the ones that impress. Don’t hesitate to contact us here!
