The Animation Process & Prices
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This is the process we take:
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Development
- Idea/concept development – All ideas have a long way to go before they are polished article. This stage bridges the idea in the head to the script on paper.
- Produce a script – Developing the idea for the screen. This includes any dialogue, the plot, and what action is going on, on the screen.
- Visual style development – We work out how everything will look on the screen, including the mood and atmosphere, concept art animation style and how things are going to move.
- Character development – Personality plays a massive part in any narrative film. We need to work out who each character is and their relationship to one another. Why do they act the way that they do?
- Character designs – With the visual style mapped out and our characters fully developed, we create the characters on paper. This stage goes through sketches to coloured turn-arounds, expressions and, on occasions, 3D models.
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Pre-production
- Storyboard – We take the script and visualize the action shot by shot. We plan where the camera will be, what action is on the screen, where to cut and how the action and sound will come together.
- Voice recording – Voice artists use the finished script to record their lines.
- Animatic – A filmed version of the storyboard, timed out with audio. This creates a rough version of the film, and is critical for working out timings and improvements.
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Production
- Animation – With the storyboard locked down and the sound track in place we begin animation. Production time varies depending on length, style and format.
- Special Effects – Most projects require some form of special effects, compositing or image manipulation to finish off the shots.
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Post Production
- Editing – This is where the order of the final shots are pieced together and the film takes it’s final shape. Luckily, this stage is fairly minimal in animation, due to the large amount of planning done during pre-production.
- Sound Effects – The final picture edit is given to the sound designer who lays down the voices and sound effects.
- Music – The composer lays down their final version of the music and the film is ready to render.
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Publishing / Distribution
We will provide the film to the Client in the formats that have already been specified. Often, uncompressed .mov or .avi files are preferred, but we will also publish to DVD, BETA SP, VHS, Flash video and other online platforms.
How much does it cost?
When commissioning an animated film, there are a number of things that you may require, which will add to the cost. These are grouped in the following stages:
- Concept, Script, Character, and Visual Development
- Storyboard and Animatic
- Animation Production
- Editing and Sound Design
- Publishing and Distribution
Prices
There are 5 main variables that affect the price of animation:
- Duration
- Time frame
- Quality
- Number of characters/ locations
- Level of design/style input
Of course, the longer an animation is, the more it will cost, just as a short production time frame will incur a premium. But it is the quality of animation and style of animation that makes the most difference.
If you would like more information on different animation techniques, we would be happy to discuss with you the benefits of each, and the most suitable for your project.
Have an animation enquiry? Contact us now!
