An animated explainer video is catchy and highly effective for increasing the ROI of a marketing campaign. According to a study, animated videos, on average, increase the lead generation of a website up to 20%. A compelling animated video can do much more for your business; an American file hosting service was able to generate $48,000,000 with the help of their explainer video, which translates to about 5000% ROI.
Experiencing the magic of motion graphics is priceless!
The reason is simple: videos are the most consumed content online. The current era is dominated by the Millennials and Gen Z. People that are more connected to the internet than the previous generations, with a hunger to learn about new trends, news, skills, etc. online.
A marketing report published by Hubspot states – video content is more effective and consumed than traditional methods like blogging, email, and infographics. People nowadays don’t like watching ads, and millions of users worldwide have installed ad-blockers. However, marketing content in the form of an animated video is appreciated and consumed by online users. Back in 2018, 80% of the marketers said that animated video content significantly increased web traffic on their websites.
Video Animation Cost Explained!
Compelling animated explainer videos come at a price!
Video content marketing can do wonders for your business but at a steep price. Animated explainer videos are expensive but are a cheaper option than traditional video production methods. Animation agencies don’t provide an exact price tag because video animation cost depends on multiple elements. Each video is custom-tailored according to the client’s requirements.
A digital production house can charge anywhere from $1000 to $5000 for 60-second video animation; the cost can even go up if you hire a top-tier studio. Just for a basic idea, the following table will guide you on how much you will have to pay for different animation styles:
| Animation Type | The average cost per 60 seconds ($) | Turn Around Time |
| 2d Animation | 2000 to 4000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| 3d Animation | 5000 to 10000 | 8 to 12 weeks |
| White Board | 2000 to 5000 | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Logo Animation | 1000 to 3000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Motion Graphics | 2000 to 5000 | 3 to 5 week |
More than just 30 seconds…
The question we all animators have heard gazillion times:
“Thousands of dollars just for a 30-second animated explainer video?”
Well, we can’t really blame a common man – who is unaware of the process behind the entire process – for asking such a question. But we can surely educate the clients out there, so they can understand that when an animator asks for a grand price, he is offering a great end result as well.
Just a quick fact check: 30 frames combine to form a single second. So, you are not paying for 30 seconds. Instead, you are paying for 900 frames painted pixel by pixel to create the narrative you desire.
900 frames painted pixel by pixel to create the narrative you desire!
Now you know there is a lot more than what meets the eye. So, next time before questioning the animator, make sure you count the frames, not the seconds.
The Creative Force Behind Every Animated Art
Animators play a vital role in the making of animated explainer video, but the animated video making is like an iceberg that has a depth invisible from the surface. One of the main reasons for the high video animation cost is that it requires a whole army of creative individuals to pull off a single project. Let’s have a closer look at the skillsets needed to make the video.
Scriptwriter
The person who is responsible for converting the raw idea of a client into a narrative. As simple as it may seem, it’s quite tricky to give your creative input without sacrificing on the details that a client provides in the initial brief.
Storyboard Artist
A client will not be satisfied unless he gets an idea of the final product. A storyboard artist draws every frame for a reference point that can provide the client with the animated explainer video’s look and feel.
Character Designer
This guy designs the cartoons you see in the videos. A job only for the ones who are creative enough to come with imaginative ideas every time they pick up their pencil. The finer the details, the more lifelike experience you will have, so the character designer’s skills will greatly affect the results.
Animator
Finally, the show stopper is here, our favorite: The Animator. The person is responsible for blowing life to the entire process. The man responsible for giving motion to your dream animated video spends hours perfecting it.
Voice Over Artist
The artist responsible for giving the voice to the animated characters has the responsibility to mimic an accent that suits the character. A voice-over guy’s real talent is to perfect different accents that make him a real asset for the agency.
Co-ordinator
The coordinator is the one who bridges the gap between you and the creative team. All the communication happening between the agency and a client goes through him. In other words, he is the guy who will be initially explaining your initial brief to the animation team.
Exploring The Different Animation Styles
Different animation styles determine video animation costs. Some types are less complex and are easier to make than other kinds. Moreover, there is a chance that the style that suits your business needs might not be that expensive. We have penned down some of the widely used animation styles for your exposure, so you can choose the best type for your next animated explainer video.
2D Animations
The widely used animation method among all the explainer videos. Movement is created in the 2 dimensions, which gives it a falter look. It’s a simpler method when compared to the three-dimensional 3d style. 2d animations can cost you $2000 to $4000 for a 60-second video, depending upon the details you want.
3D Animations
If you want a real-to-life look, then you should go for a 3d animation style. Ensure that this is the style you are really looking for because this will cost you a fortune because it is a fairly complex animation style to create. A 3d animated video will set you back anywhere from $6000 to $10000 for a 60-second video clip.
Whiteboard Animations
A beneficial style for educational videos because all the animations are drawn on a white-board-type background. Easier to make, but a very lengthy process. It is less expensive but undoubtedly not cheap; you will be paying around $2000 to $4000 for a 60-second clip.
Logo Animation
The easiest of the bunch, but requires the skills of a pro animator. To show more in less is the art a logo animator should excel in.A logo animation usually costs in the $1000 to $3000 ballpark.
Looking For A Cheap Alternative?
Simply put, there is none. You can’t buy gold for a nickel; animated video production is a high-cost process that requires both the skills of professional and state-of-the-art production equipment. You don’t have to take our word for it. Why don’t you produce the video by yourself? If you are interested, let us guide you through the process:
– Firstly, you will need to hire a scriptwriter who can create a compelling storyline for your video. You will have to pay about $400 for a 60-second video script.
– After the script is finalized, you will have to hire a storyboard artist who will charge you per illustration. This will set you back about $1000 to $2000, and some artists may charge extra for the revisions.
– Now in this step, you will need your characters to be made to be animated. Then an animator will do his magic, and you will get a final video product. This entire process will cost around $5000 to $10000, depending upon your requirements.
– Things don’t end here; you are yet to give voice to your characters and music to the video that will complement the visuals. Sound production is no easy task either; you will need to hire a VO artist, music composer, and foley artist. The audio output will cost you another couple of dollars.
Trust us, you will end up spending even more, and we haven’t even included the time you will have to invest in this entire process. The studio approach is the way forward for a business that wants to save up on time and money. So one thing’s for sure, You can’t DIY an animated explainer video!
Wrapping Up
There is no cheap alternative for quality, and surely not in this case. Making an animated video is a creative process that requires the collaboration of a team of artists with different skill sets and unique high-tech workstations that alone cost thousands of dollars. It is simply impossible to produce visually appealing animated video content without investing a decent amount of money.
A digital agency asks a premium price for animated explainer videos for a good reason; if you doubt the pricing, just google the video-making process yourself. Simply put, you are not just paying for a single service, but you are paying for multiple processes that go into making an animated explainer video.
Sugar, Spice, And Everything Nice: Techxide
If you have made it all the way until here, we would highly recommend looking at our artwork!
Our dynamic portfolio speaks for our imaginative approach. At Techxide, we animate your dream videos while keeping the video animation cost as low as possible. You can choose from our extensive range of video animation services that are designed with a client-centric approach. We offer:
- Logo animations
- 2D ANimations
- Explainer Videos
- Interactive 3D Animations
- White Board Animations
- Everything You Can Imagine
Your mind and our creativity can do wonders for you and your business, so don’t sit upon your thoughts and call us now!
+1 646 402 5671
info@yourwebsitedemos.com
159 20th Street Suite #1B Unit #229 Brooklyn, NY 11232
