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Animation: You Get What You Pay For

May 26, 2015

Animation: You Get What You Pay For
Animated explainers have an air of mystery around them. The majority of customers are unsure of how these productions come to life. You know, a tap of the wand a flick of the wrist! It’s magic, right? Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. Animation requires a lot of manpower executing a message in a clear and concise way. Like most things in life, animation abides by the rule of you get what you pay for. Let’s take a deeper look at the cost, quality and production process of an animated explainer.

Does quality even matter?

Before diving into specifics, it’s important to make note of initial aspects to consider. You may be able to skip this post entirely depending on your answer to one question: does quality even matter to you, your company and your audience? To answer this question, self-reflect and take a look at what it is you hope to get out of the explainer? If its results (which I’m assuming it is), then quality does matter. Companies who want results need to understand that results don’t come by putting forward a bare-bones budget. What may seem like a high price-tag at the beginning is a small investment in the grand scheme of things, considering the investment may bring you triple the business. Audiences respect quality, and since your brand values quality content your audience will respect your brand. Like any relationship, trust and respect are needed to make a purchase decision. If you’re thinking your audience does not necessarily care about quality or your brand does not value quality content, stop reading. This blog is not for you.

The team. The process. The price tag.

Ok, now you are dead-set that the content your company publishes will be of quality. Awesome! We’re happy to see you’ve made it this far. Now let’s get into the nitty gritty. A reputable animation production company typically charges anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for a custom animated explainer. This number may come as a shock to you, but if you break it down, it makes more sense. Check out the numbers below.

What to look for in an animation production company.

Relationship. How a production company treats you is a direct reflection of how the company is going to treat your work. If the production company gives their prospects and clients a good experience, they will probably place an emphasis on the experience the video gives as well. So be mindful of the experience you receive from the production company. That will set the tone of your relationship throughout the entire process. Portfolio. The agency’s portfolio should be equally as important as the experience you receive from them. Make sure you’re able to pinpoint a style from one of their previous videos. This tells you that the company is capable of producing what you’re looking for. Animated explainers are all about clear and fun communication, right? After you have found your inspiration piece, analyze how quickly they identify the problem and proposes a solution. After all, this is the entire purpose of an animated explainer. Identify problems. Provide solutions. Convert customers. Process. As the client, identify how involved you want to be throughout the production of your animated explainer. Depending on the production company, your involvement in the process can vary. If you’re working with a company for the first time, be sure you have a thorough understanding of how the process if going to unfold. If you’d like to add more communication, speak up! If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut.

Ultimately, you get what you pay for.

Animation can not only seem intimidating, but it also comes with a price tag. Keep in mind this is something to invest in. You’re not only buying a video, you’re paying for the proven process. And remember, you get what you pay for.