Commissioning 3D animation: the process, the planning and the cost

Commissioning a 3D animation starts with a story that has to be told in motion. Yet process, planning and cost are the first questions clients ask.

This article gives an honest overview: how the process runs and what determines the price.

The process in five phases

At Beyond3D, making a 3D animation roughly runs in five phases.

1. Briefing and goal

We start with the question of what the animation has to achieve and for whom. A concept film for a pitch calls for something different from an architectural cinematic for a sales presentation.

2. Concept and storyboard

We fix the line of the animation: what you see, in which order, with which camerawork and rhythm. The storyboard is the moment choices are made, before the expensive production work begins.

3. 3D production

The world is built up and animated: modelling, materials, light, camera movement. This is usually the longest phase.

4. Render and edit

The images are calculated and edited into a whole, with the right timing, transitions and possibly sound or music.

5. Review and delivery

In one or more feedback rounds the animation is refined and then delivered in the right formats for presentation, web or social.

Lead time

The lead time depends on scope, not on a fixed figure. As an indication:

• a short animation or a defined scene — a few weeks;
• an extensive film or cinematic — several weeks to months, depending on length and complexity.

The storyboard is decisive here: the sharper the line beforehand, the more smoothly the production runs.

What determines the cost?

A 3D animation is bespoke; a fixed price does not exist. The cost is determined by a recognisable set of factors:

• Length — the duration of the final animation.
• Complexity of the scene — a single space is something different from an extensive world.
• Level of detail — how refined and photorealistic the imagery has to be.
• Amount of animation — only camera movement, or also moving elements and characters.
• Quality of the input — an existing 3D model saves build-up time.
• Sound and music — editing with audio or a soundtrack is an extra layer.
• Deadline and feedback rounds — tight schedules and extensive reviews weigh in.

A short concept film with a clear line is in a different order from an extensive architectural cinematic with multiple scenes.

Animation alongside stills

Sometimes the right choice is not more animation, but less. For part of the goals a still image suffices, faster and cheaper. That trade-off is the subject of animation or still image.

How to get a reliable estimate

The fastest route to a realistic price is a short briefing with the goal, the desired length and the available source material. With insight into the scope, we give a well-founded project estimate.

Discuss your project and send along what you already have. The more concrete the starting point, the sharper the answer.