Hiring an Animation Studio? Here’s What You Need to Know First
5.00/5Animation has become a powerful tool for brands looking to engage their audiences, explain complex ideas, and stand out in a competitive market. In fact, recent statistics show that 84% of people said they made a purchase after watching a video. Whether you’re launching a new product, developing a brand narrative, or refreshing your online content, animation has the power to breathe life into your vision in ways that traditional formats cannot. However, choosing the right animation studio requires careful consideration. It’s a multistep process involving careful evaluation, clear expectations, and a solid understanding of what makes an animation partner the right fit for your business.
If you’re a business owner or marketing manager looking to incorporate animation into your marketing strategy, here’s what you need to know before making that decision.
What Should You Know Before Hiring an Animation Studio?
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, where attention spans are shrinking, animation has emerged as a powerful tool for storytelling and brand communication. A quick look at social media or the internet reveals how brands are using animated videos to simplify complex ideas, capture attention, and make a lasting impression.
However, as the demand for animated content grows, so does the number of animation companies promising high-quality work. This creates a new challenge for business owners and marketing managers: How do you choose the right animation studio that aligns with your brand, budget, and goals?
Read on to learn about the nine things you should consider before choosing an animation studio.
1. Understand Your Goals and Audience First
Before reaching out to animation studios, it’s best to spend enough time defining your goals. There are many different options. For example, you may want to:
- Increase brand awareness
- Explain a product or service
- Drive conversions or sales
- Educate your audience.
Depending on your goal, a different animation style, tone, and approach may be required. For example, a B2B SaaS product might benefit from a clear, professional explainer video, while a consumer-facing brand could use a more playful, emotionally resonant animation. Take the time to consider your goals, as this will help you and the animation studio you partner with create more effective content.
It’s also imperative that you consider your audience. Content aimed at millennial tech buyers is going to look very different than animation created for healthcare professionals or HR executives. The better you understand your audience’s expectations, preferences, and challenges, the better you can align your vision with the animation studio’s creative process.
2. Know the Different Types of Animated Videos
The next step is to familiarize yourself with the different types of animation. Each type has a specific creation process, and animation studios tend to specialize in one type or another.
Some of the most common types of animation include:
- 2D animation: This flat, traditional animation style is ideal for explainer videos or digital ads.
- 3D animation: Realistic and dynamic, great for product demos or immersive storytelling.
- Motion graphics: Text and graphic animations are perfect for data visualization or quick messaging.
- Whiteboard animation: Simple, sketch-style videos are good for educational or training content.
- Stop motion or frame-by-frame: More niche and labor-intensive; often used for creative brand storytelling.
Understanding these differences will help you narrow your search to studios that specialize in an animation style that aligns with your brand and goals.
3. Review the Animation Company Portfolio
Now that you’re ready to find the best animation studio for your project, it’s time to check with your peers and search marketplaces such as Sortlist and the internet for options. As you scroll through the options, it’s important to stop and carefully consider their past work. It’s the best indicator of what they can deliver.
Look for:
- Consistency in quality
- Range of styles
- The industries they’ve worked with
- Storytelling capabilities
- Sound design and voiceover quality
Don’t just look at the visuals. Pay attention to pacing, narrative clarity, and how engaging the final product is. Does the animation hold your attention? Does it align with the tone and professionalism you expect?
Ask for case studies or examples of similar completed projects. An animation studio that understands your industry or product type will be able to start working right away and will likely require less onboarding.
4. Evaluate Their Creative Process
You should also pay attention to their creative process. A well-structured process leads to a smoother experience and a higher-quality end product. When weighing your options, it’s important to reach out to each animation studio and ask about their workflow. The process typically includes the following steps:
- Creative briefing: You’ll discuss your goals, target audience, desired tone, and key messages.
- Script writing: The studio will help shape the narrative.
- Storyboarding: A visual representation of scenes to align on direction.
- Design and style frames: illustrations of visual elements and branding.
- Animation: Bringing the scenes to life.
- Sound design: Adding music, effects, and voice-over.
- Revisions and final delivery.
The best animation studio for your project is one that will guide you through each stage, ensuring collaboration and transparency. If they skip key steps or don’t welcome your input, consider it a red flag.
5. Clarify Your Budget and Timeline
The cost of animation can vary widely depending on the length, complexity, and style. For example, a 60-second motion graphics video might cost a few thousand dollars, whereas a 3D animated brand film could cost tens of thousands.
You don’t want to commit to something you can’t afford. When discussing pricing:
- Ask for a detailed quote with line items (e.g., scriptwriting, voice-over, and revisions).
- Make sure you understand what’s included and what’s not.
- Ask how revisions are handled. Is a certain number included?
- Inquire about usage rights and licensing, especially for music and voiceovers.
Additionally, be realistic about your timeline. High-quality animated videos take time. On average, it takes 4 to 8 weeks to produce a short video. If a studio promises a fast turnaround time without compromising quality, ask for specifics on how they plan to meet deadlines.
6. Check Communication and Collaboration Style
Effective communication is essential for the success of an animation project. Keep in mind that the creation process involves several steps, and you will need to work closely with the studio on each one. In that sense, it’s important that you carefully consider the following:
- How responsive are they to your inquiries?
- Do they clearly explain creative decisions?
- Are they open to feedback and collaboration?
- Do they provide regular updates and milestones?
A good animation studio acts as a creative partner, not just a vendor. They should offer strategic input, push back when appropriate, and be invested in the success of your project.
7. Ask the Right Questions
When vetting potential animation studios, don’t limit your questions to pricing and turnaround times. Embrace every meeting or conversation, and dive deeper with questions like these:
- What is your process for script writing and concept development?
- How do you ensure the animation aligns with our brand?
- Who will be our main point of contact?
- How do you handle feedback and revisions?
- What are the common challenges in projects like ours, and how do you address them?
- Can you share results or metrics from previous client projects?
Their answers will reveal their expertise, as well as their ability to understand your needs and solve problems proactively. These are the qualities needed to succeed in a project like this.
8. Think Long-Term: Can This Be a Repeat Partner?
Many businesses find value in building long-term relationships with video production companies. Choosing the right studio can lead to a partner that understands your brand voice, product suite, and messaging, and can deliver faster and more effectively on future projects.
So, when hiring an animation studio, don’t just think about a one-off video. Look for a team interested in learning about your business and growing alongside you. Plus, if you foresee creating series of video content over time, ask about retainer options or packages.
9. Don’t Sacrifice Strategy for Style
While beautiful animation can be impressive, remember that your video needs to drive results. A great studio will ask you strategic questions about your target audience, distribution channels, KPIs, and more.
Examples of key questions you can expect to receive include:
- Where will this animation live (website, social media, or email)?
- What action should viewers take after watching it?
- How will success be measured?
If a studio focuses only on aesthetics and ignores strategy, you may end up with an attractive video that doesn’t perform well. To avoid this, insist on both creative quality and marketing acumen.
Conclusion
Hiring an animation studio can significantly boost your brand’s marketing efforts, so it’s a strategic decision. To get the best results, though, you need to go in prepared, knowing what you want and what to look for. A great studio is more than just a service provider; it’s a creative extension of your team.
By doing your due diligence, setting clear expectations, and aligning with the right partner, you’ll get more than just an amazing-looking video, you’ll get one that works hard for your brand.
Ready to get off to the right start? Check out the best animation studios listed in our partner directory.
