Our Animation Process
Each project is vastly different - whether it be an explainer video, product video, or a short film. Here are the typical 9 steps to produce an animation from concept to execution.
1. KICKOFF + CONCEPT
The first step of any project starts with the project brief. We will have a kickoff call to get to know your company and understand your purpose, goals, target audience, tone, and messaging. Understanding the background of your project helps us come up with the concept and determine the best format to tell your story in a unique and powerful way.
2. SCRIPT
Based on the project brief, we will collaborate with you on the script - which translates the key messaging into a story. This is a key stage of the animation process where the story is developed. The voiceover will be produced based on the script.
3. STORYBOARD
A storyboard helps pre-visualize your story in the form of an image sequence. This is another crucial stage where we establish the visual story and how each scene looks. The storyboard will come with notes of the actions within a shot, camera movements, and voiceover/sound effects details.
4. STYLE FRAMES
This is where we explore different design treatments of the animation. It usually starts off as a mood board - a compilation of visual references. We will explore what style is most appropriate for your story, yet still adhere to your brand guidelines. We will pick 3-5 main frames of the animation and design fully-rendered, colored frames to help you visualize the final look of the piece.
5. VOICEOVER
We will find the voice that matches your story, or if you already have a voiceover provided. Some stories can work without a voiceover if it’s a visual music or typography piece.
6. DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION
After the storyboard and style frames are approved, we will design the visual elements (e.g. background, infographic, characters, etc.) that are animation-ready.
7. ANIMATION
We are ready to animate! This process will take a couple of weeks depending on the length of video. Animation takes time - that is why getting all the above steps approved is essential to save cost and prevent major revisions later.
8. MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN
Animation and music go hand in hand. Great animation pieces are always complemented with the right music and sound effects to enhance the visuals and story flow. We will add those final sound touches to make your animation extra relatable.
9. LAUNCH!
Whether this piece is a commercial, product video, or part of a social media campaign, we will export the according video file formats to make sure you are good to launch and share your piece. Depending on your package, we can also help with your social and marketing strategy to make sure your piece will reach the right audiences.
Still got questions?
For more information about our live action video or design production process, send us a message!
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