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Solomia Gamuliak

Solomia Gamuliak

February 13, 2023

How Much Should I Charge for a 1-Minute Animation? Animated Video Prices

How Much Should I Charge for a 1-Minute Animation? Animated Video Prices
Contents
7 min for reading

Most businesses prefer 1-minute animation videos for their marketing needs, but the price isn’t as straightforward as you think. Read below to understand how the cost is decided and the best place to get it.

Short animation videos have become integral to marketing, as tons of catchy clips and ads flood the web daily. And many businesses have realised the benefits of animated videos in their marketing strategies. An Invisia survey shows that people retain 95% of a video message than they do texts. And 58% of B2B businesses infuse logo animations in their videos!

Types of videos

Most companies use short videos for marketing and promotional purposes, usually around 60 seconds. And knowing this, one would assume one may assume it should be a simple transaction between the brand and the video creator. But a 1-minute animation cost depends on several factors considered before the final price is set.

Elements of Animation Video Price

For starters, tons of video producers and creators exist, and each works with a different principle. So the 60-second animated video price won’t be the same as you move across sources. Still, they all work around similar considerations, which include:

Animation Style

2D videos are far less expensive than 3D, and unless the client needs them, most prefer to go for the former. Other animation styles like a whiteboard, motion graphics, paper animation and many others are available, each differing in cost.

Topic and Video Complexity

The more complex the animated video concept, the longer it will take to produce and the more expensive it will be. The main reason is that the creators will spend more time researching when preparing the script, which will factor in the overall cost. But the video complexity depends on the type of business, the buyer journey stage, and the industry’s maturity level. Complex topics and concepts also mean more characters, resources, and assets for the production.

Video Length

Generally, shorter videos will cost less than longer ones, but this fact is subjective to the type of animation and concept complexity. For instance, a 30-second 3D animated video with complex art may cost more than its simple, 1-minute 2D counterpart. This factor is mainly considered when comparing videos of the same style and production process.

Production Duration

The longer the production time takes, the more cost your 1-minute video will incur. It’s why most video production services try to fashion the pricing around a production time that works with the client’s budget. Feedback duration and client revisions also extend production time, though some production houses offer a limited number of free revisions before charging.

Creator’s Location

If the video makers are located in an environment where the wages are high, the animated videos will cost more. But producers in low-wage environments tend to charge lesser. Of course, this may also factor in the quality of the final result.

Content Rights

Some clients prefer to use copyrighted in-video content (photos, videos, sounds, etc.), which means they have to pay for permission. But when the in-video assets are free, it doesn’t factor into the price.

Creator’s Reputation

If you solicit a video production firm with a high reputation and market presence, you may be greeted with hefty prices. Fortunately, the top quality of such work is rewarded for their higher costs. Less reputable or experienced firms or individuals will charge less, but it doesn’t indicate their work may be of lower quality.

Customizations and Extra Services

If the client is specific about certain elements in the animated video, the producer will factor it into the final cost. Customised videos cost more because they’re designed from scratch. But generic versions are worked from a template and don’t hold as much originality. Also, the price of 1-minute animation will be lesser if the producer doesn’t include extra services like script, concept art, voice-over, language translation, storyboard, and illustration.

Cost of 1-Minute Animation

Keeping all these factors in mind, you should also understand how different levels of producers charge for a 1-minute animated video.

Free Tools($0 to $100)

Sometimes, you can make the animation using free tools downloaded online, which saves you costs. And in some cases, you may find some amateurs using the same free tools that charge low.

However, note that free tools are limited in production and will not give you anything beyond the generic template designs they can afford. Plus, you’ll spend more time and effort working on it even if you don’t spend a dime, and in the end, you may not come up with a satisfying result.

Online Freelancer Creators ($50 to $2,000)

Finding freelancers online to produce your 60-second animation video is easy as they come in different professional levels. It’s why the price range for this stage of production is so extensive. The lower price range comprises individuals with basic animation designing skills, and their experience and prowess with animation complexities increase as you go higher.

But not all freelancers can handle extra services, as most only focus on production. If you hire them, you may still need to hire scriptwriters, storyboard artists, voiceover actors, and even illustrators.

Small Studios ($1,000 to $2,000)

These studios mainly comprise two to three professionals. They’re usually quite experienced enough to run animation production on every level. And when they can’t, they’ll outsource to other partner studios while factoring the charge into your final payment.

Most small studios can’t run multiple jobs simultaneously due to their limited number of team members. And they tend to require longer production time for projects. But their high skill level and professional work ethics make them worth it.

Explainer Video Production Companies ($3,000 to $25,000)

These agencies make up for their high prices with an entire team offering complete package animation services. They’re the ideal option for mid-level businesses looking for high quality but can’t afford the high cost of professional studios.

Video production companies include not just animators but also scriptwriters, illustrators, sound designers, and account managers. They also work with schedules, organising your workflow to match your timeline and visiting your every need during customisation.

With such production levels, feedback gives you a lot of say in how the final result turns out. They aim to ensure your 1-minute animated video comes out as professional and exceptional as possible and to your specific desire.

Full-Service Animation Agencies ($25,000 to $100,000)

These agencies are fully involved in complex animation works, like those in movies. While their work is obviously of the highest quality, they’re not the right choice if you’re looking for short 60-second animation videos for your businesses. Their extensive work types and super-high price tags mean you’ll spend way more than you can afford for a quality that may be overkill.

Where to Get 1-Minute Animation?

Seeing these various options may cause you to wonder where to find the best choice for your 1-minute animated video production. But it shouldn’t be, especially since the goal is to find the best one that works with your budget. Of the list, explainer video production companies are the best bet for 1-minute animation videos. And while numerous agencies are available, Zelios Agency is the perfect fit for such tasks.

At Zelios Agency, we fashion captivating illustrations and animations to suit every business’s marketing goals. And our services come with the complete package, including scriptwriting and storyboarding. We also offer affordable prices for our 1-minute animation videos, which are listed thus:

Duration and Price Services
Animated Videos –from $1800
  • Brainstorm
  • Scriptwriting
  • Voice-Over
  • Storyboard
  • Illustrations
  • Animation & Sound Effects
Showreel Videos – $700
  • Brainstorm
  • Scriptwriting
  • Voice-Over
  • Storyboard
  • Illustrations
  • Animation & Sound Effects

Zelios Agency offers you the best services at incredibly affordable prices. And our reputation precedes us as a top-class animated video production company. We’re always available to listen and tailor production calendars that meet your requests. So give us a call or send us a mail today, and let’s get started!

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