What is the cost to create 3D animation videos?

Hancock Animations
5 min readOct 20, 2023

The realm of 3D Animation service is as vast and diverse as the stories it can tell. As such, the cost of creating these fantastic images can differ significantly.

Various factors affect the 3D animation costs, like Motion design 3D resources, the expected date of delivery, audio or music, and the creator’s area. But that’s not all.

Statista says the worldwide animation market will be around $411.04 billion by 2023.

This is why we provide you with a full 3D Animation cost breakdown. Let’s get to the heart of 3D animation costs!

What is the cost a company will charge for 3D Animation Services?

Studios and artists determine their pricing depending on the project’s scope and other sources. They may offer an initial price for design services. However, you may be able to be charged additional fees for any further production work or the details.

3D animation

For example, a moderately priced animation studio could cost around $1,000 per minute of Animation. However, an advanced studio will cost you between $25,000 and $30,000. Each second to make a 3-D animation video.

However, choosing the ideal animation production firm is essential to obtaining affordable pricing and ensuring that you are successful with your 3D animated project. Hancock Animations is a reputable, skilled video production firm providing inexpensive 3-D Animation services.

Factors affecting the cost of A 3D Animation Video

The 3D animation cost could be influenced by many aspects, such as:

  • Length of Animation: More lengthy animations will naturally require more effort, which includes characters, scenes, and rendering times. In turn, costs tend to rise as the film’s length increases.
  • Complexity: The difficulty of an animation is a crucial factor in the pricing. Complex animations require complex 3D models, advanced visual effects, intricate environments, and challenging character animations.
  • Qualitative: The quality of the Animation, which includes the degree of realism and care for detail, directly influences the cost.
  • Storyboarding and pre-production: Before the actual Animation starts, it is necessary to have a careful plan. This involves creating concepts, storyboarding, and establishing a clear idea for the animation. The stages before production have expenses that contribute to the total budget.
  • 3D modeling: The making and the rigging 3D models are essential to 3D animation. Highly detailed and complex models require longer and more effort, increasing cost.
  • Material and Texturing: Adding textures and materials to 3D models improves realism, but it also requires more work. The more complex the textures and materials, the more resources are required, affecting the cost.
  • Animation: The amount of animated elements and the complexity of the video affect the total cost.
  • Voiceovers: If your animated piece has narration or dialogue, it is necessary to employ experienced voiceover actors. The talent you choose in recording, editing, and recording will add costs to the budget.
  • Sound Design: The incorporation of sound and effects improves the user’s experience, but it comes at its own cost.
  • Rendering Complex: images with authentic effects and lighting take more time to render, resulting in higher costs.
  • Editing, Post-Production, and Compositing: When the Animation is completed, it is expected to need to edit or composite the video. This process assures a polished final result but also increases the total cost.
  • Licensing: If you need to utilize 3D models or assets from third-party sources or music in your video, then licensing costs may be charged and should be considered in your budget.
  • Revision and Feedback: Budgeting for feedback loops and revisions throughout the production process is essential to ensure customer satisfaction; however, it can increase the total cost.

What are the hourly rates for 3D Animators?

You pay for what you get, particularly in the 3D animation industry. But you can also find a low-cost service that provides quality.

It’s commonly believed that a lower price means less quality work, but this isn’t the case. A group of skilled animators on freelance can cost less than studios with big budgets.

The table below shows the average of animators based within the United States.

Animation Studios Vs. Freelancers Who Should You Select for Your 3D Animation Video?

Choosing between animation studios or freelancers to create the production of your Motion Graphics Services is an important choice that could significantly affect the outcome of your project. Let’s look at the aspects to take into consideration in making your decision:

Freelancers — Low Cost, But Inefficient

Budget is a crucial factor when you are creating a 3D animated video. If you’re on a shoestring budget, you’ll also be looking for low-cost services that provide top-quality.

Freelancers may be able to offer this service due to several reasons. For one, freelancers can be open to pricing.

The project’s cost is negotiable depending on the task’s complexity level. Even if a freelancer uses the standard pricing structure, the cost can vary between above and below the usual price.

You could negotiate a great arrangement with a freelancer when your task doesn’t require much effort and the turnaround time isn’t a concern.

Additionally, freelance 3D animators are suited for projects that relate to the following areas:

  • Marketing content for short-form videos
  • Product demos
  • Material for school-level learning

Freelancers also have some disadvantages. They do not offer end-to-end solutions, which means they specialize in a specific area, 3D Animation. For instance, a freelancer who handles the 3D rigging might not provide services for sound effects.

To address this issue, you can hire multiple freelancers. The team should include an author, a storyboard maker, and a 3D modeler.

Animation Studio is expensive But High-Quality.

We suggest employing a professional 3D animation studio rather than freelancers. It is possible to pay an extra amount, but the quality of the work is worth the price. In addition, animation studios have a team in-house that makes the work process more organized.

Similar to the animation studio, you receive an assigned project manager. The project manager is the bridge between you and your team behind the Animation.

Animation studios also provide complete 3D animation solutions. This means you do not have to find and employ several people for your project.

Conclusion

The price of a 3D animated video can be a multi-faceted task dependent on several key elements that include project complexity and the desired quality of Animation. The decision between employing an animator on a contract or a freelancing basis is a significant factor in budgetary considerations, and each has distinct advantages.

Ultimately, it’s vital to ensure that your selection is in line with the specifics of your project and budgetary limitations. If you’re looking to work with a professional, Hancock Animations is a top video production firm that provides quality animation at a reasonable price.

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Hancock Animations
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Hancock Animations is a full-cycle video production company