ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXWhere do I start with budgetting an animated short?
12 years, 7 months ago - Richard Cosgrove
I've been asked to produce an animated short to promote a local small business. The client has given me an outline of what she wants, and has asked for a rough budget. The problem is, I have no idea where to begin. I have done filmed shorts before, but not animated.
The film will be between 1 to 2 minutes long, for distribution via YouTube and Facebook, and will feature people (as opposed to talking animals or cars).
I think the client would prefer cell animation, rather than 3D.
Can anyone point me in the right direction for costing this?
Thanks.
Only members can post or respond to topics. LOGIN
Not a member of SP? JOIN or FIND OUT MORE
12 years, 5 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Bit late, but here's my 2p.
With such a loose brief, there's not a lot you can do to fully cost the thing. If each cell takes 5s to draw it'll be cheaper than if each cell takes 2 minutes. If you can make use of decent tweening, and not have any complex movements (eg walking), it'll be cheaper than... well you get the idea. A brief that loose is not budgetable.
When the client asks for a rough budget, what they really mean is that the first number you mention will be their 'not to exceed' price, and they will load in all the complex bits and pieces expecting you to provide an all-you-can-eat animation buffet for that price or less. Bad idea.
Get a proper brief you can actually cost accurately, then cost the job, then price it so you make money on it. They will then decide they want something entirely different of course, but you've wasted a half-day costing it, not 3 months for 2 weeks pay.
How to cost it? Once you know the scope and spec, might be easiest to count up how many frames you'll draw and charge a fee per frame, plus a per-minute animation fee, cost of a day in audio recording/production, edit/sync, plus some overhead and profit. If you can't price it, do you know the scope well enough to even bid on the job in the first place?
Response from 12 years, 5 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW