The moment when one plans for animation, “How much does animation cost?” is the very question that pops up in the mind. From gaming to film and marketing to entertainment, businesses use animation to add a feel to their strategies for enhanced effectiveness. This blog answers the question “How much does 2D animation cost per minute?” based on steps, hiring model, per-hour cost, and more, helping you determine the exact pricing for your project.
As soon as one thinks of animation creation, the question, “How much does animation cost?” starts popping up in mind. Be it film, entertainment, marketing, or simply games, animation adds a kind of realism and explainability to salient characters, creators, stories, and narratives. Since it applies to a wider industry, the cost varies drastically, making it essential to factor it in beforehand.
For example, while game animation services cost anywhere between $5,000 and $100,000, 2D animation for films may range from $7,000 to $200,000 per minute. This wider difference is because animations are being used in a wider industry domain. Not only this, but the expertise, hiring model, and location you hire 2D animators from differ in the cost of creating animation.
When you search “How much does animation cost?” You will find different numbers, ranging from $300 to $1,000, $10,000, $200,000, and even more. However, this game animation guide drives you through a complete answer to the question “How much does 2D animation cost per minute?”, enabling you to know the exact price for your project.
Among many types of animation, the overall cost of a 2D animated piece varies largely depending on the length, complexity, quality, and production studio. For example, a 1-minute 2D animated commercial piece, with basic character designs and motion, is more likely to cost as little as $2000 if done by a single freelance animator.
On the other hand, creating a 1-minute 2D animated music video with dynamic scenes,
detailed characters, and visual effects may cost anywhere between $10,000-$20,000, depending on the studio rates.
These are overall estimated prices for animation, spanning from affordable small passion projects to those with astronomical budgets for theatrical series and blockbusters. However, see through the detailed sections below to know and determine the right cost for your project.
In frame-by-frame animation, the 2D animators need to draw each frame separately. Because of the labor-intensive nature of the process, the costs are higher. See the example below:
A typical 1-minute frame-by-frame 2D animation commercial with basic motion and simple character designs may cost around $4,000 to $10,000 if done by a single freelance animator. It includes the time and effort required for each frame.
In contrast to the former, a 1-minute frame-by-frame 2D animated music video, embellished with dynamic scenes, detailed characters, and visual effects, is more likely to cost $12,000 to $40,000, depending on studio rates.
2D animation creation involves different steps, including script & storyboarding, character design, background design, color correction and effects, and many more. The 2D animation production pipeline includes these key steps, each with its specific costs, which you should know for better clarity:
Many factors affect the 2D animation cost, and so does the hiring model you choose. Here is all about how different hiring models influence your 2D animation cost:
If you have a short-term project, you can hire freelance animators who usually charge between $50 and $300 for per minute of video animation, according to the level of complexity and their experience. When the animator has very high experience, with specialized expertise, they might charge up to $500-$3000 per minute, while those with initial experience often charge anywhere between $20-$50 per minute.
When you hire a small 2D animation studio with fewer employees and resources, they’re more likely to charge less, which will be anywhere between $1000-30000 per minute for 2D animation. However, the price varies depending on the experience, expertise, and quality of work; it will be right for projects requiring mediocre expertise and experience.
You need an experienced motion graphics design studio if you have large requirements for animation. Yes, for major cartoon production studios, such as Cartoon Network, Disney, or Nickelodeon, which produce high-volume broadcasts and films, the cost structure of the 2D animation is likely to be more complex. For this type of animation work, large studios spend anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000 per minute on hand-drawn 2D animation.
No matter whether you’re hiring individual 2D developers or a 2D game development company, the cost to hire them varies significantly based on their experience and expertise. Here’s how different the cost to hire 2D animators is:
| Level/Experience of 2D Animator | Cost to Hire a 2D Developer |
| Freelance 2D animators | $50 – $3,000 per minute |
| Mid-Tier 2D Animation Studio | $5,000 – $8,000 per minute |
| Professional-Level Animation Company | $10,000 – $20,000 per minute |
| Broadcast-Level Animation Company | $25,000 – $100,000+ per minute |
Among numerous factors that affect the 2D animation cost, art style, use, video length, complexity, and many other factors play a pivotal role. Here are the main factors that differentiate 2D animation costs:
The art style you choose for the 2D animation also affects cost. A lush, painterly art style with simulated texture and effects costs less than a vector-based Flash animation style with solid fields of color and good lines. Whether it’s simple flat design, anime-style, hand-written, or highly detailed illustrations, the closer the style is to realistic representation, the higher the effort will be.
Similar to the art style, the purpose you’re creating the animation for, plays a big role in pricing. You might be creating animation for commercial uses like ads, branded content, and explainer videos. They often tend to cost more, as they require higher quality and revisions. On the other hand, internal training videos or indie projects are more likely to have more flexible pricing. Hence, we can say that the higher the stakes and visibility, the higher the needed polish and cost of animation will be.
The longer the video, the higher the cost of animation will be. Longer videos need more frames, which demands increased resources and time for animation, editing, voiceover, and potentially more complex production hassles like creating scripts and storyboards. Although the 2D animation cost varies depending on the video length, it’s not always the main factor, as a 30-second video with complex art may cost more than a simple 2-minute one.
Visual complexity and the level of detail are more likely to have a huge impact on the time and effort needed, which eventually affects the cost of 2D animation. The cause of complexity might include character movements, lip-sync, visual effects, transitions, and scene changes. A basic animation with static or sliding elements happens to be less costly compared to one that requires full-character animation with dynamic environments, actions, and/or interactive elements.
If you need animation for a game and hire a game development company that’s not experienced enough, you’ll be paying more than it typically costs. Yes, the skill, expertise, and experience of the game designers working on your project differentiate the cost of animation. For example, an experienced studio or 2D animator charges more but often delivers better results and faster delivery, while a less experienced one might cause increased revisions.
The 2D animation cost per minute may vary widely depending on the location of the developer. For example, if you hire game designers from North America/Europe, the per-minute cost for basic 2D animation will be anywhere from $100 to $300, and even more. On the other hand, if you opt for leveraging services from South Asia or Eastern Europe, the cost would be $20 to $100 per minute. It’d be the same output for the lower cost.
Equal to all the factors mentioned above, the timeline you set for project completion might vary the cost. If you rush to accomplish the project in less time, the service providers might charge you additional costs, as they need to hire expensive artists for immediate delivery. Standard animation production may take 2 to 6 weeks, depending on length and complexity, and if you go with this deadline, you’ll be paying appropriate expenses for high-end solutions.
The wider production scope, like the number of characters and scenes, storyboarding, scripting, and voiceover, is more likely to cause variety in the animation cost. The more involved and detailed the animation production, the higher the overall cost will be. For example, a short but high-scope video might cost more than a simple long-form video.
Similar to all the above, the number of additional services, for instance, background scores, sound design, voiceovers, subtitles, and scripting, hugely contributes to the price increase in animation services. Bear in mind the fact that while some studios bundle these services, the rest may charge separately. All these services are often crucial for making the video truly engaging and immersive.
An increased number of revisions requires more effort and time, hence increasing the overall cost of animation creation. They can quickly escalate costs if they’re not scoped beforehand. There are studios that include 1–2 free revisions, which you should make sure of prior to the contract. The majority of changes might involve script rewrite, style redo, and re-animation, and are typically billed extra. Ensure you’ve clarified your revision policy upfront to avoid surprises.
The answer to the question “How much does 2 animation cost?” varies in numbers, ranging from $50 per hour to $300 to $1,000, $10,000, $200,000, and even more for a 1-minute animation.
Being a reliable game development company, 300Mind helps you hire game developers who excel at 2D animation solutions. Be it full-cycle 2D game development, Unity 2D game development, 2D art and animation, or 2D game testing, our 2D animation experts deliver solutions that cover it all.
We’re a top game animation company, embedded with passionate 2D animators and motion graphics designers, creating modern-day motion graphics, VFX, animations, cinematics, and so on. It allows us to create extraordinary solutions to meet different business needs.
So, if you need 2D animation services and are looking for the right partner, we can be the one for you. Yes, irrespective of whether you’re looking for experienced 2D animators with expertise or prioritizing high-end animation with a short timeline, our experts will help you fulfill your needs altogether.
The cost of a 30-second 2D animated video can range from $300 to $2,000, or even higher, based on a variety of factors. Those with simple animations should consider the lower end of this, while those with more complex or high-quality productions will be at the higher end.
The cost of 2D animation may range between $300 $1,000, $10,000, $200,000, and even more, depending on the requirements and complexity of the project.
A 10-minute animation, too, varies immensely, ranging from a few thousand dollars to millions based on multiple factors, including the style, complexity, and the studio you choose. However, you should expect to pay $1,500 to $10,000 per minute for basic animation.
When you hire a 2D animation studio, question them about their communication style, experience, creative process, pricing, timeline, and how they handle revisions. Inquire about the team that’ll be working on your project, their tech stack, and how they ensure creativity and originality. Besides, see their portfolio and client references to assess the quality and reliability they deliver.
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