How Much Does a Minute of Stop Motion Cost?

The use of stop motion animation is growing in terms of acceptance and interest, but this labor-intensive animated feature can be costly for the average video. While stop motion animation can add a significant wow factor to your video, budgeting often takes the front row in terms of determining which animation style to include in your videos. One of the first questions that come up when considering stop motion animation is, “how much does a minute of stop motion cost?” and, more so, can I afford this animation style for my video project?

Stop motion animation is really about the same in terms of cost as the production of quality computer animations. This style of animation is useful and fun but the costs can quickly run upwards of several thousand per finished minute. Typical rates for stop motion run well over several thousand per minute and can quickly cost more than $10,000 depending on various factors. According to industry examples of stop motion animation, a single minute can cost closer to about $50,000.

Examples of Stop Motion in Action

Recent films that use stop-motion animation include Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride which was produced in 2005 and The Boxtrolls which was produced in 2014. In fact, these two movies have some animators saying that it’s actually insane to do stop-motion animation due to the excessive costs that are involved with this animation style.

Unlike computer-animated features, which can reuse certain elements in the case of a reshoot or adjustment, stop motion must be completely re-shot each time. Typically the studio is only able to capture and fully complete a few minutes of stop motion animation each week despite the excessive amount of animating and editing time that goes into these film projects on a weekly basis — that is why a minute of stop motion can and often does cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Below is an example of a stop motion video produced by Beverly Boy Productions:

What About Stop Motion Animation on a Budget?

Is that even possible? Animating in stop motion, on a budget… This isn’t something that we hear a lot about because typically those seeking a budget-friendly approach will most likely not consider the use of stop motion. The most budget-friendly capabilities to produce stop motion animation come from having the right equipment for the production. Great stop motion begins with a quality camera, a tripod, the right stop motion animation software, and of course the skills required to produce the animation.

As you consider further the answer to your question, “how much does a minute of stop motion cost?” It is important to understand that stop motion animation is a highly technical and creative concept that involves many working pieces in order to be a success — as would most film production projects.

Short Stop Motion Animations

Considering short stop motion animation projects? Beverly Boy Productions can help you decide how many completed seconds (or minutes) of stop motion animation will be ideal for your project.

Stop motion animation packages that can be custom-tailored to your project needs. Consider the total length of your video project, the underlying needs, and the effects that you wish to achieve as well as the goals that you have for your video. If you’re not quite sure about all of this or need more information, give Beverly Boy Productions a call and we’ll help you define a project budget that will work within your needs.

While we can’t say exactly what a minute of stop motion will cost, we can help you determine the variables that will come into play in deciding your price as well as what factors you should further consider in order to reduce the total cost of stop motion video for your video project.