What’s the Average Cost of 1 Minute Animation?

Pricing an animated video is something many business owners attempt to do before they actually commit to making the final purchase. In fact, business owners frequently decide that they want to incorporate a particular type of animation into their video and then they ask, “what’s the average cost of 1 minute animation?” For Beverly Boy Productions, providing an actual cost of 1 minute animation or for any kind of video is challenging, though, without all of the details.

A 60-second animation can cost anywhere from about $1,000 to $5,000 or more depending on a number of important factors that are directly related to the style of animation or video. Some types of animation are much more expensive than others. For example, 3D animation is certainly more expensive than 2D animation. Stop motion, another form of animation, can be rather expensive as well since every scene is produced using clay models and must be recreated and enacted.

Average Cost of 1 Minute Animation

The average cost for 60-seconds of animation is about $7,972 according to recent research, but that price is not typical for most styles of business animated video. The large average is the result of expensive types of animation including stop motion and 3D animation which are frequently used for full-feature films which drive the average up.

Most studios will produce 1 minute of animation for between about $2,500 and $10,000. Some can achieve basic animation for $1,000 per minute and in situations such as Pixar films, you can expect animation to cost upwards of $100,000 per finished minute.

As you can see, the industry has so many possibilities that determining the average cost of 1 minute animation can certainly be challenging.

Cost of 1 Minute Animation by Type

Depending on the type of animation that you choose, 1 minute of animated film can vary greatly. For a basic, flat design animation that features just 1-2 characters, and minimal effects, you can expect to pay somewhere around $2,000 to $6,000 per minute in most cases.

A 2D animation of similar style might cost you between $3,000 and $50,000 per finished minute. The more expensive option being for multiple characters, additional research and the use of multiple camera angles to produce the animation.

The same 3D animation would almost certainly cost $10,000 or more, and up to $200,000 per minute. This is because 3D animation requires advanced software. In fact, a 3D animation that does not include any characters can cost upwards of $10,000 per minute.

Thus, the cost of 1 minute animation that includes multiple characters in 3D animated form will quickly go up in price. This is where we see those $100,000 and more per minute animated film prices with Disney, Pixar and similar filmmakers.

Factors that Influence the Cost of Animation

Several factors influence the total cost of animation. The length of the animation is the most common influencer in price. A longer animation will require more production time and advanced schedules. Essentially, 1 minute of animation is roughly half the price of 2 minutes of animation, but not exactly.

Production costs can be scaled, so you may get a slightly discounted rate for a longer animation per finished minute. Just keep in mind that videos longer than 1 minute are rarely useful for marketing campaigns.

Style of Animation Impacts the Cost

The style of animation also plays a role in the cost. Whiteboard animations are certainly less costly than 3D animations. They’re easier to produce and have fewer requirements. Motion graphics are affordable for businesses and tend to be widely used.

As you’re trying to figure out the average cost of 1 minute animation, keep all of these factors in mind. For a more detailed breakdown of what you can expect the cost of 1 minute animation to be for your business, give Beverly Boy Productions a call.