The first step is to complete our detailed creative brief. The brief is used by our copy team to better understand your value proposition. So, take the time to fill it out with care and attention to detail. Each question has a purpose, so please try to fill out every answer as it relates to your animated explainer video project. A completed creative brief really helps us get a better understanding of the vision of your project.
Once the brief is received, our copywriting team does a thorough review and has a detailed discussion internally about our initial thoughts on the direction and overall value proposition. At this stage, we want to make sure we understand your value proposition and we come up with a outline internally. This is a key step in the process, it’s really our internal discussion coupled with our years of experience that help us truly nail down the story.
Next, we jump on a call to discuss the brief and discuss open questions. We may also need to clarify a few points from the completed brief; i.e., ask questions about a specific aspect of your service/product that we didn’t get a clear picture of from the brief. We also discuss possible characters selections and the design aesthetic. We like to also get a feel for your preferences in animation and the overall look and feel. We then tailor a look to match your brand.
Now that we have all the information we need to complete the script it is our job to get to work on an initial script & visual concept.. We will present both to you simultaneously. You will then have the opportunity to review and make changes/comments. Scriptwriting is a process and sometimes it takes a few iterations of the script to come to a final version. We will be working hard to get the message right, but we do ask for specific feedback from our clients. We have found that a collaborative process is the best way to operate and the final product is usually enhanced when our clients take an active role in each step of our process.
Next it’s time to build out the visuals. We generally will sketch out the first 2-3 scenes of the approved script. This is essentially a still version of what the project will look like prior to adding motion elements. It’s not a final version by any means, but it will give you an idea of the overall design, background, and color scheme chosen. Once those initial frames are approved we then continue forward and storyboard every scene this way you can see each fully illustrated scene in storyboard format and provide feedback and/or approvals.
A great voice makes all the difference. It’s really imperative to pick a voice that fits in with the concept, your brand and your target demographic. Our pool of voice talent is the best in the industry and each artist has been hand-picked because of their unique talent and professionalism. Typically, we will recommend 5-6 curated voices that we feel are a good fit for the project. This will allow you to pick a voice that sounds the best to you. In this phase there is really no right or wrong choice as we have pre-screened the voices to fit your brand. It’s all about preference now.
Now the fun part begins! Generally, we will design, illustrate and animate the first 15-25 seconds of your video and submit it to you for review. This is usually the section where our clients say “wow”! Once the first 15-25 seconds are approved we will continue to the finish line. The animation phase generally takes about 2 weeks for us to complete, and requires a lot of time and attention to details. We offer a fun and unique product, but we take our job very seriously. This phase is certainly fun, but it also is a crucial stage in the process.
Music and Sound Effects are sometimes the forgotten elements. We feel it’s imperative to add these touches to your video. We spend a lot of time and energy picking the right music track. All of our music is 100% copyright free and hand-picked to match your video. A music track has to have the right pace and qualifications to work well with both the voice delivery and animation. A sound design can really help drive home a key point. It’s kind of like adding an exclamation point to a sentence. We generally add the sound effects in at the end as we have found that it’s the best time to add this touch. The music will be added in and presented with the first version of your animated explainer video.
Once we have a complete version of your explainer video, we will present it to you for review. Upon your review we will wait for final comments. Once the video is finalized we will then render out an HD version and prepare it for delivery. This is a great time to ask about producing a trimmed down version or adding closed captioning to your project.
Embed the video on your website and upload it to your YouTube & Social Media Channels. Now it’s time for you to promote your explainer video in key places so your audience has a chance to see it.
