2D animations are used in many types of businesses, not just in video game development. They are mainly used to get an increase in sales, to improve customer engagement and awareness, but also to raise SEO results. But in this article, we will focus more on 2D animation costs for game development.
If you already searched the prices for 2D animations on some game development companies‘ websites, you probably noticed that they are not displayed. The main reason is that these services are customized, and not all costs will be the same. Usually, when you ask for an quotation, you will receive a price per minute, and a 60-second video can cost between 3,000 and 50,000 USD.
The lowest cost can be a 2D animation on the whiteboard with simple graphics and no characters. The most expensive 2D animations cover several more aspects like complex research, scenarios, extensive frame-by-frame animation, VFX, SFX, and TV copyright.
The costs of 2D animation vary depending on several factors and must be budgeted like other tailor-made products.
Factors that influence the 2D animation costs
1. The length of the animation
The longer the animation, the higher the prices. This criterion is among the first most important factors influencing the 2D animation costs. The illusion of motion is created by quickly change the images; to make a second of animation, you may need even 24 unique drawings. It takes a lot of work to create a minute of 2D animation.
2. The Complexity of 2D Animation
The more details are in the animation, the higher the cost will be. The elements that add complexity are characters, backgrounds, scripts, sound effects, and other assets.
3. Complexity and number of characters
As the number of characters and their details increase, game artists will invest more time and work in the project.
4. Additional visual or sound effects
Depending on the purpose for which your 2D animation is designed, you can request the addition of visual or sound effects that will significantly improve the result. To calculate an estimated price as real as possible, you must consider the extra effects you want from the project beginning.
5. Game artists’ expertise
Depending on the expertise of the team of artists you will be collaborating with, the costs of 2D animation may vary. If you want the price to be lower, you can hire a junior to help you with the project, but if you wish for a high-quality 2D animation in a shorter time, you have to hire a senior game artist level of high expertise.
Besides, if 2D animation is more complex, you may need graphic designers, artists, screenwriters, or sound engineers. In this case, a wise decision is to seek help from a professional game development studio such as Starloop Studios, which already has a whole team of qualified artists in the field.
Freelancer vs. 2D animation studio. What are the costs for each?
Freelancer. If you want to have lower costs, you will first think about working with a freelancer. This type of collaboration has both pros and cons. For example, you can choose a freelancer to help you with a piece of the project that needs to be modified in short-term projects. You will benefit from the flexibility, and you can choose talents from all over the globe. However, you will not benefit from any quality assurance of work. You will lose a lot of time until you find the perfect freelancer. If you have several projects simultaneously, a single freelancer will not be able to cope with the work.
Comparing the prices we’ve found on various freelance platforms like Fiverr, UpWork, or Freelancer, the average cost that game artists charge is $ 40 per hour (starting at $ 15 per hour to $ 60 per hour).
2D animation studio. If you are not sure that a freelancer could deliver quality work, collaborate with real professionals like 2D game studios are the right choice. In that case, you will have a more excellent range of expertise, more professional tools that a freelancer does not have, unlimited resources, and guarantees for the animations received. In terms of costs, a game studio’s services are slightly higher than those of a freelancer.
Usually, these teams include talented people passionate about art which already have higher expertise in the field. Outsourcing animation studios can be an excellent choice for companies that cannot delegate 2D animation tasks internally. If your project includes more requirements than creating 2D animations, outsourcing animation studios offers full-cycle development of different animation projects.
2D animation costs in the United States, Europe, and Asia
Nowadays, you can collaborate with specialists from all over the world. Depending on the geographical area, costs may differ. For example, European game studios charge 2D animation costs between $25 and $100 per hour, while those in America charge between $100 and $200 per hour. But if the budget is smaller, you can choose to collaborate with game artists from Asia, where the 2D animation costs are $25-$50 per hour.
Although European companies’ costs are lower than those of America, the results are top-rated in customer preferences.
Need professional 2D animations?
For your 2D animations to be eye-catching and revolutionize your brand, you need dedicated specialists who already have expertise in the field. We deliver a wide range of 2D animation services to all industries, which will help you reach the hearts of your customers more quickly.
Starloop Studios is proud to be part of the Magic Media group, an international group specialising in entertainment and gaming industry services. Our wide range of offerings includes VFX, blockchain gaming, game art services, and more. Reach out today to avail of our expertise and A-Z services for your projects.
