A non-profit organization I work with in Quito, Ecuador (I'm in Michigan) needs
some video animation for a promotional video they plan to produce. They asked
me what "the going rate" is for custom animations here in the U.S.A.
In my initial reply, I estimated that a figure of $200-$400 per second of
finished animation seemed reasonable (and probably on the low end of the
scale). Is that in the ballpark?
I'd appreciate any general pricing information anyone here can share.
Thanks,
Lee DeYoung
Words of HOPE, Inc.
700 Ball Avenue, N.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1308
(616)459-6181 (work)
(616)669-1138 (home)
(616)459-3830 (fax)
Lee,
Those figures are pretty close. A good rule of thumb is to start at around $500
per finished second if the work is broadcast and then move up or down according
to the complexity of the animation. Generally top end is 1200 – 1500 per
finished second, bottom end is probably 150 per finished second. Although with
the onslaught of mom and pop animation houses around the country, depending on
the complexity of the work, you could probably get it done even cheaper. Very
soon now we're going to have as many "animation houses" as desktop publishing
shops.
Paul