How to Avoid Delays and Extra Costs on Your Next Animation Project

Picture this, you’re working on a new explainer video, product demo or other animated content for your business. You’ve hired a production company to make the video, and now you’re being asked to give feedback and make decisions on design choices and animation styles, all without seeing a single second of animated video. You know that your company is counting on you to keep the project on schedule and under budget, and your ability to meet those objectives depends on a firm understanding of the process you’re moving through, so that you can include the right stakeholders at the right times, and provide meaningful feedback.

To the uninitiated, the filmmaking process can seem complicated and inflexible, and misunderstandings can lead to unexpected delays, additional costs, and frustration. Even for experienced participants, misunderstandings can occur when different production companies use slightly different processes. That’s why we’ve put together this post--to help you navigate the animation process smoothly and get the most out of working with any animation team.

By understanding key stages such as storyboarding, animatics, and visual lock, and by knowing what to expect and how to communicate effectively with your animation team, you'll be better equipped to bring your vision to life without unnecessary hurdles. Here are some key things to know in order to make your animation project a success from the very start.

Why Storyboards Are So Important

Storyboards are the foundation of any successful animation project. Think of them as the blueprint for your video—a series of still images that outline each key moment, visual layout, and design element. Whether it's a character’s facial expression, a specific UI element, or the overall visual style, storyboards serve as the first visual representation of your concept and set the stage for a smooth, efficient animation process. Here’s why they are crucial:

Visualize the Entire Project Before Animation Begins

Storyboards give you a clear picture of what your final animation will look like, long before any actual animation work begins. This early visualization helps ensure that your vision aligns with what the animation team plans to create. If anything doesn’t look right, or if you have any concerns, now is the time to address them. Making adjustments at this stage is far easier—and much more cost-effective—than trying to make changes later in the process.

Facilitate Clear Communication Between You and the Animation Team

You know your product, service, or message better than anyone else. Storyboards provide a platform for you to communicate your vision to the animation team effectively. This stage is where we ask detailed questions to ensure we understand your goals, target audience, and brand identity. Your feedback on the storyboards is invaluable, as it helps us refine the design to meet your expectations. Don’t hesitate to call out anything that doesn’t make sense or seems off-brand—this is your chance to make sure everything aligns perfectly.

Align on Design to Save Time and Resources

Storyboards are where we lock in the details of your characters, settings, and other visual components. Getting this part right saves significant time and resources later in the project. 

For example, a seemingly simple thing like adjusting a character’s outfit is far simpler at this stage than after animation begins. So, if something doesn’t fit your brand, now is the time to make adjustments. Addressing these concerns at the storyboard stage ensures that everyone is on the same page before moving into animation, significantly reducing the need for major revisions down the line. By doing so, you avoid the need to re-hire designers or extend project timelines, which can add unnecessary costs to the overall production.

What are Animatics? 

Simply put, an animatic is a simplified video version of your storyboard, where the still images are timed out to music and voice-over (VO). While storyboards give you a visual outline, animatics bring that outline to life. This provides a clearer sense of how the final animation will flow and offers an early preview of the timing, pacing, and overall feel of the piece.

Animatics also allow you to explore different creative options before committing to the final animation. Multiple versions of the animatic can be created with different music and VO options, helping you narrow down the choices that best match your vision. This flexibility ensures that the final product aligns perfectly with your brand’s tone and message.

Animatics are the last opportunity to make any significant changes before animation begins. Whether it’s adjusting the pacing, refining transitions, or making final tweaks to the design, this is the stage to work out any lingering issues. By resolving these details now, both your team and the animation team can save time and money, avoiding costly revisions during the animation phase.

What to Know About “Visual Lock”  

Reaching “visual lock” is the point where all visual elements of your project are finalized, and no further changes to the design can be made before animation begins without incurring overages.

At the visual lock stage, all key design elements—such as characters, settings, and visual styles—are set in stone. While minor adjustments, like color changes, can still be made, the overall shapes, designs, and compositions must remain consistent. After this point, the focus shifts entirely to bringing these locked visuals to life through animation.

This is also the last opportunity to make any necessary text adjustments. Words can be swapped, but significant changes to sentences or paragraphs may be more challenging to accommodate. It’s essential to ensure that all written content aligns with the visual elements and overall message of the animation. By locking in both the visuals and text at this stage, you minimize the risk of inconsistencies later on.

The purpose of visual lock is to prevent costly and time-consuming revisions during the animation phase. Once animation begins, any changes to the locked visuals would require reworking the animation itself, leading to delays and increased costs.

Wrapping Up

Creating an animation video is a collaborative journey that involves careful planning, clear communication, and thoughtful decision-making at every stage. By understanding the importance of storyboards, the role of animatics, and the significance of visual lock, you can navigate the animation process with confidence. 

These steps are not just procedural—they are essential tools that help ensure your final product is both visually compelling and true to your vision.  When you take the time to engage fully with your animation team during these phases, you set the foundation for a successful project—avoiding costly revisions, staying on schedule, and most importantly, achieving a final video that resonates with your audience and meets your goals.

Check out our recent Personio project to see the final result of these storyboards coming to life.

Ready to Bring Your Ideas to Life? 

If you have a project in mind or any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

See our animation work