Are you planning to hire a 3D animation studio, but you need to figure out how and where to start in the first place? Before hiring any 3D animation service for your projects, here are some questions you need to ask the animation studio to ensure you’ll be working with the right one.
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Importance of 3D animation videos
3D animation models have different applications and features in digital marketing. People use these videos since the sense of movement makes them more accessible and more engaging to explain complex and challenging concepts. If you’re unsure if you should use 3D animation, now is the time to try it. 3D animations are known for being efficient and visually appealing in conveying the features of a product.
These animated videos are also an excellent way to spread or share your company’s message or present any hard-to-explain concept or idea. 3D animation videos from 3D design professionals can also improve the value of your organization and its reputation in the market, whether you use them for sales, presentation, or marketing. Furthermore, these modern marketing tools can increase your audience reach because you can publish these videos on different online platforms. 3D animation videos can amplify your online presence, attract customers, and establish your brand reputation.
RELATED: How much does 3D animation cost & rates for product marketing video services?
Why outsource 3D animation services
Many 3D animation studios today provide a new channel for promoting services and products for engineering, architecture, and many other industries. Here are some of the best reasons why you should consider outsourcing your 3D animation needs:
- 3D animation studios have the infrastructure, software, and tools to finish their projects. Their extensive experience and portfolio help cut down the lead time and overall cost of projects. Aside from these, they also have dedicated teams and trained project managers who know how to communicate smoothly and openly with their clients.
- Reduced operational costs mean a higher profit margin for your company. Outsourcing 3D animation videos gives your in-house staff more time to focus on tasks while animators are busy doing theirs.
- Outsourcing 3D animation services lessens the cost of hiring an in-house full-time animator.
- You can look for the best 3D animation studio that offers top-of-the-line services.
Benefits of hiring a 3D animation studio
Here are some of the most substantial reasons to hire a 3D animation studio for your upcoming projects:
Perfect for long projects
3D animation studios are composed of skilled 3D animators who are all well-equipped to handle long and feature-length projects that last anywhere between 30 to over 90 minutes. If your project requires several minutes of video, working with a 3D animation can assure you that your project will be completed right on time.
Industry expertise
3D animation studios are adept at creating engaging stories and stunning animations and handling the entire production process to ensure you don’t blow your budget. A team is necessary to do all of these correctly. These studios don’t only tell beautiful stories or create attractive illustrations. Instead, they have all the essential skills required to finish your project.
Broad Promotion
Animation studios can help you with your video marketing needs, which come in handy if you want your 3D animated videos to be in front of your target audience.
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Reliable Reputation
Many of today’s 3D animated videos run virtually. You don’t have to be physical with the studio to create the video. Establishing trust from the start is crucial since you will work with the studio virtually. As mentioned earlier, 3D rendering companies consist of professionals who can complete your project even if some team members might be sick or busy with a different task. You can always count on these studios to stick with you from start to finish; they won’t disappear like a ghost in the production process.
Style Variety
3D animation studios have a pool of talented and skilled animators who can work hand in hand when designing and animating different styles of custom animated visuals.
Questions to a 3D animation studio
Now that you have a good idea of what 3D animation studios do and can offer, here are some of the questions you should ask them before you settle for one:
Do you have cloud rendering access or a render farm?
This is one of the first and most important questions you should ask the 3D animation studio you’re planning to work with. Powerful technical capacities are required to create 3D animated videos without details. Cloud rendering and render farms alike can make this possible.
Render farms are high-performance computer clusters used for speedier 3D animation rendering. Cloud rendering, on the other hand, visualizes CGI using the computational power of the servers in a cloud environment. This offers faster visualization and makes it easier to create more complicated scenes. Take your time to ask if the 3D visualization firm has cloud rendering access or a render farm. This will help you ensure they have the essential resources for the timely delivery of your 3D animated videos.
RELATED: Top reasons for using 3D rendering in the 3D animation process
What type of revisions policy do you have? How about guarantees?
Guarantees should always be among the first questions you should ask any 3D animation studio. Specific guarantees should be in place every time you work with these studios. This may involve a timeliness guarantee as well as an NDA for the protection of your intellectual property. Discuss these guarantees with the studio to confirm if they can offer a trustworthy service. You must also clarify the studio’s revisions policy since changes might be needed during your project. Once you’re armed with this knowledge, you can also manage your expectations and budget better.
How will you organize the workflow?
Don’t forget to ask the 3D product animation company how they plan to organize the working process. An effective and efficient workflow is critical to collaborate with your chosen studio successfully. Inquire about their approach to project management. Ask if they will also assign a dedicated manager to your project if they will offer CRM system access, or provide responsive client support. Raising these questions will give you a better understanding of the studio’s workflow and whether their techniques and expectations align.
Discussing the communication process and project milestones will ensure that the two parties will always be on the same from start to finish.
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How large is your team, and what experience and skills do your staff members have?
The size of the team of a 3D animation studio has a significant impact on the timeliness and quality of your project. Generally, a bigger team is better equipped to deliver on time and handle complicated tasks. When you raise this question, make sure you also ask about the expertise of the specialists and their specific roles in the animation process. It will give you a glimpse of the studio’s capabilities and if they will be effective enough in managing your project. Evaluating the studio’s experience will make you more confident in their ability to render top-notch results.
How much are your services?
This is undoubtedly one of the most important questions you should ask before hiring a 3D animation studio. Knowing the structure of their prices is crucial to determining the best fit for your requirements and budget.
Several studios charge by the hour, while others offer after-package deals or per-second rates. Asking about the studio’s pricing structure will help you determine the option that best fits your needs and confirm that there are no hidden fees. Talking about the possible extra expenses and payment terms will give you a clearer picture of the total cost.
Resources to ask from a 3D animation studio
You should ask for or request several resources from a 3D animation studio before hiring them to ensure you’ll receive top-of-the-line services. These resources include the following:
- Portfolio: Don’t hesitate to ask if you can see the portfolio of the studio’s previous works. This way, you can get a good idea of their range of services, quality, and style.
- Communication plan: Ask for a communication plan outlining the communication between you and the studio during production. It assures you that you will be involved and stay current about the project.
- Project timeline: Inquire if it is possible to get a comprehensive project timeline, including deadlines and milestones for the different stages. Doing so will make it easier to stay on track of the project and guarantee timely completion.
RELATED: How a 3D product animation service can boost your marketing efforts
How Cad Crowd can help
Contact Cad Crowd and start your search for the best 3D animation studios that can bring your ideas to life!
