How Long Does It Take To Make An Explainer Video?

At Keystone Media, we aim to produce a one-minute 2D explainer video within a four-week timeframe.

However, depending on the complexity of the project, and mainly the time taken to receive and incorporate client feedback, this duration may extend to six weeks or more.

If the project involves the creation of a more detailed 3D explainer video, the production duration may significantly increase.

Understanding the fast-paced nature and competitiveness of the financial services industry, we are committed to delivering high-quality results promptly without compromising on efficiency. Our goal is to provide your company with an impactful animated explainer video that aligns seamlessly with your marketing strategies and campaigns.

We have refined a three-stage process that harmoniously balances the need for quick project completion with meticulous attention to detail. This process ensures your explainer video is not only informative but also a compelling representation of your brand.

For better clarity, we’ve broken down our standard four-week timeline for creating an animated explainer video. Each week is dedicated to a specific phase of our explainer video production process. We start with defining your objectives and scripting in the first week and move on to the exhilarating phase of animation in the third and fourth weeks.

It’s worth mentioning again that the total time taken can vary depending on various factors such as revisions required or the responsiveness of the client. Consequently, advance planning and allotting ample time for each production phase can significantly contribute to the successful completion of the animation project.

Each phase of our process is carefully scheduled to allow thoroughness at every stage. By accurately defining objectives, scripting, storyboarding, and designing your video before proceeding to animation, we aim to prevent costly and time-consuming amendments, particularly during the animation phase.

We invite you to join us on our creative journey, providing you with a view of each week in our efficient process towards creating animated explainer videos. For more detailed information about our process and what happens at each stage, see our article titled, The Keystone Media Method.

Explainer Video Production Weeks 1 and 2: The Vision

Starting with The Vision, we create a blueprint for your video. This process unfolds over the first two weeks with, The Discovery and Script, The Voiceover and Music, The Storyboard Sketch, and Animatic.

Week 1: Setting the Stage for Your Explainer Video

The initial week of our creative journey is focused on The Discovery & Script and The Voiceover & Music. We start by aligning your business objectives with a compelling script that effectively communicates your brand message and resonates with your audience. This script serves as the driving narrative for your explainer video.

Alongside this, we initiate the process of selecting the right voiceover and music. We find the perfect voice that suits your brand’s personality and complements the script.

Simultaneously, we choose music that aligns with your brand tone and enhances the audience’s viewing experience. Essentially, the first week lays the groundwork for your animated explainer video.

Week 2: Building the Narrative

As we transition into the second week, we shift our focus towards visual storytelling, an essential aspect of the process that includes The Storyboard Sketch and the Animatic stages. This phase involves mapping out the narrative structure and laying out the framework for how the story will unfold.

We create a preliminary storyboard, sketching the sequential flow of the video. Each scene is carefully thought out to enhance the narrative and maximise the visual impact.

After this step, we produce an animatic preview, a rough version of the video, providing an early glimpse into the motion and pacing of the story.

Concurrently, we finalise the voiceover during this week. We ensure it flawlessly encapsulates your brand’s tone and perfectly syncs with the animation timing. Our goal at this stage is to ensure the visuals and audio elements align harmoniously, setting the stage for the animation process to commence.

Explainer Video Production Weeks 3 and 4: The Production and The Delivery

Next, we initiate the process of transforming your video concept into reality, aiming to deliver it to your specifications during the final two weeks of our process.

We utilise all the information gathered during The Vision stage, to convert your concept into reality in The Production stage. The Production stage is divided into two substeps: The Visual Designs & Storyboard step, and The Animation step.

Following this, we finalise your video during The Delivery stage, where we ultimately bring your vision to life. This stage is further divided into two steps: Sound Design, and Export & Delivery.

Week 3: Detailing the Vision

The third week of our process is devoted to Visual Designs & Storyboarding, alongside initiating Animation. Our team dives into designing visual elements that echo your brand and the video’s theme.

We also craft a visual storyboard, the video’s blueprint, that outlines the story scene by scene, incorporating client feedback for accuracy and creativity.

Once this is complete we start the exciting process of Animation. Our animators breathe life into the design elements, creating dynamic scenes from the previously static visual storyboards.

This week is a pivotal phase, transforming the groundwork laid in the initial weeks into the beginnings of your explainer video in final form.

Week 4: Perfecting the Piece – Finalising Explainer Video Production

In the final week we wrap up The Animation process and dive into the Sound Design, ultimately leading to the final Export & Delivery of your explainer video. This concluding week signifies the final touches to your project, bringing everything together into a cohesive, engaging narrative.

The Animation completion entails fine-tuning the motion and transitions, ensuring smooth and visually pleasing movements that captivate your audience. It’s a meticulous process where we polish all aspects of the animation, bringing your story to life.

Once the animation is complete and approved we move onto sound design. The Sound Design stage involves refining the audio elements of your video. We focus on the audio’s synchronicity with the visuals, creating a harmonious interplay that enhances the overall viewer experience.

Finally, we move towards the Export & Delivery stage. Here, we ensure that the final video meets all specifications and is in the optimal format for your intended use.

We conduct final checks for quality assurance before delivering the final animated explainer video. This week signifies the culmination of our creative journey together, delivering a video that effectively encapsulates your brand’s story.

Explainer Videos Can Take More Than Four Weeks To Make

Creating an engaging explainer video is a multifaceted artistic and technical journey. While a standard timeline for a simpler project might be around four weeks, it’s important to note that this timeline can extend under certain circumstances.

Factors such as the complexity of the project, client responsiveness, and the frequency of revisions can potentially push the timeline beyond the initial four-week estimation.

Complexity

The level of complexity of an explainer video plays a significant role in its production time. For instance, 3D explainer videos, compared to their 2D counterparts, require additional steps and precision, contributing to a longer production timeline.

Similarly, videos involving many animated characters or numerous voiceover artists require more time for character design, animation, and voiceover recording and editing.

Moreover, the length of the video itself directly impacts the production time. A lengthier video requires more content to be scripted, story-boarded, designed, animated, and synced with the voiceover and music, inevitably extending the production schedule.

Client Responsiveness

Timely client feedback is vital to maintaining momentum during the explainer video production process. However, delays in client responses can slow down the production schedule and extend the timeline.

Each phase, from script approval to the final video sign-off, depends on prompt client feedback and approval. Slower client responsiveness can cause a ripple effect of delays in the explainer video project.

Frequency of Revisions

The number of revisions requested by the client significantly affects the production timeline also. Although adjustments are a standard part of the creative process, numerous or substantial revisions can considerably extend the project’s duration.

Every revision, whether related to the script, storyboard, animation, or sound design, requires extra hours of work, subsequently pushing back the delivery date.

In summary, while the goal is always to complete an explainer video within four weeks, it’s not uncommon for this timeline to extend due to various factors.

Clients planning their video marketing campaigns should keep these potential extensions in mind to ensure smooth project execution and timely delivery.

Conclusion: How Long Does It Take To Make An Explainer Video?

In conclusion, producing an explainer video is a complex and intricate process that brings together creativity, technical expertise, and diligent collaboration.

At Keystone Media, our standard timeline for a straightforward, one-minute 2D explainer video is typically around four weeks. However, various factors can extend this timeframe.

Projects that involve elements of complexity such as longer run times, use of 3D animation, multiple characters, or several voiceover artists can naturally require a longer production schedule.

Furthermore, the pace of client responsiveness and the number of revisions can also influence the project timeline.

When we partner with clients, we encourage them to consider these potential variables. It’s crucial to anticipate possible extensions in the production timeline, particularly when the project has complex elements.

By accommodating these factors in the planning phase, we can ensure that no detail is compromised, and the end result is a high-quality, impactful explainer video.

At the end of the day, our objective at Keystone Media is to create engaging and informative explainer videos that effectively embody our clients’ brands and resonate with their target audiences.

By recognizing and planning for the factors that could extend production timelines, we aim to ensure smooth project execution and timely delivery, ultimately serving our clients’ marketing objectives to the best of our ability.

Thank you for your time and if you have any questions about how long it takes to make an explainer video, please feel free to contact us.