Now, so that we’re on the same page I’d like to state: There is no almighty list that every animator in the world sets their prices according to. Of course like any service, you get what you pay for concerning quality. But when having to pay large amounts, it’s always good to know what you’re paying for and why what is marked at certain prices.

What I'm going to construct is a way of approaching the price range, instead of giving you exact prices for every type of animator (which wold be impossible).

Different types of animation, of course require different levels of skill, and take various amounts of time. All depending on what the creation process involves. It’s also an important factor to look deeply into what you have in mind, because the more complex your requirements the longer it will end up taking. (Rates usually going by the hour)

The more skilled the artist is, the faster they will work. You therefore receive better work a lot quicker. So the amount/hour will be more because you’re receiving more for a shorter amount of time. So, being under the impression that you’re paying less when hiring a less-experienced artist is an illusion. This is of course because they will take longer to execute what you want and the result wont be very great. This ends up wasting your money and your time.

The stages that are necessary to consider are worked through during the production process (quoted) :

“Pre-production planning
1 - 2 weeks

•             Proposal reviewed and turned into project brief/agreement

•             The client to sign and return project agreement

•             The client is invoiced for project start deposit

•             Script is written based on the outline

•             The client to review and amend the script

•             Script to be finalised and signed off

•             Voice over artist to be selected by the client

Pre-production design
1 - 2 weeks

•             Voice over artist to record the script reading

•             Visual style concept sheet(s) designed

•             Storyboards designed

•             Voice over recorded

•             Visual style concept sheet(s) reviewed, revised and signed off

•             Storyboards reviewed, revised and signed off

•             Voiceover reviewed, revised and signed off

Production
1 - 4 weeks

•             Animation production

•             Sound effects and music production

Post-production
2 days - 1 week

•             Animation draft send for review

•             Animation and sound revisions within the signed off storyboard

•             Final animation delivered”

Research and a clear idea in mind.

To avoid being caught in an unpleasant situation, research must be done on your behalf. Don’t go into anything without knowing exactly what you want as the end result. Go through other company’s videos that also have animation incorporated in and formulate an image in your head of what’s good and what’s bad, what’s effective and what isn’t so effective.

Next step would be to check different artists’ portfolios and try your best not to let the standards that you have formulated drop just because the prices make your heart sink a little. At the end of the day it will be the catalyst of income and a big saver of you time.

It is said that a generalized price to pay for animation in say an advertisement, would be about ±R300, 00/hour. But considering all the factors we just mentioned you will have to adjust the price in mind to the various factors.

So here are some simplified steps on how to begin:

1. Compile the information and imagery in your head (what you want done)
2. Formulate the length you would like it to be
3. Do research to see what has been and can be done (To get a realistic image in mind and get a good idea of what’s good and what’s not so good.)
4. Adjust the idea you had in your head to suit a realistic approach depending on the research you have done. (This will avoid all possible time loss, difficulty, and disappointment.)
5. Consider a style
6. Look for an artists, get a good variety
7. Check and compare portfolios
8. Choose the artist that best produces the imagery you’ve compiled in your mind
9. Budget using the generalized price and adding or subtracting accordingly:
   
   
   1. The better the artist is the more you will pay
   2. The more complicated the production process of the style the more you will pay
   3. The longer the time frame of the production the more you will pay
   4. The more complex in general the higher the price will be

[Feel free to recommend anything I missed or ask questions in the comment section bellow.]