Choosing the right 2D animation studio can make or break your project. Whether you're launching a new product, enhancing your marketing strategy, or telling your brand's story, the right animation partner is crucial. At Animated Technologies, we understand the importance of finding a studio that aligns with your vision, timeline, and budget.
First, be clear on what you need
Before you contact any studio, write down the basics. It will make every conversation more useful and quotes easier to compare.
- Goal: what should the animation achieve? Explain a product, launch a service, train staff, support a funding bid?
- Audience: who will watch it, and how much do they already know?
- Where it will be used: website, social media, exhibitions, sales meetings, internal training.
- Length: most explainers work best at 60 to 120 seconds.
- Deadline and budget: even a rough range helps a studio suggest the right approach.
It also helps to know which style of 2D animation suits you: character animation, motion graphics, explainer-style illustration or whiteboard. Our guide to choosing an animation style explains the options.
1. Evaluate their portfolio
A studio's portfolio shows its style, quality and range. Look for:
- Work similar to yours in subject, audience or complexity, not just work that looks nice.
- Range, which suggests they can adapt to your brand rather than imposing one house style.
- Clarity. Do their videos actually explain things well? Watch with the sound off and on.
- Detail: smooth movement, consistent design and good sound.
You can browse our case studies to see projects across engineering, energy, healthcare, education and the public sector.
2. Check reviews and testimonials
Client feedback tells you what a studio is like to work with, not just what it produces. Look for comments on communication, meeting deadlines and handling changes. If you can, ask for a reference from a client in a similar sector.
3. Assess their expertise in your subject
A studio that understands your field will ask better questions, need less explanation and make fewer mistakes. This matters most for technical, scientific and regulated subjects, where getting a detail wrong undermines the whole video.
Ask how they get to grips with a new subject. At Animated Technologies, we work directly with your technical team to understand the product before we write a word, then translate it so non-technical audiences understand it too. Read more about the team.
4. Understand their process
A clear, staged process keeps a project on track and avoids expensive changes late on. A good 2D animation project usually runs through these stages, with your sign-off at each one:
- Brief and discovery: goals, audience, key messages.
- Script: the words and voiceover, agreed before any visuals.
- Storyboard: sketches showing what happens in each scene.
- Style frames: a few finished-looking stills that set the visual style.
- Voiceover: recorded once the script is final.
- Animation: bringing the scenes to life.
- Sound and music: effects, music and final mix.
- Revisions and delivery: final changes and files in every format you need.
Ask how many rounds of revisions are included at each stage, and what happens if you need more.
5. Consider communication and collaboration
You should know who your main contact is, how often you'll hear from them and how feedback is collected. A studio that asks lots of questions at the start is usually a good sign. Make sure they work in a way that suits you, whether that's calls, email or shared review tools.
6. Compare pricing fairly
Price shouldn't be the only deciding factor, but you do need good value. When comparing quotes, check they include the same things:
- Length and level of animation detail
- Script writing and storyboarding
- Professional voiceover, music and sound
- Number of revision rounds
- Subtitles, alternative cut-downs and file formats
- Usage rights for the finished video
A cheaper quote that leaves out scripting or limits revisions can end up costing more. See our pricing and FAQs.
Red flags to watch for
- No examples of work like yours
- Vague answers about process or revisions
- No questions about your audience or goals
- Pressure to commit before you've seen a script or storyboard
- Templates passed off as bespoke work
Questions to ask before you sign
- Have you worked on similar subjects or for similar audiences?
- Who will work on my project, and who is my main contact?
- What's the timeline, and what do you need from us and when?
- How many revisions are included at each stage?
- What exactly will we receive at the end, and do we own it?
Why choose Animated Technologies?
We combine creative 2D animation with real technical understanding, which is why engineering, energy, healthcare and public sector organisations trust us with complex subjects. You'll work closely with our team from brief to delivery, with clear stages and sign-off throughout.
Find out more about our 2D animation services, or get in touch to talk about your project.
