A Guide to Choosing the Right Animated Video Agency

In the digital age, where visual content reigns supreme, animated videos have emerged as a powerful tool for businesses to engage their audience, efficiently explain complex concepts, and enhance their brand presence. However, creating high-quality animated videos requires the expertise, creativity, and technical skills that not all companies possess in-house or even have the bandwidth for. This is where an animated video agency like Digital Brew (that’s us!) comes into play. But with so many agencies out there, how do you choose the right one for your needs? In this week’s blog, we’ll explore the key factors to consider when selecting an animated video agency, ensuring that you make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals.

Understanding Your Needs

Before you start your search for an animated video agency, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your needs and objectives. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What type of video do you need? Is it an explainer video, promotional video, product demo, or something else?
• Who is your target audience?
• What message do you want to convey?
• What is the desired outcome of the video?

Having a well-defined project scope helps communicate your requirements effectively to potential agencies and sets the foundation for a successful collaboration.

Researching an Animated Video Agency

Once you have a clear understanding of your needs, it’s time to start researching potential animated video agencies. You can start by searching online for “animated video agency” (that might even be how you found this blog) and explore the websites of various agencies. Pay attention to their portfolios, client testimonials, and case studies. Look for agencies that have experience in creating videos similar to what you envision for your project. Create a shortlist of agencies that seem to align with your needs and have a track record of delivering high-quality work.

Evaluate Their Portfolio

An agency’s portfolio offers a window into their capabilities and style. As you review the portfolios of shortlisted agencies, pay attention to:

• Quality of Animation: Are the animations smooth and professional?
• Creativity: Do their videos captivate and engage the audience?
• Storytelling: Is the narrative clear and compelling?

Quality of Animation

Quality animation is the hallmark of a reputable agency. Look for fluid motion, attention to detail, and professional polish in their work. Poorly executed animations with choppy movements or inconsistent character designs can detract from the message you’re trying to convey. High-quality animation, on the other hand, enhances the viewer’s experience and makes your content more memorable.

Creativity and Storytelling

Creativity and storytelling are crucial elements of an effective animated video. A creative agency will bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches to your project. Their storytelling should be engaging and coherent, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. The ability to weave a compelling narrative that keeps viewers interested is a sign of a skilled agency.

Diversity in Their Work

Look for diversity in their portfolio. An agency that can handle various styles and industries is likely more versatile and capable of meeting your specific requirements. This versatility demonstrates their ability to adapt their creative approach to different contexts, ensuring your video is unique and tailored to your brand.

Check Client Testimonials and Reviews

Client testimonials and reviews provide valuable insights into the agency’s reliability, professionalism, and the quality of their work. Look for testimonials on the agency’s website as well as reviews on third-party platforms like Google, Clutch, and Yelp. Reach out to some of their past clients if possible, and ask about their experience working with the agency. Were they satisfied with the final product? Did the agency meet deadlines and stay within budget? Positive feedback from previous clients is a strong indicator of an agency’s credibility.

Assess Their Creative Process

Understanding the agency’s creative process is crucial to ensure a smooth collaboration. Ask about their workflow and how they approach each project. A good animated video agency will have a well-defined process that includes initial consultation, scriptwriting, storyboarding, animation, and revisions. Clear communication and regular updates throughout the project are essential to ensure that your vision is accurately translated into the final video.

Here’s an excerpt from a previous blog where we break down, at a very high level, a little bit about what what the creative process here at Digital Brew looks like:

“We’ve talked a lot in the past about our creative briefs and how we kick off your explainer video journey. So let’s dive a little deeper into the process of bringing your video to life. Something that we pride ourselves on at Digital Brew is how each and every video is custom to you and your business. 

A crucial step on the journey with us are mood boards. This is where we’ll send you a collection of images and art styles that we think would be a good fit for your video. You’ll pick your favorites (or tell us to go back to the drawing board and bring you more) and then based on what you selected, we’ll create your custom artwork. So, let’s say you really liked two of the six we sent you, our artists will find a way to blend those two together based on your feedback. 

Then with that custom artwork, we’ll create “Style Frames.” These are a handful of frames that’ll be used in your actual video and will give you an idea of what your video will look like. And once you’ve approved your Style Frames, we’ll storyboard your entire video. Of course, we can make any adjustments you want until you’re happy with it.  With the storyboard approved, you’ll have a great vision of how your video is going to look before we even start animating.”

Consider Their Expertise and Experience

Experience matters when it comes to creating high-quality animated videos. Look for agencies that have been in the industry for several years and have a proven track record. Experienced agencies are more likely to have encountered and overcome various challenges, making them better equipped to handle your project. 

Proven Track Record

A proven track record indicates that the agency has consistently delivered high-quality work over time. Experienced agencies have likely worked on a wide range of projects, honing their skills and processes. They are better equipped to anticipate potential challenges and find effective solutions.

Industry-Specific Expertise

Consider their expertise in your specific industry. An agency that understands the nuances of your industry will be better positioned to create a video that resonates with your target audience. Industry-specific expertise ensures that the agency can effectively communicate your message and highlight the unique aspects of your brand. In fact, over the last few years, we’ve posted a number of blogs that showcase a handful of the industries we often create videos for, like healthcare, tech, logistics, and finance. 

Review Their Pricing Structure

Budget is a critical factor when choosing an animated video agency. While it’s important to find an agency that fits within your budget, avoid making price the sole deciding factor. High-quality animation requires investment, and like we’ve said before, You get what you pay for. If you go for the cheaper option or try to cut corners, chances are the result is going to be a subpar video that doesn’t achieve your goals. A bad video can end up costing you way more than making the necessary investment from the beginning. 

Evaluate Their Communication and Customer Service

Effective communication is key to a successful collaboration. Pay attention to how responsive and attentive the agency is during your initial interactions. Do they listen to your ideas and provide valuable input? Are they prompt in responding to your queries? A good animated video agency should be easy to communicate with and should prioritize your needs and preferences throughout the project. Excellent customer service ensures a positive working relationship and helps in resolving any issues that may arise during the production process.

Look for Customization and Flexibility

Every business is unique, and so are its video requirements. Ensure that the agency you choose offers customization and flexibility in their services. Discuss your ideas and see if the agency is willing to tailor their approach to align with your vision. An agency that values creativity and is open to experimenting with new ideas will likely produce a video that stands out and effectively communicates your message.

At Digital Brew, every video is always tailored to your company, whether it be your script or your customer artwork. We never want to make the same video twice and we know that you definitely don’t want a cookie cutter video.

Check Their Timeline and Availability

Timelines are crucial, especially if you have a specific launch date or event for which you need the video. Discuss the agency’s availability and their estimated timeline for completing your project. Ensure that they can deliver the video within your desired time frame without compromising on quality. A reliable agency will provide a realistic timeline and keep you informed of any potential delays.

Evaluate Their Post-Production Support

Creating an animated video doesn’t end with the final delivery. There’s plenty of offerings here at Digital Brew that we provide to help support your video beyond sending the finished version to you. Here’s an excerpt from a blog discussing some of the post-video support we offer:

“So, in addition to your video, you’ll also get:

• Access to our educational video series where we break down best marketing practices around topics like landing page optimization, email sequencing, and scheduling software.
• A social media accelerator kit that includes a cutdown of your video and static social media to kickstart your new social media campaign.
• Two 1-hour strategy sessions where you’ll get to work one-on-one with our marketing team to help shape your campaign around your new video.
• Full access to all your custom vector artwork so you can match your upcoming marketing campaigns to your new video.
• An SRT file for accessibility so you can add subtitles to your video.”

Make an Informed Decision

After evaluating all the above factors, it’s time to make an informed decision. Compare the agencies on your shortlist based on their portfolios, client testimonials, creative process, expertise, pricing, communication, customization, technical capabilities, timeline, post-production support, and marketing expertise. Choose the animated video agency that best aligns with your needs, budget, and vision. Here’s a handful of questions you’ll want to ask your potential agency:

1. Can you provide examples of similar projects you have completed?
2. What is your process for developing a video from concept to completion?
3. How do you handle feedback and revisions?
4. What is the estimated timeline for my project?
5. What are your pricing and payment terms?
6. Do you offer post-production support and updates?
7. How do you ensure the video aligns with our brand and message?
8. Do you offer any additional services, such as video marketing and distribution?

Asking these questions helps you gain a deeper understanding of each agency’s capabilities, approach, and suitability for your project.

Brewing Your Animated Video

Choosing the right animated video agency is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success of your video marketing efforts. By taking the time to research, evaluate, and compare different agencies, you can find a partner that understands your vision and can bring it to life through high-quality animation. Remember, the key to a successful animated video lies in the agency’s creativity, expertise, and ability to communicate your message effectively. With the right agency by your side, you can create captivating animated videos that engage your audience and drive your business forward.

Of course, we at Digital Brew would love to show you what we’re capable of and how we can help take your marketing game to the next level. Of course, we love making kick-ass videos, but we’re marketing experts first and offer plenty of extras to help your video succeed. So if you’re ready to learn a little more about our process, we’d love to hear from you. You can always reach out to us here.

Let’s Brew This!