FAQs
How long does an animation project take?
Quick answer
Most animation projects need a couple of weeks of set up before production begins – aligning on the brief, gathering assets, and getting schedules in order.
From there, a short, straightforward piece (under 60 seconds in a simply style) could be produced in four weeks. A longer, more complex project (two to three minutes with detailed design) is more likely to need eight to ten weeks.
The honest answer is: it depends, and we’ll always be upfront with you about timelines from the start.
Every animation project starts with prep work
Before a single frame gets made, there's some groundwork to do. From experience, we know it’s worth doing properly.
We'll get everyone aligned on the brief, make sure we have your brand guidelines and any assets we need, and get schedules in order on both sides. This typically takes a couple of weeks, and it's time well spent. A clear start means a smoother production and a better final animation.
The production stages
Once we're into production, a project moves through several distinct stages. Understanding what these are helps explain why animation takes the time it does , and why rushing any one of them tends to cause problems further down the road.
It starts with the brief and concept development. We'll work with you to establish the creative direction — the mood, atmosphere, and style that best tells your story. Whether that's 2D, stop motion, 3D, or a combination, finding the right approach is worth taking time over. From there, we’re off and running.
Next we develop the script. This requires some time to evolve, but once complete it locks down the structure and narrative — everything that follows is built on it.
Then comes the storyboard, which is a big milestone. This is where we pin down how the story will actually be told, frame by frame. It's important to get this right before moving on because unpicking the storyboard once it's agreed can cause delays.
We then create an animatic — a planning tool that combines basic animation, guide voiceover, and sometimes a soundtrack. At this stage, it’s less about how things look and more about how they flow in time.
Style frames come next. These are still images of key moments in the film that give a clear picture of what the final output will look and feel like.
With all of that signed off, animation production begins. Every project is different here — some effects and movements require experimentation and time to get right, others move quickly. Throughout, you'll receive work-in-progress cuts to review, so everyone stays on the right path and each stage is signed off as we go.
Finally, voiceover and sound design are added before the film goes to render (which is the process of bringing all the elements together into the finished piece). The more detailed the project, the longer rendering takes.
What can make a project take longer?
A few things can add time:
Detailed character design — building characters from scratch takes care and craft
Longer scripts — more content simply means more steps in the process, more review rounds, and ultimately more time
Changes late in the process — agreeing to the script and the storyboard, and sticking to them, keeps things on track
More stakeholders/decision-makers — having more people involved isn’t a bad thing, but if more approvals are needed between stages, it’ll add time
What can speed things up?
Being well prepared at the start makes a real difference. Coming in with a clear brief, approved brand guidelines, all the assets we need, and a single decision-maker on your side means we can move quickly from day one.
Working with MightyGiant on timelines
We don't do vague estimates or overpromising. Animation is a craft, and good work takes the time it takes. But from the first chat, we'll tell you what's realistic, and we'll flag anything that might affect the schedule as early as we can.