Animation is a growing area of graphic design as many companies seek to use it both online and on smart phones. As technology develops, so to does this area of graphic design. However finding the right agency can be challenging as there are so many to choose from.
A quick search on Google will reveal that there are thousands of designers. You cannot just pick the agency at the top of the page, just because they are at the top of the page. You need to choose them based on specific criteria.
This is where we can help, by shortlisting a few local designers for you to get quotes from.
Animation has allowed storytellers to tell stories in unique ways. The simulation of movement created by a series of pictures is animation. But how it actually works is a bit more complicated than that. Before we get to the various types of animated motion pictures, let’s start with an animation definition.
The visceral fantastical worlds in animated films can reignite inspiration and the magic of stories no matter what age. So if you’re a storyteller, or want to be, the animation is a great place to start. So what is animation? What are the types of animation cartoonists and artists use?
Animation is a method of photographing successive drawings, models, or even puppets, to create an illusion of movement in a sequence. Because our eyes can only retain an image for approximately 1/10 of a second, when multiple images appear in fast succession, the brain blends them into a single moving image.
In traditional animation, pictures are drawn or painted on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed. Early cartoons are examples of this, but today, most animated movies are made with computer-generated imagery or CGI.
To create the appearance of smooth motion from these drawn, painted, or computer-generated images, frame rate, or the number of consecutive images that are displayed each second, is considered. Moving characters are usually shot “on twos” which just means one image is shown for two frames, totaling in at 12 drawings per second. 12 frames per second allows for motion but may look choppy. In the film, a frame rate of 24 frames per second is often used for smooth motion.
The main thing to look for when considering a creative design agency is their experience. How long have they been doing animation for? How good are they? Do they have current clients you can talk to? Are the clients happy?
Another thing to look out for is industry experience. Have they worked in your market? Do they know how your target audience will react to the designs?
This is important as all industry sectors are different. What works in one will not necessarily work in another.
A great way to see how good an agency is would be to go and see them. What are their studios like? The claims they make on their website about being ‘the UK’s top graphic design agency’, can they substantiate that?
Using a local graphic designer is always advised, as meetings do play an important roll in the communication process.
A meeting will also give you a chance to meet the team and see how much about your industry/company they really do know.
Choosing a marketing company to handle your animation can be a challenge. Sadly comparing prices is essential in today’s world. As all animation companies set their own fees, they will vary considerably from agency to agency.