How we work
Our production process keeps you in control, whilst minimising the time between enquiry and delivery.
The process is also designed to minimise the impact of changes. For example, a video voice‑over is recorded after the storyboard has been approved, as storyboarding can identify changes to improve the voice-over script.
We can also work from presentations, scripts and storyboards produced by clients and their creative agencies.
Animation process
Key milestones keep all stakeholders aligned, manage scope creep and minimise the impact of changes - so projects are delivered on time and within budget.
See for deliverables at each stage of production.
Brief
A clear brief is key to a successful project. Download a Creative Brief Template to help you get started.
Creative
Every project begins with research to develop and refine messaging, then brainstorming and creative thinking to visualise the messaging and illustrate your story. Our ideas are then presented for discussion using mood-boards, which provide a visual reference to ensure that everyone shares the same vision. And to complete the creative, we reply to your brief with a plan to confirm the scope, schedules and project costs.
plan.pdf & mood-board.pdf
Script
Scriptwriting of the voice-over often requires a collaborative approach to tell the story and deliver the key messages in a conversational style. The script may also describe visual elements, actions or motion to support and enhance the messaging. A ‘scratch’ computer-generated voice audio file is also provided to share with stakeholders and help refine the script.
script.docx & script.mp3
Style
In parallel with scriptwriting, we design a few frames of the video to establish a graphic style for illustrations, photos, text and backgrounds. This may also include character design and sample animations, to share the look and feel of the video. Styling also includes casting to select the voice-over artist and music.
style-frames.pdf
Storyboard
With an approved script and style, work can begin on the storyboard. A series of images for every keyframe of the video, with voice-over script and notes to explain the animations and transitions between keyframes. (About 20 frames for a 2-3 minute video)
To improve feedback from stakeholders (so that changes are made before animation work starts), we also provide an animatic of the storyboard with a computer generated voice-over.
storyboard.pdf & storyboard.mp4
Voice-over
Production begins with the recording of the voice-over, to which clients are encouraged to attend a conference call, to ensure names are pronounced correctly and to approve each take. The chosen music is then remixed to the required duration and edited with the voice-over to create the video soundtrack.
voiceover.mp3 & soundtrack.mp3
Illustration
Graphics production starts alongside audio production, to prepare all illustrations and footage for animation. Final designs are produced for every keyframe in the storyboard, then animation artwork is prepared with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop layers, grouped and named appropriately.
If required, the artwork can be used to share an updated storyboard for approval before animation.
Animation
We now have all the ingredients and approvals to start animation work, which requires the rigging of characters or graphics to produce the required motion design. The voice-over and music provide the timing for each scene to be animated, then shared with clients to make the process as collaborative as possible.
scene00.mp4 & take00.mp4
Edit
Post-production adds the finishing touches including visual and sound effects, translations, subtitles and encoding to the required video formats.
edit00.mp4 & final.mp4
Share
Your video is ready to be uploaded to your website, social media platform, or shared with your audience.
Presentation process
Presentation production is much simpler than the above animation process. Style is usually set by your company PowerPoint template, the voice-over is delivered by the presenter, and complex animations are usually not required.
We however do follow the same 4 production phases - to plan, design, build then finish by editing and refining your presentation.
We can also help you develop your story to suit your audience and the presentation environment - from face-to-face and virtual meetings to conference keynotes.
To structure presentations for effective storytelling, we apply the Situation-Complication-Resolution framework for most B2B presentations:
1. Situation
Set the scene and introduce the characters/stakeholders. Identify the problems your audience already acknowledges.
2. Complication
Encounter obstacles, introduce conflict and identify implications, to grow the problems big enough to prompt action.
3. Resolution
Overcome the obstacle and resolve the conflict, providing examples and evidence where possible. Repeat and present the call to action.