The process isn't
complicated. The
clarity is.
Most projects fail before a single frame is animated. The brief is wrong. The message is buried. There's no clear point of view. Here's how I stop that from happening.
Challenge the brief.
Before visuals: what does this piece need to do, who watches it, and what decision do they make afterwards.
What happens in this phase
- Discovery session: me asking hard questions
- Script and concept: one clear direction, not three options
- Voice and tone direction
- Visual style reference
Build the visual argument.
One clear visual direction, agreed early — before animation makes changes expensive.
What gets built
- Storyboard (rough → refined)
- Style frame design
- Motion direction: how things move, not just how they look
- One structured feedback round before production
Animate. Refine. Ship.
Production moves fast when the earlier phases did their job.
What gets delivered
- Full animation production
- Sound design and voiceover integration
- Two structured revision rounds
- Final delivery in your required formats
How much does a project cost?
From $5,000. Most projects land around $10,000–$15,000 — that's the range I prefer to work in. Fixed quote upfront after we understand the brief — no cookie-cutter packages.
How long does a typical motion design project take?
Most projects run 3 to 6 weeks from kickoff to final delivery. Phase one (script and concept) usually takes about a week. Phase two (storyboard and style frames) takes about 1 to 2 weeks. Phase three (animation, sound, revisions) takes another 1 to 3 weeks. Tight timelines are possible for simpler pieces — I'll always be upfront about what's realistic and what's not.
Why work with a small studio instead of a big production house?
You skip the account manager and producer layers and work directly with me — the creative director. Small studio, big impact: senior craft, faster decisions, and one person accountable for the story from brief to delivery. Best fit for SaaS teams, startups, and agencies that want a fractional creative partner rather than a large production pipeline.
How many rounds of revisions do I get?
Two structured revision rounds during animation, plus one structured review after storyboard and style frames. The structure matters: feedback is consolidated, not drip-fed, so the project keeps momentum. Scope changes mid-project are handled transparently — if they push timeline or cost, you'll know before any work starts.
What do I need to provide to get started?
Not a script. Just context. Who are you, who are you trying to reach, what do you want them to do next, and what's getting in the way right now. If you have a brand guide, existing decks, screenshots, or competitor references, those help. If you don't, we build the brief together in phase one.
Who will I actually be working with?
Me. Daniel Neale. I own the concept, the storyboard, the creative direction, and the delivery — and I respond to your feedback directly. When a job needs extra hands, I bring in specialists I trust and direct. No account managers. That end-to-end ownership is the model.
Can you work to a fixed deadline?
Yes, if the timeline is realistic for the scope. I'll be honest early in the conversation about whether a date is achievable. If it's tight, we can sometimes reduce scope (shorter runtime, simpler visual direction, fewer revisions) to hit the date without cutting corners on the things that matter.
Do you offer ongoing motion design or retainer work?
Yes. A lot of SaaS and product-led clients work with me on a rolling basis — a series of feature videos, social cutdowns, quarterly updates, or ongoing campaign motion. After the first project ships, we can set up a lightweight retainer or book work project-by-project, whichever suits.