Character animation
Characters designed, rigged and animated in 2D for explainers, ads and brand mascots.
GradaxEuropean companyOrder outright
Founded 2014·Built and operated in Europe·1 to 10 weeks
About this service
A well-animated character makes people watch, remember and feel something about a message. We design the character, build a rig so it can move and emote, then animate it to your script and voice-over, including lip sync. The character and rig are yours, ready to reuse in future videos.
Design first, because the rig depends on it
A character design looks finished as a single drawing, but animation puts it under strain. Can the arms bend without looking broken? Do the proportions work when the character turns to the side? Can the face show surprise, doubt and delight clearly at small sizes? Designs that ignore these questions look great in the pitch and stiff on screen.
We design with animation in mind: clear silhouettes, joints that bend convincingly and expressions that read at phone size. The design sheet shows front, side and three-quarter views plus key expressions, and it is approved before rigging starts. Changing a character after it is rigged and animated means redoing much of the work.
Performance takes time, and it shows
Moving shapes and text is motion graphics. Making a character act is animation, and it is slower. The character has to have weight, so a jump lands rather than floats. Movement has to anticipate and follow through. Expressions have to change at the right moment in the line. Lip sync has to match the voice closely enough that viewers stop noticing it.
That is why character work is priced differently from other animation. A 60-second piece with one character speaking and gesturing takes weeks, not days. The upside is lasting: a well-designed, rigged character can appear in future videos at a fraction of the original cost, because the design and rig already exist.
What you get
Everything below is in the price. Nothing here is an upgrade.
- Character design sheet: front, side, expressions
- Rigged character
- Animated video
- Exports and source files
What changes
- A character designed to fit your brand and audience, approved before animation
- A rig that lets the character walk, gesture and show expressions consistently
- Lip sync matched to the voice-over
- Reusable character files for future videos
How it runs
Design
Character sketches, then a full design sheet approved.
Rig
Character built with joints and controls for movement and expression.
Animate
Performance animated to the voice-over, scene by scene.
Finish
Backgrounds, sound and final render.
Compare the sizes
The standard price for each size. Extras are priced beside it, not hidden behind a call.
| Included | Character design and loop€2901 to 2 weeks | Animated short up to 60 seconds€1,3604 to 6 weeks | Animated short up to 2 minutes€2,8607 to 10 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character design sheet | Included | Included | Included |
| Simple rig | Included | Included | Included |
| One animated loop up to 5 seconds | Included | Included | Included |
| Two rounds of revisions on design | Included | Included | Included |
| Full rig with expressions and lip sync | Not included | Included | Included |
| Animation up to 60 seconds | Not included | Included | Included |
| Simple backgrounds | Not included | Included | Included |
| Sound design | Not included | Included | Included |
| Second character designed and rigged | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Illustrated scene backgrounds | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Storyboard and animatic before animation | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Order | Select | Select | Select |
Add what you need
Choose the size
Add what you need
Your total€1,360
ContinueThe standard price, plus whatever you add. Confirmed in writing before anything starts; nothing is charged until you accept it.
Questions
Why does character animation take longer than motion graphics?
Characters need performance: timing, weight and expression, worked out frame by frame. A few seconds of convincing acting can take as long as a minute of moving shapes.
Can we reuse the character later?
Yes. You receive the rigged character files, so future videos start from an existing character rather than a new design.
Do you do 3D characters?
This offer covers 2D. 3D characters are a larger project and are quoted separately.
Related searches
Related work
One-timeExplainer videoSixty to ninety seconds explaining what you do, scripted before it is animated.from €2,400one-time
One-timeStoryboardsYour script drawn frame by frame, so everyone agrees on the video before money is spent filming or animating.from €290one-time
One-timeCustom illustrationOriginal illustrations in one consistent style for your website, packaging, books or campaigns.from €290one-time
Order it
Standardised enough to order on its own. The price is confirmed in writing before anything starts.