Animation
How Long Will it Take?

​A 3-minute simple animation would take about 45 days.

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A complex 3-minute animation could take up to 3 months or more depending on just how complex the animation is.

 

The more complex the animation the more time required for completion.

In a typical animation there are 24 frames per second and there are 60 seconds per minute; so, a three-minute animation would involve 24 x 60 x 3 = 4,320 frames. For each frame the animator would have to draw the background and character(s). The number of characters could range from 1 to infinity.

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Prior to this, a story board (basically a comic book version of the animation) would have to be created and the characters would have to be designed before animating them. If the characters speak, a voiceover artist will be needed. Then there is the issue of music, sound effects and special effects.

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More complex animation styles require more time to produce. The more detailed the animation the more time it takes to produce it.  If you want complex character movements, detailed body parts and elaborate clothing, it will take longer.

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​If the project is on-going, the characters and maybe backgrounds, can be used from the second video onwards, reducing the time for concept generating.

In a typical animation there are 24 frames per second and there are 60 seconds per minute; so, a three-minute animation would involve 24 x 60 x 3 = 4,320 frames.

 

@ 24 frames per second

1 second = 24 frames

5 seconds = 120 frames

15 seconds = 360 frames

30 seconds = 720 frames

1 minute = 1440 frames

2 Minutes = 2880 frames

3 Minutes = 4,320 frames

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The Scarlet Thread