For B2B SaaS and tech companies, animated videos are one of the most effective formats to explain complex concepts. 96% of people have watched an explainer video to learn about a product, and 85% say a video convinced them to buy.
At Vidico, we’ve produced over 2,000 video campaigns and generated 1.5 billion views for brands like TikTok, Square, and Spotify. Along the way, we’ve learned that most companies approach custom animated video the wrong way — they create one video, tell one story, and start over every time. This guide covers how to create animated videos that drive results, from choosing the right animation style to building a video system that compounds in value.
Key Takeaways
- Custom animated video outperforms static content — adding video to landing pages can increase conversions by up to 86%
- Professional animated video production costs $5,000–$25,000 per minute, depending on animation styles, complexity, and the story you need to tell
- AI-powered video tools can cut production timelines by up to 60%, but can’t replace human storytelling — the smartest studios use AI alongside their creative teams
- One custom animated video can generate 40+ assets when you build reusable scenes, characters, images, and animated video templates from your first project
Content
What Is a Custom Animated Video?
A custom animated video uses original illustrations, unique character designs, motion graphics, and a story built from scratch to communicate your message. Unlike generic video templates or stock animations from a video maker tool, every visual element is designed to match your brand’s style.
Custom animated videos work across the entire funnel:
- Homepage: Explainer videos that convert visitors
- Sales: Product demos that close deals
- Onboarding: Training videos that reduce support tickets
- Social: Short-form clips and ad formats that bring your brand to life
The characters, style, and story elements you create for one video can power dozens of animated videos across every channel.
Types of Animated Video Templates & Styles to Explore
Choosing the right animation style shapes how your story lands. Each style works best for specific video formats and audiences.
2D Motion Graphics are the most versatile style for tech and SaaS brands. Create animated data visualizations, UI elements, and abstract ideas — no characters needed. Fast to produce, easy to update, and they work across every video format. Costs $1,500–$6,000 per minute.
2D Character Animation adds a human story to your video. Custom characters make animated videos more relatable — especially for explainer videos showing a user’s journey through visual scenes. Expect $5,000–$15,000 per minute.
3D Animation delivers the highest-impact visuals — ideal for product demos and technical animations. Costs $6,000–$12,000 per minute and takes 2–3x longer, but the results stand apart.
Motion Graphics + Live Action Hybrid combines real footage with animated elements and text overlays. Underused in B2B but highly effective — upload existing footage and layer custom animations for a premium style.
| Style | Best For | Timeline | Cost/Min |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2D Motion Graphics | Data viz, UI, icons, abstract ideas | 3–6 weeks | $1,500–$6,000 |
| 2D Character Animation | User journeys, pain points, explainer videos | 4–8 weeks | $5,000–$15,000 |
| 3D Animation | Product demos, technical, bold impressions | 6–12 weeks | $6,000–$12,000 |
| Hybrid (Live + Animated) | Feature visualization, premium feel | 4–8 weeks | $5,000–$15,000 |
The best animated videos turn complex ideas into content that simplifies your message. Every animation tool and style should serve that goal.
New to Vidico? Get a free custom script for your next animated video project — no commitment required.
How To Create Animated Videos
1. Strategy & Creative Brief. Define the goal, audience, story, and distribution before anyone opens an editing tool. Skipping strategy is where most video project failures start.
2. Scriptwriting. Keep it tight — 150 words per minute is the standard. A 60-second animated video means 150 words to hook, present the problem, and close with a next step.
3. Storyboarding. Map your script to visual scenes. Get stakeholder buy-in here — changes at storyboard level cost almost nothing. Changes during animation cost a fortune.
4. Design & Illustration. Create the visual style — characters, environments, and branded elements. Request all source files to build a library of reusable assets for future animated video projects.
5. Voiceover & Music. A professional voiceover brings the story to life. Sound design separates amateur clips from professional animated videos that hold attention.
6. Animation & Editing. Animators bring every scene together with movement, transitions, and timing. A 60-second 2D project takes 1–2 weeks at this stage.
7. Review & Delivery. Review drafts, provide feedback, and get final files in every format — horizontal, vertical, square — plus shorter clips for social. An experienced partner delivers editable project files so you can create future variations without starting over.
AI Tools vs. Custom Animation to Create Explainer Videos
AI powered video tools have exploded in 2026. AI video maker platforms can generate motion from text prompts, create characters from descriptions, and handle basic video editing — some let you create professional quality videos in minutes with no design experience.
Should you use an AI video maker tool instead of hiring a studio? AI is a production tool that accelerates the video creation process, not a replacement for custom animated video creative.
AI tools are genuinely useful for:
- Generating draft storyboards and visual concepts quickly
- Creating simple animations for internal use
- Producing style variations of existing animated video characters and scenes at scale
- Speeding up editing tasks like rendering and format resizing
Want to see how this process looks in practice? Get a free Creative Intelligence Report — we’ll analyze your current creative, identify gaps, and deliver a custom action plan in 48 hours.
But AI video tools can’t match custom animation for brand-critical content. AI still struggles with:
- Consistent animated character design across multiple scenes
- Emotional story structure and narrative pacing
- Brand-specific visual style that feels uniquely yours
- Strategic messaging tied to your funnel and audience
The generative AI animation market is projected to reach $17.7 billion by 2032 — but the best studios use AI to enhance human creativity, not replace it. At Vidico, we use ai powered tools to compress timelines while our creative directors ensure every video tells a story that moves the needle.
Use AI where it saves time. Invest in custom production where it saves you from looking generic.
How to Make One Animated Video Worth 40+ Assets
Here’s where most video guides stop.
The traditional approach: create one animated video, use it, start from scratch for the next. The smarter play is to build a video animation system from your first project.
When you create animated videos with reusable templates, characters, scenes, and branded style elements from the start, every subsequent video gets faster and cheaper.
One hero explainer video becomes a full library of assets you can remix into:
- Social clips in multiple formats
- Product demo videos and ad variations
- Training videos and animated sales deck scenes
Your animation studio should deliver editable project files so your team can make animated videos from existing assets — swapping scenes, updating images, and customizing characters without a full production cycle.
This is how we helped TikTok increase output by 400% and Square produce 200+ assets per month across 200+ markets with a 43% conversion lift. We didn’t create 200 separate animations. We built a system with reusable characters, scenes, and templates, then let it compound.
Want to see more of our work? Explore our portfolio featuring projects for leading tech brands.
How to Choose the Right Animation Partner
Not every video studio is built for B2B. When evaluating partners to create animated videos, prioritize these criteria.
- Strategic capability comes first. Can they develop your video story, not just animate it? A strong partner creates a video strategy before a single frame — and knows when to use AI tools versus human creative direction.
- Portfolio relevance matters. Look for animated video work in your industry — a studio that’s produced explainer videos for SaaS or enterprise tech will understand your story nuances better than a generalist.
- Production model determines long-term value. Subscription models give you consistent output without starting from scratch. Vidico’s Creative Services Plans start at $5,000/month — access to 40+ specialists, every animation style, and creative infrastructure that compounds with each project.
- Communication and process save you from hidden costs. Clear revision policies and structured timelines prevent budget surprises.
Ready to see if we’re the right fit? Book a free video strategy session and we’ll map out an animated video plan for your next campaign.
FAQs
How long does it take to make a custom animated video?
Most custom animated videos take 4–8 weeks for a 60-second 2D project. 3D animation runs 8–12 weeks, depending on scene complexity. The biggest variable isn’t animation — it’s the feedback cycle. Studios that use milestone-based reviews keep projects on track. Studios that skip structure end up in endless revision loops. Rush timelines are possible, but expect 25–50% more.
Can I update my animated video later without starting over?
Yes — if you plan for it. Request editable source files (After Effects, Illustrator, or Figma) when you sign your contract. With source files and a reusable asset library of characters, scenes, and branded style elements, your team can swap messaging, update images, or create new video variations using basic editing tools. Without source files, even a small text change means paying for a new project. This is one of the biggest hidden costs in animation.
Is custom animation worth it when AI video tools exist?
AI video tools are great for speed and volume, but they can’t match custom-animated video for brand-critical, engaging content. AI struggles with consistent character design, emotional story structure, and strategic messaging that drives conversions. Use AI tools for internal content and draft concepts — invest in custom production for hero explainer videos and anything your audience will judge your brand by.
Build a Video System, Not a Video Collection
Most companies spend months creating one animated video — then start from scratch for the next one. The smarter play is to treat your first video as the foundation of a creative system. Build reusable characters, scenes, and style elements from day one, and every subsequent video gets faster, cheaper, and more consistent.
That’s how we’ve helped brands like TikTok and Square scale to hundreds of animated video assets per month. Creative that compounds in value beats creative that expires after one use.
Not sure where to start? Talk to our team and we’ll help you build an animated video strategy that grows with your business.
References:
- https://market.us/report/generative-ai-in-animation-market/
- https://vidico.com/news/how-much-does-animation-cost/
- https://advids.co/pricing/how-much-animation-content-video-creation-cost
