How long does it take to make an animated explainer video?

Animation inspired content made for Rolex

Direct answer

A 60–90 second custom animated explainer video typically takes 6–10 weeks in the UK from confirmed brief to final delivery. Simple 2D motion graphics with a tight brief and a small approval group can land in 4–5 weeks. Character-led 2D usually sits at 8 weeks. 3D pushes 10–14 weeks. Each additional 30 seconds of finished animation adds roughly one to one-and-a-half weeks.

Realistic week-by-week breakdown for a 60-second 2D explainer

Week 1: brief, kick-off, audience and message alignment. We come out of this with a confirmed objective, primary audience, three things that must be in the video, and one thing that should not be.

Weeks 2–3: script, voiceover direction, and a visual treatment. Two rounds of script feedback. By the end of week 3 the script is locked — and locking it is the most important moment in the whole project.

Weeks 4–5: storyboard and style frames. This is where the look is decided. Two rounds of feedback. Voiceover is recorded against the locked script.

Week 6: animatic — a rough animated version with timing and the final voiceover. One round of feedback to confirm pacing works.

Weeks 7–9: full animation. Minimal client involvement during this stretch — this is studio focus time. One round of revisions on the near-final animation.

Week 10: final mix (sound design, music, captions, alternative aspect ratios for social) and delivery.

How to compress the timeline honestly

Three things genuinely speed up a project. First, a single empowered decision-maker on the client side. Two stakeholders with veto power and conflicting taste is the single biggest source of delay in our experience. Second, locking the script before any visual work begins. Visual work that is then forced to flex around late copy changes always takes longer than the time saved. Third, paying for a rush slot. We can normally produce a 60-second 2D explainer in 4 weeks if we ring-fence the team, with a 20–30% premium reflecting the displaced work.

How not to compress it

Skipping the animatic stage. Asking for parallel storyboard and animation work. Trying to start animation before the script is signed off. We will gently push back on all three because they almost always cost more time downstream than they save upfront.

CTA

If you have a deadline that is non-negotiable, tell us up front and we will be honest about whether 4 weeks, 6 weeks, or 10 weeks is the right plan. We would rather decline a project than promise a date we cannot land.