3D product explainer video created for identity management company, IndyKite. Produced, designed, animated by Dreaming Fish Productions.
The client
Following on from the promotional brand film we created for identity management company IndyKite last year, we were super excited to work with them again on an animated promotional video to showcase their services/platform. While this project had a slightly different purpose to the brand film, we still wanted to maintain a high-level and engaging approach, without diving too heavily into the product platform details.
The production
To kick production off, we began with scriptwriting, where we worked closely with the IndyKite team to refine the messaging and to ensure it aligned with their vision for the promotional video. With a script in place, our lovely Motion Graphics Designer, James, got to work on some designs and style frames for the video. These were met with great enthusiasm from the client, giving us the green light to proceed with the next phase in production; storyboarding. Given that this was a 3D project, creating a storyboard using the actual assets would have been too time consuming so, instead, we opted for detailed hand-drawn sketches to effectively map out flow of the animation.
Once the storyboard was approved by IndyKite, we chose a voiceover artist and recorded the script. To give IndyKite a more detailed vision of the explainer, we created an animatic (combining the storyboard sketches with the voiceover and music) to allow them to visualise the pacing, timing, and overall flow of the video. However, it was at this review stage that the client realised that the direction wasn’t quite aligning with their original expectations.
After a productive call with them, we revisited the script and took a slightly different approach; which meant rewriting and redesigning about 90% of the assets that had already been delivered. Despite this shift, we moved forward with confidence and we went back to the drawing board. We created a new style frame and storyboard, along with a new animatic (in the updated style) which the IndyKite team loved and confirmed that the new direction was working much better.
The design
When it came to the new design and style of the promotional video, here are some words from our wonderfully talented Motion Graphics Designer and Animation Team Lead, James:
“Indykite came to us looking to make a 3D explainer video to put across their product in their particular playful tone of voice. They wanted it to be energetic and different to that of their competitors. After experimenting with a few different ideas we settled on having a small robot character being the centrepiece of the video.
In designing the robot I used references of different types of computer monitors and old all in one PCs, as well as video games that had expressive robotic characters like Portal and Half Life. The final design is clean and futuristic whilst also being expressive and charming. The video was a lot of fun to make. It was great fun finding the playfulness in the character and using that to elevate the whole piece from being just another product video. It was also a great learning experience. A lot of the ideas that made it to the final video were brand new to me and I really got to explore brand new ways of working.” Check out some stills of Robot Boy below!👇🏼🤖
The voiceover
With the overall design and animatic stage signed off, we started work on the animation, providing IndyKite with weekly updates to keep them involved in the overall production process. One of the other challenges we faced was finding the right voiceover for the promotional video. We tried several professional voiceover artists, but none quite captured the tone and intonation that IndyKite envisioned. As a workaround, we asked the client to recorder a reference read in the exact style and intonation that they wanted and using advanced AI tools, we were able to replicate their delivery with a rich American accent, which they absolutely loved! How cool is that?!
The 3D promotional product video
We’re super proud of this 3D promotional animation and since it’s release, it has gotten over 135K views on IndyKite’s Youtube channel!🔥This project is a perfect example of how creative work evolves throughout the production process. Flexibility, collaboration, honesty and problem-solving were essential in bringing this 3D video to life. Despite the unexpected changes and challenges that arose, we were able to adapt quickly, ensuring that the final video met and exceeded, the client’s expectations. Thank you, IndyKite and here’s to the next one? 👀
FAQs about 3D animated videos
How long does it take to create a 3D animation?
Depending on your project’s complexity, duration and needs, a 3D animation can take anywhere between 6 to 12+ weeks to produce, from pre production through to post.
How much does it cost to produce a 3D animation?
Much like the production time, the cost of a 3D animation will depend on several factors e.g. project complexity, animation duration, level of detail etc but we usually estimate a starting rate of approx £4,500 ex VAT. If you have a 3D project in mind, we’d love to chat with you about how we can help and, once we have more information regarding your requirements, we can provide you with a more detailed cost breakdown.
How long should my video be?
The length of your video depends on a few factors e.g. what the content is, who the audience is etc but usually, a video that’s being hosted on a website (brand film, about us, promo video) should be a maximum of 90 seconds long, unless it’s telling a longer story; like an in-depth company documentary or a training film. If you’re looking to share a video across social media, we’d suggest a much shorter duration circa 30 seconds max, again depending on what the video is about/audience. We’d love to discuss your project in more detail so, why not get in touch?
