What is an animatic?
An animatic is a version of a storyboard edited to timing with voiceover, music and sound effects, so an agency can see and hear how an ad idea plays before it is filmed. It ranges from rough, quickly-produced boardomatics to fully polished pre-test films.
What's the difference between an animatic, a storyboard and a photomatic?
A storyboard is a static sequence of drawn frames. An animatic edits those frames (or new artwork) to timing with sound so the idea can be judged as a film. A photomatic does the same job but uses photographed or live-action stills instead of drawings.
Who is animatic.co.uk?
Animatic.co.uk is an independent 2D animatic specialist based in London, producing agency animatics since 1999 for clients including VML, Ogilvy, Adam & Eve DDB, Mother, Grey, St Luke's, AMV BBDO, Droga5, BBH, VCCP and FCB, working remotely across Europe, the USA, the UAE and South Africa.
What is an AI-hybrid animatic?
An AI-hybrid animatic uses AI tools to smooth out the technical, repetitive steps of production, while every frame is still art-directed, drawn and finished by a human artist.
How much does an animatic cost?
Cost depends on length, number of frames and revisions, style complexity, and turnaround time. Boardomatic-style animatics with minimal animation cost less than fully polished frame-by-frame films. Get in touch with a script for an accurate quote.
How long does an animatic take to produce?
Turnaround depends on scope: a simple boardomatic can be turned around in a few days, while a fully polished animatic with detailed artwork typically takes one to two weeks. AI-hybrid production can shorten this further without changing the artist-led process.
Do you work with agencies outside the UK?
Yes. Although based in London, most projects run entirely remotely, and clients have included agencies and brands across Europe, the USA, the UAE and South Africa.
Do animatics need voiceover and music?
Most do — voiceover, music and sound effects are usually what make an animatic feel like a real ad rather than a slideshow, and are essential for market research testing to give an accurate read on the idea.
Can animatics be used for market research testing?
Yes — this is one of the main uses of an animatic: giving research agencies and clients a clear, consistent version of the idea to test with audiences before committing to a full production budget.