Spoiler alert: motion graphics take a lot of time and resources to produce with quality.
If you’re thinking about using motion graphics and video to promote your brand, we have great news — you’re on the right track! But here’s the catch: exceptional motion graphics take time, talent, and a serious level of craft. And yes—budget.
Brands can reach and engage consumers more effectively with video ads on social media sites. Sharing a video on social media brought in new customers for 93% of firms, and people found brands they ended up buying from most often through video ads. And a whopping 96% of marketers consider video a critical component of their marketing strategy.
While you’re super excited and ready to get going on your brand’s next motion piece — you’ll soon find out that motion graphics cost more than you might expect. But why is that? The simplest answer would be that sophisticated motion design takes weeks or months to create.
There are a lot of moving parts to coordinate when producing motion graphic magic. To ensure your project is handled correctly, it’s worth noting that the best approach is to work with a senior-level team. Investing in concept development during the early stages of a motion graphics project is crucial—it helps streamline planning, storyboarding, and scriptwriting, ultimately reducing costly revisions down the line.
This upfront investment ensures the team has the technical know-how, experience, curiosity, and artistry needed to bring your vision to life. Graphic designers play a key role in crafting the visual elements for animation, while a creative director shapes the project’s vision and oversees quality throughout the entire production process. Let’s take a closer look at a few reasons why motion graphics cost can be expensive but provide benefits that well outweigh the costs.
The Short And Skinny
- Pricing is driven by complexity, length, and custom design—the more detailed the animation and visuals, the more time and expertise required.
- Experienced teams know what works—and what doesn’t—their insight prevents missteps, streamlines production, and delivers winning results.
- You’re hiring a skilled team, not just software—creative directors, animators, designers, and sound engineers all play key roles in producing polished, effective motion graphics.
- Curation is everything—the right team will align motion graphics with your brand voice, visual style, and strategic goals for maximum impact.
Table of Contents
Animation and Complexity Affect Motion Graphics Video Pricing
Some studios charge on a per-minute basis, meaning the length of your motion graphics video directly affects the scope of work and overall pricing. While the final piece might be just a few seconds or stretch beyond several minutes, every minute on screen can translate into days—or even weeks—of behind-the-scenes production.
For example, the cost of a one-minute motion graphics video can vary widely depending on its complexity, visual style, and the studio producing it.
Animation complexity is a major pricing factor. Simple, linear animations without advanced movement or transitions are more budget-friendly—but they often lack the polish, fluidity, and impact that make high-end motion design stand out. More sophisticated animations involve detailed transitions, layered effects, and fully custom graphics—all of which demand extra hours to perfect.
So what actually makes one animation more complex than another? If you’re unfamiliar with the animation process, you probably have a lot of questions. That’s perfectly normal—we’ll break it down.
Studios typically offer different motion graphics cost to match project needs: per-minute rates, fixed fees, or hourly billing. It’s also worth noting that short videos aren’t always cheaper—because foundational work like concepting, asset creation, and planning must happen no matter the final runtime, shorter videos can sometimes carry a higher per-minute cost.
In the end, it’s a mix of elements—video length, animation complexity, level of detail, and pricing model—that determines what you’ll pay for a motion graphics cost breakdown that makes sense for your project.
For motion graphic design studios like Mighty Fine Production Company, pricing can vary depending on the project’s complexity and creative demands. With over 20 years in the business, we’ve developed a tiered pricing model that reflects the level of sophistication involved in each motion design piece.
So, How Much Will Motion Graphics Cost?
Our motion graphics cost typically starts at $5,000 per minute, with higher-end tiers at $7,500 to $10,000 per minute for more advanced animation work. These tiers account for the intricacy of the design, the number of assets involved, and the overall production time. For national-level campaigns or videos requiring extensive visual effects, custom illustration, or a larger creative team, pricing may increase to reflect the additional resources required.
We also offer more cost-effective solutions for clients who need simpler animation, such as animated slide decks. These are a great option when you want motion without the full bells and whistles of high-end design—and they come at a lower price point than our standard motion graphics cost tiers.
No matter the budget or scope, our approach is the same: deliver thoughtful, well-crafted animation that reflects your brand and connects with your audience.
Motion graphics is all about telling a story, not just making things move.
Unsurprisingly, motion graphics aren’t just about hopping on to a computer, creating and animating as you go – not even in AI driven world! The most important part of the motion graphic process is crafting a cohesive narrative. It’s important that it explains your brand’s message in a clear and engaging manner.
The best way to achieve an effective message is to make sure a professional copywriter is involved with scripting. Messaging is key, and a poor story will make for an uninspired animation. Great motion graphics are more than just making objects move, it’s about speaking to your audience in a way that matters to your brand.
Creative planning is the secret sauce of motion graphics that separate the good, the bad, and the ugly. A proper narrative allows motion graphics studios like ours to carefully consider what happens visually, and also why it happens. It allows us to look at the piece as a whole and understand the visual flow, rather than trying to connect the dots at the end. Aligning the creative vision of the project with the client’s goals ensures the final motion graphics video content is both impactful and on-brand.
By using a defined script and visual storyboard, we can ensure that everything will work, and all elements of motion act in harmony. Having professional copywriting is essential, it’s the foundation that everything is built on. A talented copywriter will clarify your message as succinctly as possible, explain your core services, and express your unique selling points. All without losing your viewer’s interest. He or she will also find your brand voice and shape the narrative while determining if the content should be serious or more playful. Strategic planning at this stage is crucial for maximizing impact, optimizing costs, and ensuring the project’s success.
Motion graphics designers and motion graphic artists play a vital role in bringing the narrative to life, using their skills to translate the script and storyboard into engaging motion graphics video content that resonates with your audience.
Custom illustrations will make your motion graphic shine and stand out
This is what separates the majestic from the monotone. Unique, hand-drawn assets that are custom to your brand are the next step in making your motion graphics animation stand out from the rest. Of course, pre-made graphics on Shutterstock can be a cheaper alternative, but they come with major caveats. Stock illustrations might be bland, limited or simply lack customization. The other issue is they will not be unique to your brand because they are open source and who knows how many organizations have used the same images.
The organizations that use the same imagery may not align with your philosophy which can create brand confusion. It’s also possible that pre-made graphics might not be stylistically cohesive with other pre-made graphics. This causes your motion graphics to feel visually scattered and detracts from your brand messaging.
Having all the assets created by a graphic designer ensures that your vision will be executed to your specifications. It also ensures the motion piece will feel visually consistent and will have continuity throughout. Of course, having everything custom made by a motion designer will increase the motion graphics cost, but the benefits of having something visually unique are tremendous. This will also prolong the life of the video.
Additionally, files must be meticulously separated, sliced, layered, and prepared before animating in Adobe After Effects. When preparing assets, you can include video elements such as icons, infographics, and data visualizations to enhance your motion graphics. Much like baking a cake, you need to prepare your files using exact specifications, or something is sure to get funky. And not in a groovy way.
Basic tools and online video maker platforms can be used for simple projects, but they often do not offer the same level of customization as custom motion design animation. Online video platform options are suitable for those with limited budgets, but the output may only appear professional to non professional viewers.
Custom motion graphics can be used for a wide range of projects, including brand stories, product demo, promotional videos, music videos and social media video . With custom design and animation, you can achieve stylish, attention-grabbing effects that make your content stand out.
Animation — it’s all in the keyframes
The majority of motion graphics operate by keyframing. Every layer of motion needs to be keyframed in a meaningful way with clever visual messaging. At the same time, they need to cleverly transition from one scene to the next in a way that makes it seem effortless. This is where our imaginations take off as we think of the many visual metaphors that we can use to create awe-inspiring transitions. Advanced software is often used to achieve these sophisticated effects, allowing for more complex and visually stunning results.
Motion graphics are all about amazing transitions and visual metaphors!
In the end, the quality of motion graphics comes down to “you get what you pay for.” You can get a very basic animation with stock graphics and iconography made pretty efficiently, but they may lack character, interesting movement, or that extra “wow” factor. The less visually interesting it is, the less likely someone is to remember it.
So, naturally, engaging animation is the key to keeping your viewers interested. On top of that, animators need to ensure that our brains can understand and relate the movements made on the screen to real life in some way. In the motion design industry, high standards and expectations drive the need for experienced professionals and up-to-date techniques to deliver top-quality animation.
A huge part of determining motion graphics cost is to evaluate portfolios to see what a studio has made and who they are making content for.
Is it Physics or Motion Graphics
Creating motion graphics is as much about understanding physics as it is about knowing when—and how—to bend the rules. Imagine a bowling ball dropping onto a hardwood floor. What makes it feel heavy? Is it the speed of the fall? The bounce? The sound? Animators ask these kinds of questions constantly, because every motion choice has to feel intentional. It’s not just about realism—it’s about believability.
Translating these ideas visually doesn’t mean being literal. The ball doesn’t have to crack the floor in half to feel heavy. Maybe it thuds, then lingers with just the right amount of bounce. Maybe the floor ripples, cartoon-style, or the camera shakes for dramatic effect. The goal isn’t realism—it’s rhythm, tone, and storytelling. Good motion design gives your brain just enough cues to say, “Yeah, that feels right,” even when what you’re seeing defies the laws of gravity. It’s physics with flair—and it’s what keeps your viewers glued to the screen.
Motion design works best when it’s guided by visual logic and emotional tone. The goal isn’t to mimic reality, but to suggest it in a way that aligns with your brand’s story. That’s where the magic happens—when technical skill meets creative intention.
The considerations that animators make when creating motion graphics follow a long list of similar questions. Making motion graphics may feel like a walk in the park but requires animators to run a marathon. Our animators are generally working with hundreds of layers and keyframes when we are producing sophisticated motion graphic designs. Working with a motion graphics production company gives you access to experienced motion graphics designers ensuring your project benefits from their expertise and creative skills.
Motion Graphics Sound Design
Sound can make or break any animation. It’s no exaggeration to say that sound in motion graphics is as important as the illustrations or animation itself. Of course, one of the key points of sound design in motion graphics is the voice over. It’s important to make sure that your motion graphic studio hires a professional voice actor who is clear, concise, and can convey the mood of the piece with their voice.
Most voiceover artists will record your work in a professional studio with the best equipment available. We pay $350-$550 on average for good voiceover talent for a two-minute video. The price can increase if you are going to run a national TV campaign. A common trait of good motion graphics is that the sound enhances the feel and emotional value of the project. The right soundtrack and sound effects that support the animation will take it to another level. The sound always exists to support the emotional response you’re trying to evoke from the viewer.
Music licensing is also an important consideration in the overall production budget, as licensing fees for music—whether from a library or custom-composed—can impact the final motion graphics cost.
Final Thoughts: Motion Graphics Cost
Excellent motion design doesn’t always need every bell and whistle—but, just like dining out, the “add-ons” do affect the price. That’s why we always recommend starting with a clear, realistic budget. It helps set expectations, streamline the process, and make sure every dollar goes toward what matters most.
At Mighty Fine, most of our motion graphics cost start at $5,000 per minute, with pricing scaling up based on complexity, creative needs, and overall scope. The good news? A well-executed animation can boost your brand’s visibility, clarify your messaging, and deliver a return on investment that far exceeds the upfront cost.
As we’ve covered, motion graphics offer a ton of value—from storytelling to style to strategic brand alignment. The best way to figure out what kind of motion graphic fits your needs (and your budget) is to talk directly with a pro. We’ve been doing this since 2002, and we know how to guide you toward the smartest solution.
Got questions? We’re always happy to help. Give Mighty Fine Production Company a shout—and let’s bring your brand to life through motion.