Process Overview Animation
Check out this animated overview video of the Sparkhouse animation making process. Then scroll down to dive in deeper on each phase.
Pre-Production
Where it all gets started
Discovery Meeting
In the all-important discovery phase, our aim is to learn as much as we can about your needs and goals as we start to conceptualize your video or video series. We'll bring together our account, strategy and creative teams and sit down with you to learn and collaborate. We will explore the unique value proposition of your product or service, discuss competitors and strategize about the type of video options available. Ultimately, the discovery meeting ensures we start off on the right foot, with all parties weighing in and shaping the video marketing mission.
Our north star for the project
Creative Brief
The creative brief is your project’s north star. This will include the project's background and objectives, key differentiators, main hurdles, target audience, brand values, market positioning, competitors, as well as the channels that the campaign will be distributed. From this point on every team member will be referring back to this document to assure we are accomplishing the project’s goals.
Everything style
Mood Board
Once the concept for your video is solidified, our creative team develops the mood board — a more in-depth project summary that integrates the following elements:
- Style Boards (graphical interpretations of your video's flow)
- Music Style
- Graphic Styles
- VO Description
This will be the main reference for most of the creative team moving forward to assure we stick to the overall tone and feel outlined in the mood board.
Crafted word by word
Video Script
Whether your animation is an explainer, narrative or voiceover driven, we need to start with a solid foundation — the video script. The script could have several versions as we move closer to the animation phase and will be shared with your team for input and collaboration via Google Docs.
Actors, Permits, Releases
Voice Over Talent
Once the script is locked in, Sparkhouse will get to work on the following:
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Casting Voiceover Talent – With many years of experience vetting local talent, we'll select the best voiceover artist for the job and consult your team for the final hire.
Lets get visual
AV (Audio-Visual) Script
With your video script locked down, the Sparkhouse team will get to work creating the AV script, a two-column table that includes the script copy on the left side and descriptions/ references of the visual aspects of the video on the right side. The AV script is essentially your video's blueprint. This will also be shared with your team for input and collaboration via Google Docs.
Last step before production
Storyboard
A visual outline of the story about to be told, the storyboard is the closest we are going to get before heading out to film a video. Depending on the project, the storyboards could be full-size sketches, thumbnail illustrations, or visual composites of mixed media such as still photographs, text and other reference types. At this phase, we'll double check everything to be sure we're ready to roll — confirming location, actors, products, props and shot angles — so that when production day arrives, everything runs smoothly. Ideally, at this phase, there are no last-minute changes or adjustments and we can proceed confidently with a successful shoot. We'll be sure to share the storyboard with your team via Google Docs.
Animation
Let the Animating begin
Animate
After a successful pre-production phase, it’s time for our team to move into the the post-production phase. Also known as “editing” or simply “post” for short, this is where all of the great assets, elements and sketches we collected is pieced together to make a crisp, clean animation that tells the client’s story. Without talented digital and sound editors, even the most beautiful shots and tight scenes won’t amount to much. Everything comes together in post, starting with a post-production meeting.
It's a collaborative process
Client Reviews
For client reviews, we use a highly interactive system (easily accessible via PC, tablet or mobile device) that allows every team member to view the video, mark notes on specific timecodes and even draw right on the video to point out specific areas that need to be discussed.
The finish line
Delivery
Once everyone involved approves the video, Sparkhouse will export any and all needed video types for final distribution — delivering them via a downloadable link. We also offer the option of full asset delivery if the client would like the raw video files, project files, images, music or other pieces for future use. All we need is a hard drive to transfer the files and mail them off. Following the final cut, you get to see all the hard work come to life on your website, YouTube, social media sites or TV channels!
