Animation is one of the most powerful tools for storytelling and marketing. But for first-time clients, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start.
That’s where we come in….. At Fred & Eric we've worked with clients across all industries and budgets. The best projects don’t just start with ideas or expertise, they start with understanding.
Here are a few dos and don'ts we share with new clients before diving into production, in order to get the best results.
DO: Think about the why and the where
When starting a project, think about the purpose of the animation and who it’s for. As a client, it’s important for you to know what you want the film to do, not just what it should look like.
Before we get into the fun stuff, like character design, colours, and scriptwriting, think about your ‘why’. What’s the purpose of your animation?
Are you trying to launch a product, like this project for Aqualisa?
Build brand awareness, as shown in our work with BlaBlaCar?
Inspire action, like in this campaign for Tower Hamlets?
Or communicate company values, as we explore in this article.
It’s also great to think about where your animation is going to live. Whether it’s YouTube, Instagram Reels, or your website’s homepage - knowing where your animation will be used helps us design for the best execution from format and duration, to pacing and messaging.
Often our projects need to sit on a multitude of platforms, read more about how this worked for our Childline animation here.
DO: Give us the low-down
We love a detailed brief - moodboards, reference links, and examples of things you do (or don’t!) like, are all helpful. The more specific, the better.
Style, length, number of characters, and complexity all influence cost. The earlier we understand your requirements and budget, the easier it is to tailor the creative.
Honest conversations early on save time, money, and a lot of potential headaches
Dont: Skip feedback
Don’t hold back - we can take it! Feedback is a natural and essential part of the process.
We build revision rounds into the schedule, so you’ll have plenty of chances. Agreeing these up-front keeps the project on schedule and ensures everyone stays aligned.
It is really important to get all key stakeholders and decision makers involved early on, so we’re not revisiting big decisions at the final hour.
We pride ourselves on staying on budget by keeping you in the loop at every step, and avoiding any unexpected (and costly) surprises along the way.
DO: Trust the Process
Great animation takes time and collaboration, and we’re happy to walk you through every step. We’re used to jumping in wherever is needed; from helping with tone of voice at script stage, creating characters and bringing brand guidelines to life, all the way through to final animation and delivery.
Each stage has a purpose, and rushing one can lead to problems later on, so we always encourage clients to trust the process!
Check out our guide, which gives more detail to every step.
DON'T: Forget about sound
Sound design, music, and voiceover are often overlooked, but to us, they’re the icing on the cake (and trust us, we know a lot about cake). A great animation with poor choice of audio won’t connect emotionally, and therefore loses its impact.
We help clients choose the right tone, voice, and music to complement the visuals.
Equally if your film needs to tell its story without words, we’re well practiced in the art of speechless storytelling. Like this example with the NSPCC.
Great animation doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens through partnership. When clients engage and trust the process, the results speak for themselves.
Whether it’s your first animation project or your tenth, we’re here to guide, collaborate, and create something meaningful together.
DON'T: Hesitate to get in touch
Send us an email or drop us an old-fashioned phone call. We're always happy to chat through ideas big or small!
Email: hello@fredanderic.com
Call: +44 20 7907 0850