I wrote a novel about dolphins. On Christmas day I signed an option for an animated movie to be made. Now he has to gather the money and expertise to do the job. I'm in NZ and we have all the expertise and technology we need here plus no covid. But how much money is needed to make an animated movie? Anyone got an idea? There is no movie script - just my novel. So even the script-writing has to be done.
The novel is called Ripple - a Dolphin Love Story. This is my own art. It reflects what the story is about:
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Hi Tui. Your project sounds cool. Did a google search on "how expensive are animated movies". Gave me this answer: "A good animation movie can take $50 million or more to produce. Animation is a highly labor-centric work."
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You can get a gauge by looking up similar animated films on IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/ Look for same format and similar animation style.
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All that money and expertise is the producer's job, not yours. Unless you want to get into producing yourself, then you should shadow that guy, be helpful and giving - and learn.
John Ellis, I have no wish to go into producing myself. Too old to take up that kind of challenge. This is just curiosity. So I will try and follow Karen's advice.
I found out via Wikipedia in the end. The two most similar movies would be finding Nemo and Happy Feet. Finding Nemo had a budget of $94 million and Happy Feet was $100 million. And that would be $US. That's terrifying. but Happy Feet had some very similar visuals with huge waves and fabulous ocean scenery.
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Hi Tui - are you saying the person who optioned your novel doesn't have any expertise in producing or selling an animated feature? Those numbers you researched are old - Finding dory comes in around $200 Million. But Pixar and the other big studios are very overindulgent. Minions for instance came out about the same time as Finding Dory and cost $74 Million. Through coproductions and outsourcing, you could probably get by with around $50 Million to get something of high quality. As Willem pointed out, without a script or at least a strong outline it would be hard to come up with an actual budget. Some of the lower end animated features are being produced for under 10 Million. If your guy isn't experienced, then he needs to find an experienced animation producer to figure out a real gameplan.
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many congratulations Tui Allen being an animation studio, I can tell you, we can finish the 3d production of 90mins in $10mn, and I think u need an additional $5 mn for pre-production viz music/sound/screenplay/VO. and another $5mn for other contingencies so in $20mn you can have your 90min ready to sell to more than 100 territories, theatrical / OTT rights/gaming rights/ in three years your $20mn will become $150mn, and if your movie got the attention of big boys, then many congratulations, u get to make a $100mn movie.
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Great information, Bob Harper and Kumar Sambhav!
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Claude Gagne yes absolutely universal truth, a live example is the dragon slayer which broke records being an animation studio we can only make it look awesome but the story is the main and secret ingredient.
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This is quality we can deliver in $10mn - https://youtu.be/xuQEv5ANkz4
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You need a script to build a budget, without that it's nearly impossible.
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Willem Lodewijk Elzenga :-) we means my animation studio,