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2D animation remains one of the strongest storytelling tools in the game industry. Despite the rise of 3D, it continues to power everything from indie hits to AAA mobile launches.
According to industry reports, the global animation market is valued at about $436 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $462 billion in 2025. A large share of this still comes from 2D productions, proving how essential it is for modern games. For developers, this makes one question more important than ever: what is the 2D animation price, and how should you plan for it?
Here’s a short comparison table as a quick baseline.
Figures below reflect common ranges for 2D character animation work. Final quotes vary by brief complexity, assets, cleanup, and revisions.
| Type | Price Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Spine/Moho character animation | $150–250 per 1–2s cycle |
| Short scene / cutscene (10–15s) | $3,000–7,000 |
| Animated gameplay trailer (per minute) | $8,000–20,000 |
Need a custom quote? Email us at hello@rocketbrush.com with your project details and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Looking at per-second pricing provides the most practical baseline for smaller assets like character loops. In 2025, Spine/Moho cycles typically run $150–250 per 1–2s loop. These cycles include gameplay essentials like idle, walk, or attack animations that appear constantly during play. Because they repeat so often, small investments here have outsized impact on game feel. For teams working with limited funds, starting with cycles is often the most cost-efficient way to introduce movement and personality into their characters.
At RocketBrush Studio, we scope and quote per brief, and larger batches of cycles qualify for volume efficiencies that lower the per-asset price.
No two animations are the same, and several core factors influence 2D animation rates. Each of these can swing a project’s budget up or down by a significant margin:
Understanding these points helps producers avoid oversimplifying the budgeting process. The 2D animation price per second will always be a reflection of both the creative ambition and the technical execution required.
As projects scale, the per-minute view becomes a more useful reference point. A short cutscene of 10–15 seconds usually ranges between $3,000 and $7,000, depending on the number of characters, level of camera motion, and inclusion of special effects.
On the higher end, a one-minute animated trailer can cost between $8,000 and $20,000, particularly when it includes multiple scenes, dynamic backgrounds, and heavy visual polish. These numbers reflect not only the animator’s time but also pre-production tasks like storyboarding, scene layout, and post-production editing.
A clear understanding of the 2D animation video price allows producers to set realistic priorities early in development. For example, a marketing trailer often consumes more of the animation budget than gameplay loops, but it also generates greater visibility for the game ahead of launch.
On the other hand, investing in polished gameplay cycles ensures that players stay engaged beyond the first impression. Finding the right balance between these two is one of the most important budgeting decisions in modern game production.
When stakeholders ask about the cost of 2D animation per minute, they are usually looking for a clear benchmark. The current average for 2025 sits between $8,000 and $20,000 per minute, with the lower range covering stylized or rigged projects and the higher end reserved for cinematic productions with complex staging.
This figure provides a valuable reference point when planning multi-minute promotional campaigns or narrative cutscenes. For teams working on crowdfunding or pitching projects to investors, citing the 1-minute 2D animation cost gives credibility and structure to financial projections.
While 3D often dominates marketing discussions, 2D animation continues to thrive because of its unique flexibility. Developers rely on it for character cycles, combat effects, cinematic cutscenes, and trailers that carry a distinct artistic style. Unlike 3D, which often requires longer pipelines and technical overhead, 2D can adapt quickly to changes in direction and scope.
However, this doesn’t mean it’s always cheap. The 2D animation cost varies greatly depending on the methods and resources involved, and producers who understand these differences will always have an advantage in planning their projects.
A good practice is to define early on whether animation should be functional, highly cinematic, or somewhere in between. That clarity not only guides the creative process but also prevents scope creep, which is one of the most common reasons budgets spiral out of control.
This agility makes it especially attractive for indie studios, where teams often need to pivot mid-production without ballooning costs. Even for larger companies, the faster turnaround of 2D assets means they can test creative ideas earlier and refine gameplay prototypes more effectively.
When you know exactly what one second or one minute of animation costs, you can weigh the trade-offs between gameplay polish and marketing appeal with confidence. The key is planning early and aligning your budget with your project’s priorities.
Not sure where to start — cycles, cutscenes, or a trailer? Share your goals at hello@rocketbrush.com and we’ll map the most cost-effective route for your project.
