3D Medical Animation

Engaging Healthcare Animations to Accurately Convey Complex Science.

Why use 3D Medical Animations?

We bring extensive experience in the healthcare industry, offering valuable insights for creating informative and engaging medical animations to effectively explain your products. We are dedicated to your satisfaction and collaborate closely with you to craft the most impactful narrative possible. To achieve this, we partner with a range of medical and scientific experts who help interpret the technical complexities necessary for developing accurate yet easily understandable visual narratives. Our visual effects team leverages this expert knowledge as a foundation to create captivating visuals. Using industry-standard 3D software, modeling, animation, visual effects, and artistry, we ensure that our animations not only communicate the intricacies of medical devices and pharmaceutical products but also enhance sales efforts in these areas. Whether your focus is on medical device sales, pharmaceutical sales, or both, INTERVOKE is committed to delivering high-quality, visually compelling content that resonates with your target audience.

Planning Your 3D Medical Animation


The length of 3D animation is essential to consider when producing a video. This affects the amount of work and is vital for budgeting. Depending on the desired detail level or complexity, a certain visual quality or style may require more time. For example, if you want photorealism, your animation will require additional computer rendering time to achieve realism. Additionally, some videos benefit from spending more time on development, which increases the video's duration and quality. Lastly, the duration or length of the animation should be considered.

  • For example, if you are looking for photorealism, your animation might require additional rendering time to achieve realism. Additionally, some videos might benefit from spending more time on development, which increases the duration of the video as well as its quality.

  • It's important to consider all of these elements when planning a 3D animation project, as they will affect both cost and the timeline. If you are unsure of what length is optimal for your project, we can help you decide on the right balance between budget and quality. With the right approach, your 3D animation will be well worth the investment.

  • Don't forget about voice overs. Voice overs play a key role in conveying information, setting the tone, and engaging the audience. A well-executed voice-over can enhance storytelling, make complex topics more understandable, and create a connection with the listener through emotion and personality. In advertising, educational videos, films, and even apps, a clear and effective voice-over helps deliver messages in a way that is memorable and impactful.

  • As demonstrated by the graphic below, longer videos will naturally have higher production costs. That being said, certain styles may require more time depending on the level of detail or complexity desired.

    Note: If you are still determining the optimal length for your project, we can help you decide on the right balance between budget and quality. With the right approach, your 3D animation will be worth the investment.

Three Contributing Factors to 3D Medical Animation Costs

A diagram showing the primary contributing factors to Intervoke's 3D animation service pricing.
  • Amount of Detail: The amount of detail required for an effective 3D animation can drastically affect the cost. For example, a simple walk sequence would require less effort and be less expensive than animating someone walking with a walking disorder, which is more complex and time-consuming to illustrate. Consider the ultimate goal for your animation: if you need advanced motions or details that require extra time to represent the accuracy, this will add to the cost. One of the most critical stages is discussing your project goals in detail so we can determine a solid estimate of how much time and money goes into creating a realistic representation of what you're looking for in an animation. Doing so will help ensure you get the most out of your investment in 3D anatomy on screen.

  • Visual Quality: You may want something simple like 2D flat cartoon-like animations using frame-based iconography and 2D vector graphics. Or choose top-quality photorealistic 3D motion graphics with increased layers and levels of detail. All these differences can drastically increase the animation's potency and make it engaging and memorable. Viewing portfolio examples on our website is a great way to determine the visual quality before deciding. Also, to make it easier, provide us with some visual references, as we can use these to recreate almost any look and feel. Understanding the differences between each style and technique can help ensure you make the right choice to budget for your project.

  • Total Duration: The length of the 3D animation is an essential factor to consider. Longer animations will require more time and resources and, thus, be more expensive. Having multiple elements in animation, such as a beating heart, with blood flow and other microbiology, can add to the complexity and cost of production. When measuring costs for 3D animations, most studios charge based on each second of animation created. However, it should also be considered that not all parts of an animation are equal; some portions may use the same assets, which can reduce the time required to produce them and subsequently decrease the overall cost.

    By keeping track of the amount of detail, quality, duration, and the reuse of specific assets, you can better understand what your 3D animation will cost.

3D Model Examples:

Below are a few examples of our 3D medical anatomy to streamline production on your projects.

Pricing

Costs for medical animation or illustration vary greatly depending on the required complexity and level of work. Listed below is a breakdown of some of the typical details used to determine cost.

Simplistic Animation

Higher Quality Animation

Advanced Animation

$120 - $220 /Second
$240 - $340 /Second
$360 - $460 /Second
30 SECONDS
30 SECONDS
30 SECONDS
$3,600 - $6,600
$11,400
$14,400
60 SECONDS
60 SECONDS
60 SECONDS
$8,400
$22,800
$28,800

Medical Print Graphics Estimated Costs

3D animation may not be your most economical visualization solution if your budget is under a few thousand dollars. An alternative solution is a print graphic such as a 2D or 3D illustration. This will replicate some of the qualities of animation but at a substantially lower cost.

Visual Process Used

Low Detail

High Detail

2D Illustration
$1,500
$3,000
3D Illustration
$3,000
$9,000
Deliverables:
Graphic PNG
Layered PSD

WebGL Interactive 3D Estimated Costs

3D animation may not be your most economical visualization solution if your budget is under a few thousand dollars. An alternative solution is a print graphic such as a 2D or 3D illustration. This will replicate some of the qualities of animation but at a substantially lower cost.

Visual Process Used

Low Detail

High Detail

3D Web Interactive
$4,000
$15,000
Deliverables:
Web Package
Custom Website

3D Modeling Pricing

Project Element

Cost Estimates

Hourly Rate

Deliverables:
Range
$70.00
Deliverables:
Clients needed 3D format.
Process: Freeform modeling to construct, sculpt, paint, and finally animate assets. Using these industry-standard tools: Maya, 3ds max, Topogun, and Zbrush.
Charged by the Project or by the Hour. This price would be determined based on how the 3D model would be used. For example: Will it be used in an animation? Will it be viewed up close? If you increase detail it increases the cost.

These estimates above cannot replace a solid cost calculation based on a detailed briefing and subsequent proposal. This helps eliminate any change orders. Please note any outside scope costs are billed at $90 per hour.

Workflow

Our Medical Animation Workflow

Select Workflow
This image shows an image sequences from intervokes demo reel.

Our team begins the pre-production phase by first collaborating with you to clearly define the objectives, ensuring we fully understand your goals and the purpose of the project. This involves an in-depth discussion to establish key milestones, timelines, and budget constraints, ensuring that all resources, including personnel, software, and content materials, are efficiently allocated.

By outlining these fundamental aspects early on, we ensure that the project stays on track, meets your expectations, and adheres to any limitations. Understanding the target audience is also crucial at this stage, as it informs design and development decisions that ensure the final product resonates with end users.

Once we have a solid foundation and a clear project definition, our team of experienced Project Managers, Art Directors, and Animators come together to plan the creative and technical development process. The Project Managers focus on scheduling, workflow, and ensuring that each phase is executed on time, while the Art Directors drive the visual direction, ensuring that the aesthetic aligns with the client’s brand and goals.

Meanwhile, Animators begin conceptualizing how to bring the project to life, designing animations, interactions, and transitions that will engage and captivate users. This collaborative effort ensures a well-coordinated, creative, and technically sound approach to delivering a polished, high-quality final product.

1. Understanding the Subject Matter

Research: The medical writer conducts in-depth research on the drug or treatment, focusing on pharmacodynamics and relevant clinical data.

Key Points: Identify essential elements of the mechanism of action, such as drug targets and biological pathways. 

2. Defining the Target Audience

Audience Analysis: Determine the intended audience (e.g. Healthcare professionals or patients) to tailor the complexity and style.

Level of Detail: Decide on the appropriate technical detail based on audience knowledge and the clients budget. 

3. Creating an Outline

Structure: Develop a clear outline, typically including:
·      Introduction to the drug
·      Overview of the condition
·      Detailed explanation of the mechanism
·      Clinical implications
·      Summary  

Visual Cues: Identify where visuals will enhance understanding. 

4. Writing the Script
 
Drafting: Write the first draft with clear, concise language and scientifically accurate content.  

Engagement: Use storytelling techniques to make the content engaging and relatable. 

5. Review and Revision
 
Peer Review: Have other medical professionals review the script for accuracy and clarity.  
Revisions: Make changes based on feedback to improve the script. 

6. Final Preparation
 
Storyboarding: Collaborate with visual artists to create a storyboard that complements the script.

Quality Control: Perform final checks for accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards. 

‍This streamlined process ensures that the MOA video script is scientifically rigorous and effectively communicates complex concepts to the target audience.

A storyboard demonstration for Intervoke's 3D medical and courtroom animation services.

Creating the Storyboard: Sketch scenes representing significant moments, focusing on character positions and camera angles. - Add descriptive notes for actions, dialogue, sound effects, and camera movements.

Sequence Planning: Organize frames for coherent flow, determining pacing and transitions. - Highlight key action sequences to emphasize tension and excitement.

Collaboration and Feedback: Review the storyboard with the production team for feedback and improvements. - Iterate and refine based on suggestions to enhance clarity and flow.

Finalizing the Storyboard: Create clean, polished versions of each frame as the final blueprint. Document technical details such as camera angles, shot lengths, and transitions.

Production Preparation: Generate a detailed shot list from the storyboard outlining every shot needed. Schedule animations based on the storyboard and shot list for efficient production.

1. Creating a voice-over begins with careful script preparation and selecting the right voice talent. The script should be written in a natural, conversational tone that aligns with the intended animation, message, and audience.

2. Once the script is ready, choosing the right voice artist is crucial. Factors like tone, accent, gender, and age play a significant role in conveying the message.

3. We will next hold auditions to find the perfect fit and then review each voice sample with our client. This is when the client can provide input to ensure the voice-over matches the project's goals.

4. The recording process requires professional equipment and a proper environment. High-quality microphones, audio interfaces, and soundproofed rooms help ensure clear audio without background noise or distortion.

5. After recording, the audio undergoes editing and post-production to remove any unwanted sounds, adjust volume levels, and enhance the overall quality.

6. Finally, syncing the voice-over with the animated visuals is an essential step.

Four images showing MoA and MoD demonstrations for Intervoke's 3D medical and forensic animation offerings.

The look and feel process begins with the graphics team developing high-quality 3D elements, which serve as foundational assets for the animation phase. These elements are meticulously crafted to align with the overall design vision established during pre-production.

The team focuses on ensuring that the models, textures, and lighting reflect the desired aesthetics, whether it be realistic, stylized, or abstract. Once the 3D assets are finalized, they are passed on to the animators, who use these still images as reference points throughout the animation process.

During this phase, the animators carefully analyze the 3D elements, considering factors like movement, scale, and timing to ensure the animations are fluid and cohesive. Using the still images, they create keyframes and motion paths that bring the characters and objects to life, all while maintaining fidelity to the original concept. This stage is critical for accuracy and consistency, as it allows for the identification of any discrepancies or adjustments needed before full-scale production begins.

Collaborating closely with the graphics team, animators can request revisions to the 3D elements if needed, ensuring that the final animations reflect the envisioned look and feel of the project. This iterative process not only enhances the quality of the animations but also fosters a strong collaborative environment, where feedback is welcomed and integrated into the workflow, ultimately leading to a polished final product that meets the creative goals of the project.

An image showing an illustrative 3D image before textures have been added.

Creating 3D rendered animatics is a critical phase in the animation production pipeline that helps visualize the final product while ensuring alignment with the initial creative vision. This process starts with the approved storyboards and style sheets, which serve as blueprints for the animation.

The storyboards outline the key scenes and actions, while the style sheets define the visual elements, including character designs, color palettes, and environments. By adhering to these guidelines, the animation team can maintain consistency and ensure that the final animations reflect the original artistic direction.

Once the storyboards and style sheets are established, the production team begins creating 3D animations based on these references. Initially, pre-animatic videos are produced at a lower quality. These videos incorporate rough animations of key scenes, character movements, and basic environmental elements.

The purpose of these pre-animatic videos is to give clients an early visual representation of the project, allowing them to provide feedback on the animation's direction, pacing, and overall aesthetic. By presenting a visual draft before the final rendering, the team can identify any discrepancies or areas for improvement early in the process.

This approach significantly reduces the number of iterations needed for completion, as clients can make informed decisions based on the pre-animatics, leading to quicker approvals and smoother transitions into the full animation phase.

In addition, utilizing pre-animatic videos creates an opportunity for the team to explore different animation techniques and visual styles while still being flexible to client input. As feedback is gathered, animators can make necessary adjustments to ensure that the final product meets expectations without extensive rework later in the process. The iterative nature of creating these 3D rendered animatics fosters collaboration between the creative team and the client, ultimately resulting in a more cohesive and polished final animation that effectively conveys the intended narrative and visual appeal.

A image demonstration Intervoke's 3D medical and forensic animation services.

Once the iterations of the pre-animatic videos are approved, the next step is to produce the final animation using high-quality layered 3D visuals. This process begins with our state-of-the-art local GFX render farm, which is equipped with powerful hardware specifically designed to handle the computational demands of rendering complex 3D graphics. By leveraging this extensive network of rendering machines, we can significantly expedite the rendering process, allowing for the creation of high-resolution frames without sacrificing quality or detail.

This efficiency is critical, especially for projects with tight deadlines or extensive visual content, as it enables the team to maintain a steady workflow and keep the project on schedule. After rendering the 3D frames, the next step involves importing these visuals into Adobe After Effects, a leading software for motion graphics and visual effects. In After Effects, the individual frames are organized into compositions that facilitate the integration of additional elements, such as effects, transitions, and titles.

During this phase, the pre-recorded voice-over narration is synchronized with the animated visuals, ensuring that the audio aligns perfectly with the actions and movements occurring on screen. This synchronization is crucial for maintaining the flow and impact of the storytelling, as well-timed audio enhances the overall viewer experience. Once the voice-over is integrated, the team makes any necessary minor adjustments in timing, ensuring that the animations and audio cues work harmoniously.

This may involve tweaking the pacing of certain animations to better match the tone of the narration or adjusting the timing of visual effects to enhance key moments. The After Effects composition also allows for the addition of visual enhancements, such as particle effects, lighting adjustments, and color grading, further refining the look and feel of the final product.

After thorough review and feedback from the creative team, the completed animation is rendered for final output, resulting in a polished, high-quality animation that effectively communicates the intended message while engaging the audience. This comprehensive final animation process ensures that every detail is meticulously crafted, culminating in a visually stunning and narratively compelling end product.

The final delivery phase is a crucial step in the animation production process, as it ensures that the completed project meets all client specifications and is ready for distribution. After the high-quality animation has been rendered and assembled, additional video editing is performed to enhance the overall presentation of the video.

This editing phase includes incorporating branding elements, such as logos, color schemes, and fonts that align with the client’s corporate identity. These elements not only reinforce brand recognition but also ensure consistency across all marketing materials and platforms. In addition to branding, the team makes any necessary updates or changes based on client feedback. This may involve adjusting visual elements, refining animations, or incorporating additional scenes.

Sound effects are also integrated at this stage to enhance the audio landscape of the video, adding depth and engagement. These sound effects complement the voice-over and music, ensuring a cohesive auditory experience that draws viewers in and supports the storytelling.

Once the final edits are complete, discussions with the client focus on any specific delivery formats they may require. This conversation is essential as different platforms and uses may necessitate various file formats. For instance, videos intended for online use might be delivered in MP4 format due to its wide compatibility and efficient compression, while high-quality broadcast content might be required in MOV format.

The team is equipped to deliver the final product in a variety of formats tailored to the client's needs, whether for social media, websites, presentations, or other digital platforms. This flexibility ensures that the client can seamlessly integrate the animation into their desired distribution channels. After confirming the required formats and any final adjustments, the completed animation is packaged and delivered to the client, marking the successful conclusion of the project.

This thorough final delivery process not only emphasizes quality and client satisfaction but also sets the stage for potential future collaborations.

A microscopic view of a t-cell.

Ready to bring your science to life? If you have a project that needs a compelling visual narrative, we're here to help transform your ideas into stunning animations and engaging content. Whether you're looking to illustrate complex scientific concepts, create educational resources, or develop impactful marketing materials, our team of skilled professionals is equipped with the expertise to make your vision a reality.

Contact us today to discuss your project details, objectives, and any specific requirements you may have. We invite you to book a discovery call, where we can delve deeper into your goals, explore creative possibilities, and outline how our collaborative process works.

This initial conversation will give you a better understanding of our approach and how we can tailor our services to meet your unique needs. We believe that every scientific story deserves to be told in a captivating way, and we’re excited to partner with you on this journey. Let's collaborate to create something exceptional that not only educates but also inspires your audience!

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