3D animation

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3D animation is expensive because it has to create a world from scratch. But it solves problems that neither photography nor conventional video can: showing a product before it is manufactured, explaining the inside of a machine or selling a building that does not exist yet. ## Deciding on the level of realism Not all renders are equal. A stylised animation, with simple shapes and strong colours, can communicate how something works clearly and be produced in a few weeks. A photorealistic render, with reflections, textures and physically accurate light, requires far more time and iterations. The right level is the one that serves the message, not the one that impresses the team. ## Approve before animating The golden rule is simple: anything not approved at the key stills stage has to be paid for again. A well-lit still image, a modelled scene and a written storyboard make it possible to sign off on the look and movements before moving on to animation. Requesting changes once the scene is rendered amounts to redoing part of the work. ## Reusing the models A 3D product animation is a reusable asset: the same model can be used for a site visual, a product page, a presentation video and a trade fair film. Negotiating delivery of the source files, or an agreement on variations, increases the value of an already significant budget.

When this guide is for you

• You are launching a product that is not manufactured yet and need to show how it works or looks
• Your product is too small, too large or too technical to film, such as a mechanical part or a medical device
• Your site does not exist yet and you need to sell a property or industrial project before construction
• You want to explain an invisible process (energy flow, circulation, internal operation) in an educational way

Step by step

1. Scoping the need and format — Define the objective (sell, explain, train), the length, the medium (site, social networks, trade fair, training) and the level of fidelity. A realistic product animation and a stylised animation do not have the same cost or the same team.
2. Documentation and modelling — Gather technical drawings, photos, samples or existing models. Build or optimise the 3D model, choosing the right level of detail: there is no point modelling invisible screws if they never appear.
3. Textures, lighting and art direction — Define the materials (metal, glass, fabric), the colours and the set. Produce a few key stills to approve the mood before animating the whole sequence.
4. Storyboard and animation — Prepare the storyboard shot by shot, then animate camera movements, objects and elements. This is the longest and most expensive phase, because any correction means redoing part of the scene.
5. Rendering and post-production — Compute the frames (rendering), then add music, voice-over, text, effects and final editing. Allow time for rendering heavy scenes, which can take several hours per second.

What it costs (in MAD)

Service	Indicative price	Good to know
Static 3D visual (product key image)	2,000 – 8,000 MAD (≈ 180 – 730 €)	From an existing model; modelling is charged separately
Product animation (15 to 30 seconds)	8,000 – 25,000 MAD (≈ 730 – 2,300 €)	3 to 5 shots, product already modelled
Modelling a product from scratch	3,000 – 15,000 MAD (≈ 270 – 1,400 €)	Depends on complexity and the technical drawings available
Architectural film or virtual tour	20,000 – 60,000 MAD (≈ 1,800 – 5,500 €)	For a property project, often including landscape and atmosphere
Explainer animation (60 to 90 seconds)	25,000 – 70,000 MAD (≈ 2,300 – 6,400 €)	Script, modelling, animation, voice-over and post-production
Modifying an existing scene	800 – 3,000 MAD / scene (≈ 70 – 270 €)	Once approved, the scope of changes should be limited by contract

Indicative ranges for the Moroccan market in 2026, excluding tax. Prices vary with scope and provider.

Mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a level of realism that is unrealistic for the budget: a full photorealistic render costs a multiple of a stylised animation
• Leaving approvals until the final render and requesting animation changes very late: every change has to be paid for again
• Modelling a product without precise technical drawings, then discovering differences from the real shape
• Wanting many shots in a very short animation: each shot costs rendering and animation time
• Forgetting adaptations for social networks: a horizontal format does not work in a story

Updated on 20 October 2026

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