How Long Does It Take to Make Animation in Unreal Engine?

The time it takes to create an animation in Unreal Engine varies dramatically, depending on the complexity of the project, the length of the animation, and the animator’s experience. While Unreal Engine’s real-time rendering capabilities can drastically speed up the final output, the initial animation process is just as intricate as in other 3D software. A simple animation, utilizing pre-existing assets, might be completed relatively quickly; a large-scale, intricate animation, involving unique character design, detailed environments, and complex motion, could take several weeks, or even months. There’s no single answer that applies to all projects. However, unlike traditional rendering pipelines where waiting for final renders can be very time-consuming, Unreal Engine allows you to see your animation develop in real-time, which can drastically reduce the time spent waiting for renders, especially for shorter animations, meaning a five-minute animation could be finished and rendered in a similar time frame.

Factors Influencing Animation Time in Unreal Engine

Several key factors influence the length of time it takes to create animations in Unreal Engine. Let’s break down these elements:

Project Complexity

The level of complexity is probably the single biggest factor. A simple 30-second animation with basic character models and static backgrounds will take significantly less time than a highly detailed 5-minute short film featuring complex character rigs, dynamic environments, and intricate camera work. Consider the density of the environment, the sophistication of character animations, and the amount of unique assets required. Each adds time to the timeline.

Animation Length

The length of the animation is a self-evident factor. A short animation clip will, understandably, require less development time than a longer one. Each additional minute of animation typically means more animation work, texturing, lighting tweaks, and scene set-ups. A simple, one minute animation may take six to eight weeks to produce depending on the number of animators working on it and how detailed the project is.

Asset Creation and Rigging

Assets must be created or acquired prior to any animation taking place. The time it takes to create 3D models, texture them, and rig them is a significant portion of the overall animation timeline. If you are using pre-existing assets, this will be much shorter than developing everything from scratch. Character rigging, especially for realistic humanoids or complex creatures, can be particularly time-consuming, requiring meticulous attention to detail. You also have to consider re-rigging if the pre-existing rig isn’t up to standard for your project.

Animator’s Experience and Team Size

An experienced animator who knows Unreal Engine inside and out will work faster and more efficiently than someone who is just learning the software. Experience also plays a significant role in how quickly animators understand and resolve problems during the production process. Having a team of animators will naturally speed up the animation process, as work can be divided and completed in parallel, however, the production team will need to coordinate their efforts effectively.

Animation Style

Different styles of animation require different workflows. A 2D animation created using Unreal Engine’s 2D tools will typically be faster to produce than a highly detailed 3D animation. Furthermore, stylized animations can sometimes be completed more quickly than photorealistic ones because of the details required for each. 2D animations are generally simpler, but 3D animations tend to require much more work.

Rendering Requirements

While Unreal Engine excels in real-time rendering, some projects still require post-processing or additional rendering for the final output. This step, though not as time-consuming as in traditional rendering engines, still takes time and needs to be factored into your schedule. For example, rendering the animation into specific formats such as a series of image files or as an video file can add significant time.

Timeline Estimates

With all of the factors mentioned above, what do average timeline estimates look like?

• Short Animation (10-30 seconds, Simple): 2 to 4 weeks using 2D techniques or a 3D animation with a very simple environment. This could be less for a one-off simple scene.
• 1-Minute Animation (Moderate Complexity): 6 to 8 weeks for 2D, potentially much longer for 3D, with complex animation and simulations. This timeline could be shortened significantly with an experienced team and proper organization of assets.
• Multi-Minute Animation (Complex): Several months, possibly even over a year, depending on scope and the animation team. A feature-length animated film would obviously be in this category.
• Real-Time Rendering: Remember, Unreal Engine’s real-time rendering doesn’t change the initial animation process time, but greatly reduces the time it takes to see the finished product.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to give you a better grasp of animation production times with Unreal Engine:

1. Is Unreal Engine good for animation?

Yes, Unreal Engine is excellent for animation, especially for creating visually stunning, high-fidelity 3D animation due to its advanced real-time rendering. It offers features for lighting, shading, and post-processing.

2. Should I animate in Unreal Engine or Blender?

Blender is a good choice for short, simple 2D animations, while Unreal Engine excels in bigger, more complex 3D projects, including games and animation. Blender also provides a robust set of 2D animation tools such as Grease Pencil, but it doesn’t have the real-time rendering capability of Unreal Engine.

3. Is Unreal Engine better than Blender for animation?

For animation, both have strengths. Blender excels in keyframe animation and rigging. Unreal Engine provides robust animation tools and powerful real-time rendering, especially for 3D projects, and integrates well with mocap data.

4. How long does a 1-minute animation take to make?

A 1-minute 2D/3D animation usually takes about 6-8 weeks for 2D, and can be much longer for 3D or simulation-style videos.

5. How long does a 30-second animation take to make?

A 30-second 2D animated video takes about 2-4 weeks. 3D animations will take over 3 weeks to produce.

6. How long does it take to animate a 3D character?

The entire 3D animation process, including briefing, concept art, animation, and sound design typically takes around 8 weeks to complete. However, the animation process itself is generally 20-30% of that time.

7. How long should I animate a day?

A typical animator can animate 5-10 seconds per day in game animation, depending on complexity. For critical scenes, this can drop to 2-4 seconds per day.

8. Is 3D animation harder than 2D?

3D animation is generally considered more difficult than 2D because of the more complex technical requirements. You have to consider many more moving parts than with 2D.

9. Why does animation take so long?

Animation takes time due to detailed processes like key framing, in-betweening, and rendering, especially for complex scenes. There are several stages and every part of the animation process takes time and effort.

10. How much does a 1-minute animation cost?

A custom 2D animation can cost around $7,000 to $20,000 per minute, with 3D usually costing more. The costs are driven by the scale of the project, the complexity of the assets, and the length of the video.

11. Can an animator become a millionaire?

Becoming a millionaire as an animator is rare but possible with exceptional talent, hard work, and good fortune. Most animators earn a comfortable living but may not become millionaires.

12. Do animators get paid well?

The median salary for animators is around $70,000 to $75,000 a year. Salaries can vary based on experience, company size and location. Senior or lead animators can often earn considerably more.

13. Is 30 too late to start animation?

It’s never too late to start a career in animation, as long as you’re suitably qualified and have a good portfolio. There are a lot of famous animators who only began animation careers later in life.

14. Is there high demand for animators?

Yes, the job outlook for special effects artists and animators is projected to grow 8% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than average. There is a projected average of 9,400 openings each year.

15. Do I need to learn Blender before Unreal Engine?

It’s beneficial to learn the basics of 3D asset creation, rigging, and texturing in software like Blender before diving into Unreal Engine. Understanding the full 3D production pipeline can be beneficial and will allow you to work more efficiently in Unreal Engine.

Conclusion

Creating animation within Unreal Engine can be a complex and rewarding process. The time needed depends heavily on the factors mentioned above. While Unreal Engine’s real-time capabilities greatly reduce rendering times, the animation itself still requires a significant investment of time and effort, but the results can be stunning. Understanding the scale and intricacies of your project will help you estimate timelines, assemble the correct team, and deliver the best product for your clients.