By Stephen Conley, Founder & Creative Director at GisteoQuick answerThe typical video production timeline for a custom animated explainer is 3 to 6 weeks from kickoff to final delivery: about a week for the script, a week for storyboards and design, and 2 to 3 weeks for voiceover, animation and sound. An AI video usually takes 1 to 2 weeks, and a short AI spot can be ready in days. The biggest variable isn’t the studio; it’s how quickly feedback and approvals come back. At Gisteo, custom projects include unlimited revisions within each stage, and AI videos include two rounds.
“How long will it take?” is one of the first questions on almost every discovery call we have, usually followed by “and what if we want changes?” A lot of studios answer both vaguely, which is how projects end up running two months late with a client who feels stuck after one round of edits.
We’ve produced more than 3,000 videos since 2011, so we can be specific. Below is a stage-by-stage timeline for custom animation and for AI video, how revisions work at each step, and what speeds a project up or slows it down.
Video production timeline at a glance
| Video type | Typical timeline | Revisions |
|---|---|---|
| Custom animation, you supply the script (Just Animate!) | 3–4 weeks | Unlimited within each stage |
| Custom animation, we write the script (Full-Service) | 5–6 weeks | Unlimited within each stage |
| Custom animation, rushed (VIP Fast Pass) | 2–3 weeks | Unlimited within each stage |
| AI video or AI commercial | 1–2 weeks | 2 rounds, extra rounds +$350 |
| AI spot with rush delivery | Under 72 hours (+25%) | 2 rounds |
Timelines assume a 60-second video and feedback within two business days at each stage. Longer videos add time, mostly in animation.
How long each stage takes in a custom animated video
| Stage | Typical time | What you approve |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery and brief | 2–3 days | Goals, audience, key message, style |
| Scriptwriting | About 1 week | The final script, word for word |
| Storyboard and style frames | About 1 week | How every scene will look |
| Voiceover | 2–4 days, often alongside design | The voice actor and the recorded read |
| Animation | 1.5–2.5 weeks | The animated video, scene by scene |
| Music, sound and delivery | 2–3 days | The final mix and file formats |
Each approval locks a stage before the next one starts. That’s what keeps the project on schedule: changing a line of script is quick on day 5 and expensive on day 25, once it has been drawn, voiced and animated. Our guide to video production stages covers what happens inside each step in more detail.
How long does an AI video take?
AI video skips the slowest part of custom work, which is drawing and animating every frame by hand. The script and storyboard still come first, and they’re still approved before anything is generated. After that, scenes are generated, rejected and regenerated until they match the plan, then edited, scored and mixed.
- A 15-second social spot: often under a week.
- A 30-second commercial: usually 1–2 weeks.
- A 60-second cinematic film: about 2 weeks.
- Rush delivery in under 72 hours is possible for short spots, at +25%.
Speed is one of the main reasons brands choose AI. Our post on what an AI commercial costs covers the trade-offs in price and quality.
How do revisions work?
Revisions are where timelines and budgets usually go wrong, so it helps to know exactly what’s included before you sign.
Custom animation: unlimited revisions within each stage
You can request as many changes as you need to the script until you approve it, then to the storyboard until you approve it, and so on. What costs extra is going back to an approved stage, for example rewriting the script after animation has started, because that work has to be redone.
AI video: two rounds
AI videos include two rounds of revisions on the finished cut. A revision means changes to existing shots, such as timing, text, a different take or music, rather than new scenes. Additional rounds are $350 each. Because the script and storyboard are approved up front, two rounds are enough for most projects.
Questions to ask any studio about revisions
- How many rounds are included, and at which stages?
- What counts as a revision versus new work?
- What does an extra round cost?
- Can I see and approve the script and storyboard before production starts?
Planning a video like this?
Talk it through with us on a free 30-minute brainstorm call. No obligation.
What slows a video project down
- Slow feedback. A week of silence at each of five approval points adds five weeks.
- Too many reviewers. Feedback from eight people who disagree takes longer to resolve than feedback from one owner.
- Changing direction after approval, especially rewriting the script during animation.
- Missing assets: logos, product screenshots, brand fonts or legal sign-off arriving late.
- Compliance review in regulated industries like finance and healthcare, which is necessary but needs to be planned in from day one. Financial firms, for example, review videos against FINRA Rule 2210 on public communications.
How to get your video faster
- Name one decision-maker who collects and consolidates feedback.
- Have your brand assets and product access ready at kickoff.
- Agree on review dates for each stage before the project starts.
- Give feedback on the script carefully; it’s the cheapest stage to change.
- If the date is fixed, consider an AI video or a fast-turnaround option like the VIP Fast Pass.
Custom or AI: which fits your deadline?
| If you need… | Choose |
|---|---|
| A video for a launch in under two weeks | AI video, or a VIP Fast Pass for custom animation in 2–3 weeks |
| A detailed product or process explanation | Custom animation, 3–6 weeks |
| A steady flow of ads every month | AI Creative Plans, with fresh spots monthly |
| A brand mascot or long-term brand asset | Custom animation |
For a deeper comparison, see AI explainer videos vs traditional animation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to make an explainer video?
A custom animated explainer video usually takes 3 to 6 weeks, depending on whether you supply the script. An AI video usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. Rush options can shorten both.
How long does it take to make a 60-second animated video?
About 3 to 4 weeks if the script is ready, or 5 to 6 weeks if the studio writes it. Animation itself takes 1.5 to 2.5 weeks of that.
How many revisions are standard in video production?
Two or three rounds per project is common. At Gisteo, custom animation includes unlimited revisions within each stage, and AI videos include two rounds on the finished cut.
Can an explainer video be made in a week?
A custom animated explainer rarely can without cutting corners. An AI video often can: short AI spots are often delivered in under a week, or under 72 hours with rush delivery.
What is a typical video production timeline?
Discovery and brief, then script, storyboard and design, voiceover, animation or footage, and finally music, sound and delivery. For a 60-second custom explainer, that adds up to roughly 3 to 6 weeks.
Planning around a launch date?
Tell us the date first. We’ll work backward from it and tell you plainly whether custom animation fits, whether an AI video makes more sense, or whether a mix of both gets you there. That conversation is free, and it’s usually the most useful 30 minutes of the whole project.
See the full explainer video pricing, browse custom animation and AI video examples, or book a free 30-minute brainstorm.
Start with a free brainstorm
Talk through your idea with us on a free 30-minute call or in a free script workshop. Curious about AI? Ask for a free 15-second sample. No obligation.
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Stephen has spent 30+ years in advertising, branding and video, including 15 years at agencies like Young & Rubicam, JWT and DDB, before launching Gisteo in 2011. He still works hands-on on every project and leads the studio’s custom animation and AI video work. More about Stephen
