What to Consider When Creating a Scientific Animation
Medical animation is a method that allows you to transform complicated and inaccessible scientific concepts into concise documentaries and digital solutions, which allow you to better communicate the key messages behind your products. However, not all medical animations are created equal. In this article, we discuss what you need to consider when creating medical animation.
Who Should You Hire to Create a Scientific Animation?
Who you hire to create your scientific animation is, without a doubt, the most important decision you’ll make throughout the process. You should never compromise quality for a cheaper solution, so research reputable scientific digital agencies, preferably with all work performed in-house, for a result that you’ll be satisfied with. Doing this will ensure a professional finish, with any requested changes implemented quickly. Working directly with the production team developing the content will also prevent complications and remove extended chains of communication, which can result in delays and potential misunderstanding.
A competent in-house team of PhD-level scientists should be the driving force behind your animation project, and you should not settle for less. With animation often cited as the most important component for marketing campaigns, credibility is a major factor in failure or success.
When looking for a reputable scientific animation company, look for the following:
Recognition as an industry leader
Awards for the quality of its work
A reputation for delivering to tight deadlines
A decent number of in-house animators
Experience a large range of therapeutic areas
An understanding of science and the employment of competent scientists in-house
Experience working with both small and large companies
Experience working with top pharma companies
A track record of delivering on time and on budget
Experience of working both directly with scientists and procurement teams
Questions You Need to Ask Yourself
How long will it take to create my scientific animation?
Deadlines need to be met and time is often of the essence, making it vital that you understand how long a typical animation project might take from beginning to completion. A timeline of twelve weeks is realistic, though this is flexible, depending on the circumstances. If an animation has to go through several rounds of revisions or it’s a particularly complex project, it may take longer, while there may also be room for shortening this time when tighter deadlines are enforced.
HD or 4K — does it even matter?
In a nutshell, 4k provides better quality — remember when we discussed not compromising quality for a cheaper price? The biggest difference in terms of 4K, specifically for medical animation, is that when cells travel across the screen, there is no blur or indistinct mass. Instead, you’ll be able to see each individual cell.
This provides a greater level of detail and, with 4K becoming the norm — with cinemas today showing almost exclusively in 4K, and exhibition screens, mobile phones, tablets and PCs heading in the same direction — it’s the ideal solution for your medical animation.
Using imagery and understanding copyright
For the best results and highest quality, your scientific animation should not contain any stock images or animations. These are non-exclusive, show a lack of creativity and effort, and tend to present an unnatural composition that doesn’t blend well with the rest of the animation.
As for copyright, you should demand full global copyright clearance for broadcast and non-broadcast use.
