Instinct Animations

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Manager of CTEH, LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

CTEH is nationally recognized for providing expert services in areas such as health and safety, emergency response, industrial hygiene, and environmental solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Instinct Animations to accomplish?

• Design and produce a video centerpiece for our booth at our largest annual conference

SOLUTION

How did you find Instinct Animations?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Instinct Animations over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Stylistic Match

How many teammates from Instinct Animations were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

45-60 second explainer movie creatively demonstrating our company's values and services Held a creative discussion and company history session to drive the narrative. Produced two full color style frames/early storyboards to choose between for creative direction. 
Provided storyboards for review and feedback prior to animation Delivered final video plus one revision (at our expense due to extra feedback from stakeholders) Delivered clip of logo transition from the video that we loved separately

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Visible impact at the conference. Our employees, competitors, and industry partners all came by the booth to remark on the movie.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The IA team was very responsive and attentive to our requested form of communication (Slack). All questions and feedback was addressed very quickly event being on drastically different time zones.

What was your primary form of communication with Instinct Animations?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They're a creative powerhouse. We were extremely impressed with their vision and the talent of their animation team. We initially were afraid of going in a 'fun' direction with our movie but were encouraged by their creative lead that this would make an impact and they were absolutely correct.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Instinct Animations could have done differently?

We had a minor misunderstanding during the review process, but that was due to our tight timeline on our end. IA handled everything very well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and COO of Cognitive Space, an aerospace startup. We build AI-driven systems for the operation of constellations of satellites.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instinct Animations?

Our company is young, so it’s very important for us to build our brand and get it in front of our target audience. We participated in the Small Satellite Conference, an annual event in the US space industry where customers come from all over the world. As part of a sponsorship package for the event, we had an opportunity to show a 90-second video about our company, so we wanted to ensure that we had a great branded video introducing us and what we do. We engaged Instinct Animations to create that video.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Instinct Animations created a 90-second animated video for us. First, they had a discovery phase where they asked many questions about our company and what we do. They also asked about our goals for the video and what we wanted to say. We also provided them with education regarding how satellites look and behave so that the video was believable to a technical audience.

From there, the team went through a process of storyboarding. We went back and forth with the team regarding the potential script and look and feel options to hone in on the visual and audio elements of the video. They also offered options for A/B testing that enabled us to decide if we wanted a male or female voice and to choose between two different look and feel options. 

The team kept us involved during the script development and the animation process to ensure we hit all the talking points we wanted while fitting the video’s time limit. They also cast the voice actors for the voiceover and added captions. Instinct Animations iterated on various versions until they got to the final product. 

How did you come to work with Instinct Animations?

They reached out to us with a showcase of what they could do. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–July 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Instinct Animations offered us a very complete service and thought of everything. They were responsive, incorporated all our feedback, and made great suggestions. They advised us to create short versions of the video for social media and a longer version outside the conference’s time constraints. Overall, they helped us think about things we wouldn’t have come up with if we’d tried to do this on our own. 

Moreover, they made the whole experience easy and took a great deal of input from us for the videos’ look and feel. Everything we do must be very precise because it’s rocket science; we must visually represent things in a way that’s accurate to the real world. Even though they had never worked with a space-focused company before, Instinct Animations did a great job listening to us and making the appropriate changes. They checked in with us whenever they adjusted the visual layout to ensure we were happy.

Overall, we had a very good relationship with them. If we ever need additional work in the animated video arena, we’ll definitely work with them again. 

How did Instinct Animations perform from a project management standpoint?

The timeline was short for this type of project, and the team did a phenomenal job ensuring we had everything on time. We had last-minute changes, and they were able to incorporate those. Overall, they went above and beyond to help us meet the deadlines; they even had staff jump in to do extra work on the project. 

We used Basecamp for project management, which our company uses internally. We invited them to collaborate through that platform, and it worked really well. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

What we liked the most about Instinct Animations was their willingness to learn. Although they were experts at creating animation, this was their first time working with a brand that’s all about aerospace applications. The team knocked it out of the park in terms of changing how they represented things visually. 

They listened, understood, and asked many questions about why things looked the way they did and why they needed to behave a certain way. Their curiosity and willingness to go above and beyond to get the animations right set them apart. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

If there’s one area I’d suggest they improve, it would be more discussion of timelines earlier in the project. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I advise giving them as much information as possible about how things need to look. If something needs to move a certain way or come off in a specific way that’s important for the audience, you should be very clear about that upfront. To achieve this, you should do your homework and ensure you’re communicating those requirements to Instinct Animations. 

This way, they can have the correct information at the very beginning rather than having to course correct throughout the project. We had to make changes a few times because we hadn’t done that homework and fully articulated those needs. I’d suggest having a few meetings with your team to discuss how to visually represent what you do so that you can give the team rules and make their job a little easier.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder and CEO of Nomi Travel. Nomi is an AI-powered smart concierge that helps travelers create remarkable travel experiences which are perfectly suited to them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Instinct Animations, and what were your goals?

We were in need of an explainer video that clearly defines what Nomi does and how it solves the pain points of travel.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We looked for companies that understood the pain points Nomi solves and had a positive track record of explainer video creation.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

After an initial call, the Insight team came back with their first ideas and brainstorms, which led to another call with our team. From there, we were able to further refine the video concepts. Insight delivered us two different storyline options and together, we settled on one that we felt very confident in. From there, they continually checked in with us and shared A/B options for coloring, character design, etc. We had the opportunity to refine the script and the process was simple.

Once that was finalized, we had the choice of 5 or 6 voice actors who read a sample line for us to choose from. The team at Instinct Animation were excellent listeners and asked thoughtful and insightful questions which helped us fast-track the product development. This made the experience easy and gave us great confidence in their ability to deliver an exceptional product.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked directly with Instinct Animation's Managing Director and Lead Production Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We had a very tight timeline and were impressed with Instinct Animation's entire team. They hustled hard to meet our tight timeline and delivered on time.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The entire process was very clear and communicative. Instinct Animation consistently delivered on time, despite our tight timeline.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The entire team was helpful and considerate. They listened exceptionally well and took action based on the insights they learned from each call and email. The care they had for each client was clear that they valued each point of communication.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

The entire process was great and I would definitely work with them again.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the head of marketing at a B2B AI company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instinct Animations?

We needed a company to help us visually display our offerings. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Instinct Animations developed an animated video for my firm. We had several discovery calls with their team to layout the information we wanted to include in the video. We also provided Instinct Animations with several assets to include in the video, including video clips and our branding guidelines. 

Instinct Animations then developed the script and storyboard, which we provided feedback on. Once we finalized those elements, Instinct Animations' team created the animations and filmed live footage to add to the video. Once the video was complete, we provided feedback on it, and Instinct Animations completed our edit requests. We approved the final video and then Instinct Animations optimized it for web viewing. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with two project management teammates from Instinct Animations. 

How did you come to work with Instinct Animations?

We liked the work Instinct Animations completed for us in the past, so we hired them again. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $7,000 with Instinct Animations. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Instinct Animations completed the project in February 2022.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The project won't launch until next week, so I don't have specific metrics. However, I think Instinct Animations' work is excellent — I'm impressed that they delivered exactly what we requested in a very short timeline. 

How did Instinct Animations perform from a project management standpoint?

Instinct Animations' processes were very streamlined, which allowed them to quickly implement our feedback. Their team had fantastic project management — they delivered on time and to budget. They helped move the project forward and touched base when we didn't provide what they needed on time. I never had to chase down deliverables from Instinct Animations. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

A lot of companies I've worked with don't put a lot of effort or creativity into the script. Instinct Animations, however, delivered a well-written script that fully encompassed all the information we wanted to convey. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing for Instinct Animations to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise customers to look at Instinct Animations' portfolio and determine whether Instinct Animations' animation style works for them. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Im the Head of Marketing for CookingPal, an IoT solution company dedicated to designing kitchens of the future. Combining cloud technologies with smart kitchen appliances, we design solutions that encourage customer interaction and deliver insightful and uplifting user experiences.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Instinct Animations, and what were your goals?

We were looking to create a brand video highlighting the different aspects of the work we do and giving an overview of various activities and products. As we speak to various audiences we had to create different versions of the video so it speaks to the target group.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

This is the second time we worked with Instinct. They are a great team, they listed to our feedback and implement it adding a creative spin to it.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We had a pretty solid idea of what we wanted to created. At the kick off meeting the team introduced the idea of how we wanted to create a video where we combine various assets that we already had reflecting different aspects of our brand and product.

At the second meeting our team presented a very clear brief and a storyboard. The instinct then went ahead animating the story and taking it to the next level really. It only took us 2-3 more meetings to get the final video.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with Laura, our project manager. She's great. Keeping a timely manner in communication with their internal team. Keeping track of the timeline and overall progress.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We ve created several versions of the video, targeting different audiences and emphasizing different aspect of CookingPal. We used the video at the tradeshows and it definitely grabbed the attention and received positive feedback.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Very easy to communicate with. One thing to mention is that the team resides all over the world, so working from HK, it gave us an advantage as the animators were 12 hours behind, so we were able to gather feedback just in time for the team to wake up and get the ball rolling on the edits.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They have friendly talented pals on the team that makes a difference.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

We are always open to new ideas and looking forward to our next project with the Instinct Animations!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the sales director of an asset-tracking technology company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instinct Animations?

We needed to create an explainer video to explain the benefits and value of our technology.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Instinct Animations created our explainer video from scratch, including its animations, editing, and sound mixing — they were in charge of everything. First, they provided us with a form with general questions about our target market, the objectives we were trying to achieve with our technology, and the value that it brought to our customers. After completing the form, we started iterating to define the tone and style of the video. Then, we developed a script and looked at some storyboards that they provided us with to approve. Finally, Instinct Animations put everything together and produced the final animated video.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with two people from Instinct Animations: the managing director and a project manager. Still, they had a team behind the scenes doing the work.

How did you come to work with Instinct Animations?

I was referred to them by another company.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first contacted Instinct Animations in October 2021, and they delivered the video in February 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We posted the video on our site and our LinkedIn profile and received very positive feedback. Generally speaking, working with Instinct Animations was a very good experience. They were awesome to work with, as well as extremely professional, communicative, and intelligent. They brought smart ideas to the table and delivered very creative and original work.

How did Instinct Animations perform from a project management standpoint?

Instinct Animations’ project management was extremely professional. Their communication was clear, making the overall process very smooth and enjoyable. We used Google Meet to communicate and Google Drive to share documents.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Instinct Animations was very creative and responsive, and their level of detail was very high. Throughout the project, they demonstrated a lot of dedication and thorough work effort.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were very happy with the whole process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go through their process and be engaging in every step of the process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

A higher education technology company delivering CRM solutions. Academic institutions rely on us to eliminate business process inefficiencies, maximize constituent engagement, and future proof their technology strategy. I'm the Marketing Communications & Events Manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Instinct Animations, and what were your goals?

We provide technology solutions to a very niche market, which is sometimes difficult to understand if you don't work directly in the industry. It's been difficult finding a video production company that truly understands our business processes and how we need to communicate this via video. We sought out to have a 30 second commercial produced that easily explained what we can do for colleges and institutions.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

After our initial meeting with Steve at Instinct Animations, we knew they were our people. They made us feel so confident that they'd be able to communicate our message clearly. They were also so accommodating with our budget restrictions and making sure we got the best value possible.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The discovery meeting was very straightforward and we talked through the vision we had for the video. We then provided them with a short script and the style of VO we were looking for. In order to accommodate our budget, our company sifted through stock video that we wanted and provided them the footage. They then quickly provided us a rough draft of our 30 second video, allowed us a round of revisions, and gave us the final version shortly after.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with Steve and Laura. They both offered feedback that was always in our best interest, including offering opinions on VO, our script, and the style.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We'll be showcasing this commercial during a pre and post keynote speech at a large conference.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We worked with Steve and Laura. Steve instantly made me feel confident that they could deliver the video that we've been trying to create for so long. The team was always looking out for our best interests. Laura was incredibly responsive and super kind throughout the process. She kept everyone on track and was always providing updates, no matter how small the progress was.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I was shocked at how quickly they were able to get this project done. When I've worked with other video production companies, projects would drag out way longer than necessary. Most companies don't take into consideration that we are not video producers and that we need guidance and direction when going through this process. Instinct Animation made us feel so confident throughout the process and was there to guide us through everything.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nope!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director at Workterra, a benefits administration and technology platform. We’re a subsidiary of CareerBuilder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instinct Animations?

We didn’t have the internal resources or budget to have an agency to create our own video animation, so we went with Instinct Animations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Instinct Animations understood what we needed from the get-go, making the process pretty easy. The main project was to create a demo video. It was relatively straightforward, but we wanted it to look professional, with an intro and outro of our logo and voice talent. It was for one of our largest partners, so we wanted something polished.

What is the team composition?

We were introduced to the founders. Once the project was ongoing, we worked with Laura (Client Services Director), our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Instinct Animations?

We were referred to them. We reached out to higher-end companies that we’d worked with in the past and asked them if they knew others who’d be suitable for the project. They introduced us to Instinct Animations, and we had a call and email exchange. Then, they showed us a couple of examples and quickly offered a super competitive proposal, so it worked out pretty easily.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost was $2,000 for a complete demo recording.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the project from November 2021–February 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They worked quickly and efficiently, and they were able to turn the project around for us. Also, they helped us deliver content to our key partner for new business growth. Of course, getting an immediate ROI is difficult, but now we have a huge product that’ll help us sell and create new business.

How did Instinct Animations perform from a project management standpoint?

It couldn’t have been better; we couldn’t have asked for a more engaged project management experience. They stuck to their timelines and kept us engaged. The follow-ups were frequent, so we knew exactly where we stood. Delays weren’t their fault; it was always on our side if we had a decision to make. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication, project management, and responsiveness were outstanding. For example, we shifted direction with the voice talent when my manager was out on vacation, but the CEO stepped in immediately and got about 50 voice talent options. They made the correction without any cost just because they wanted us to be happy with the project, and it went a long way. Overall, they were able to jump in when we wanted to make a change and improve the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, there weren’t any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just do it. They’re very engaged, so I’d do as many projects as I could simultaneously. Instinct Animations can handle it because they’re super organized and communicative. I wish we had more projects to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Newcastle Limited is a Real Estate owner and developer in Chicago, IL. I am the Director of Marketing dealing primarily with our Multifamily Management arm, Reside Living.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Instinct Animations, and what were your goals?

Newcastle Limited has worked with Instinct Animations to develop an opening video for our annual meeting for the past two years. Historically, our annual meetings have been in person and are very high-energy. Holding these meetings virtually, we needed a way to focus the group, deliver a message, and set the tone for the rest of the meeting.

SOLUTION

How did you select Instinct Animations and what were the deciding factors?

Instinct Animations was a referral from a Chicago-based company. We are very lucky to have found them since this type of work is not something we regularly do.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The most recent video project was focused on our Company Values that were reframed internally this past year. Knowing the success we had with Instinct Animcations, I reached out to them directly to quote out the video. We met as a team and discussed our vision and scope. Instinct Animations suggested utilizing a voice-over for this video.

We were happy to take their suggestion and run with it. We sent a script to Instinct Animations and they mocked up two art directions. We approved one of the directions IA proceeded to build out our video. Next, IA shared with us the full-video storyboard and also walked us through this slide by slide getting our feedback. This was nice because we didn't have to guess at how it would animate, Laura (our project manager) could explain what we would see.

After our feedback was given, the team animated the video and delivered it well before our deadline. We are very happy with the final product.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We workes predominately with Laura Alvarez and Kyle Gardner-Drury. They took our feedback well and also kept us informed on the project from start to completion.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

With this being an internal video, we didn't have any measurable goals set. But we did receive positive feedback from our Executive team and some of the annual meeting participants. It was a success.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We are a needy group. Kyle and Laura are great at communicating with us and providing us with updates along the way. We had an email snafu (Newcastle's problem) and while this was being fixed, IA set a handful of video check-ins to make sure we stayed on top of the project.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We appreciate their attentiveness and flexibility. We know that everyone's working time zones differ, but they are able to make themselves available for us. Turnaround times are also very fast.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None for us! We highly recommend Instinct Animations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a partner at a web design and technology company in New York City.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instinct Animations?

One of our clients needed an explainer video for their business, and since we don’t have those capabilities in our internal team, we reached out to Instinct Animations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Instinct Animations provided animated video production for us. We gave them a storyboard, a narrative of the material, references, and an idea of the graphical direction we wanted to take. After that, they offered voiceover options and a rough draft of styles for us to choose from. Consequently, we went through several rounds of revisions until we were happy with the final product.

What is the team composition?

We had just one main point of contact but a creative team involved behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Instinct Animations?

We engaged digitally many years ago. I had their information around, and we reached out to them when this project came up.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–March 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Everybody in our and our client’s team was delighted with their professional — Instinct Animations were invested in our satisfaction, and we were pleased with that.

How did Instinct Animations perform from a project management standpoint?

They were an honest, responsive, hardworking team that provided all the things I would want them to with a good value.

In terms of communication, we mainly used email, Zoom, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were committed to delivering everything that we wanted and needed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear and prepared for the project and trust them to know what they’re doing.