Curveball

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior marketing and digital manager for a nonprofit organization called the Internet Watch Foundation. Our organization is responsible for the removal of child sexual abuse imagery from the internet. We work with law enforcement and governments globally to locate and run the criminal imagery of children suffering sexual abuse on the internet and then work to have that content removed.

What challenge were you trying to address with Curveball?

We needed a company that could provide us with animation support.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve worked with Curveball on and off for a few years now on animated video content. They’ve produced a number of explainer and promotional videos featuring the services that we provide to the tech industry as well as complex technical subjects. They develop animations that allow us to describe and explain what we do to locate and remove criminal content from the internet and how we do it.

They handle everything from discovery, scriptwriting, and storyboarding up to the production of the animation itself. We're considering working with them to develop a website next year, which will be in the form of an online annual report. That would be taking into account their ability to develop short animated gifs or movies that we can use within the body of a website to demonstrate who we are and what we're all about.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 3–4 people from Curveball, including Olly (Owner).

How did you come to work with Curveball?

We found Curveball through online research.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent anywhere between $5,000–$15,000 on each animated video. It's very much dependent on the duration, how many changes we need to make, and the style of the animation.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2015, and the engagement is ongoing.

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

We publish the videos on YouTube, Vimeo, our social media channels, and our websites. We utilize them a lot in presentations that we use for various audiences, including MPs, people from tech companies, and the general public.

Overall, the results have always been brilliant, and engagement has always been very good with the audiences that we've created the content for. We've always had very positive feedback on the content and the ease of being able to understand the topics presented in the videos.

How did Curveball perform from a project management standpoint?

Curveball performed well in terms of project management. They're great at leading us and keeping us on schedule to make sure that we hit our deadlines. They’re incredibly transparent, responsive, and excellent at keeping on top of feedback.

We typically communicate through Messenger and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Curveball has a unique way of looking at a problem that we're trying to solve, and they always come up with an idea that we haven't considered ourselves, which is why we continue to go back to them. 

They also have an appropriate level of pushback when it comes to our ideas. They're not an agency that will just take a brief and deliver it 100% in that way, which is great for us because that's not what we're paying them for; we're paying them for their expertise and insights. They always provide us with other options and alternative ideas, and that's always been hugely appreciated because it always ends up with a better product.

Overall, they’re just a very personable team with huge amounts of knowledge. It's obvious that they are very up-to-date when it comes to trends in animated video and short-form video content. It's always a pleasure to have a chat with them and talk to them about new projects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing they could have done differently.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of a strategic growth consultancy called Grow. We specialise in helping companies achieve exponentially greater revenue increases compared to traditional lead generation.

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

We were exhibiting at a trade show and required an explainer video to attract attention and simplify our message into something that passers-by could quickly absorb. The objective was to draw them in and create enough intrigue that they wanted to speak with us on the stand.

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

We were drawn to Curveball Media due to their focus on human psychology and understanding the specific context and intent of the viewer. An event explainer video needs a completely different approach to a website explainer video, and these guys knew exactly how to handle the nuances.

They are also extremely good at taking a complex message and simplifying it into something extremely simple - something that is absolutely vital for a non-audio, 60 second explainer. However we also found a lot of value in this service as a way to figure out how we communicate what we do succinctly. So the value they provided actually went beyond the video itself.

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

We started with a discovery session to go deep into our business and core USPs, and they isolated specific things that I mentioned and asked more probing questions to really get to the crux of what we do. Based on that, they shared a brief which summarised their discoveries and I had the opportunity to add/tweak information until we were completely happy with it.

From there they created a written script. There was a lot of back and forth on this, in order to get it absolutely perfect. The script was mostly written from their own creative genius and I didn't have to contribute much to it. I just shared my thoughts and they came back with new ideas. Once the script was approved, they went to storyboarding, where they created visual examples of how the video would play out.

As this progressed and the flow was agreed upon, they expanded upon the visuals, fleshing them out until the final storyboard was fully designed at about the same time that the entire flow was agreed upon. When the visuals were created, that also opened up new ideas and debates about the script, and so they were happy to tweak the script in ways that led to a better outcome for both the script and the storyboard.

Again, here they were particularly astute at keeping the message simple and actually noticed opportunities to remove entire sections that, to my surprise, actually made the message clearer and more succinct. Once the storyboard was approved, they went into animation, and the same process of review and feedback took place, which required minor changes to ensure the character of the animation remained true to the brand.

Even during this process, when we saw it come to life, additional tweaks to the script and storyboard were required, and their team graciously accommodated those changes despite the time pressure. They were more focused on having a really strong result at the end. Then once I approved the final video, they provided me with a 1080p version in MOV format, in order to present it on the TV at the event.

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

I worked primarily with Olly as the main architect of the script and storyboard, and he was supported by his team, particularly Daisy who was in charge of the visuals and animation. I also liaised with their newest team member Lou who joined about half way through the project and supported with the communication. The feedback process was very smooth. They use a platform where you can directly add your feedback to the storyboard and even the video itself.

They were also open to email and whatsapp communication for the more nuanced debates. The team aren't yes-men. They do push back on ideas that they don't think will work, which means that the final outcome is produced by industry veterans rather than only what the client likes - this leads to a far better outcome, as their experience really makes all the difference.

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

During the event we noticed a LOT of people subtly watching the video. It acted like having a third person on the stand who could very succinctly communicate what we do. It led to people approaching us on the stand, and even people queuing up and waiting to speak to us when the stand was busy. I don't think people would have done that without the video having shown them what we do.

It's also worth mentioning that the video itself added a thick layer of polish to our stand, making our appearance so much more professional and impressive. This in itself helped convince people that we were the real deal and not amateurs.

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

Very agile project management style, with key structured phases, but the flexibility to make changes further down the line when new, better ways come to light. They use Filestage to present their work and obtain feedback. This isn't without its quirks, as apparently the platform has changed since they first adopted it. They are actively looking for a better platform, but even despite the quirks it facilitated very clear and efficient feedback so there was very little confusion.

This is quite important when it comes to giving feedback on visual and motion work. The team were very strict on timelines due to the very tight deadline, and they stayed on top of this the entire way through. They met every one of their deadlines.

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

Their ability to simplify a complex message and communicate that message in a way that is visually impressive & specific to context and viewer intent. This makes the product far more impactful and more likely to achieve the business objectives set out from the start.

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

When they deliver the work, they need to put a bow on it.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing manager for an AI technology business. We notify security professionals of high-impact events that could affect their people.

What challenge were you trying to address with Curveball Media?

Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand or conceptualize our product, so we hired Curveball Media to create an explainer video. Our goal was for the video to simplify the nature of our business to prospects. We also wanted to utilize the video for our marketing campaigns.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the project with a discovery call, where we told Curveball Media about our business and what we do. We also shared details about our target audience and tried to get into the brains of customers so the team could build an effective storyboard. After that, the team wanted to schedule a follow-up call to dive deeper into our business so they could really understand our audience’s pain points. 

Once the Curveball Media team had a solid grasp of our business, they planned out the production process. They handled everything, including storyboarding, writing the script, creating the visuals, and editing and animating the video. 

How did you come to work with Curveball Media? 

I gathered proposals from a number of agencies to create an explainer video for us. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested roughly $10,000 in the partnership with Curveball Media.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Curveball Media from March–November 2022.

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

Curveball Media produced a video with a clear, concise message and great visuals. The video answered a lot of questions about our product and services. Prior to working with them, our company had tried and failed to produce an effective explainer video, so this was a significant milestone for us. We were very pleased with the end result, and everyone was excited to share the video.

Additionally, we’ve been able to use the video for our digital advertising campaigns, emails, and international partnerships, which was one of our key goals. We’ve also published the video on our website, YouTube channel, and LinkedIn page. Overall, Curveball Media did a great job, and we’re excited to continue working with them on other projects.

How did Curveball Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Curveball Media delivered the project within our desired budget. Although we faced project delays, they resulted from our internal approvals process, so it wasn’t their fault. The team communicated well via email and phone. 

The whole process was seamless. Whenever we approached a key project milestone, we had a catch-up call to discuss the upcoming deliverables. They uploaded their work using Filestage, which enabled us to make comments and easily share feedback with the team. 

Halfway through the project, we requested changes that we probably should’ve communicated sooner, but they were very accommodating. Instead of charging us extra fees, they were flexible with us, which we appreciated. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with the Curveball Media team’s flexibility and patience. They stuck with us through our lengthy approvals process and were willing to accommodate our changing needs.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

Curveball Media could improve by sending timeline updates when plans shift and deadlines change.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I encourage you to overshare and be transparent about your product, your personas, and your struggles. The more information you can provide Curveball Media with, the better. Also, gather feedback from key stakeholders and communicate the feedback as early as possible to provide the team with clear direction.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Quantexa is a global data and analytics software scale-up, headquartered in the UK. My role is VP Product Marketing.

For what projects/services did your company hire Curveball Media, and what were your goals?

We have worked with Curveball over the last two years on a set of animated product explainer videos. Quantexa has a complex technology offering and suite of risk and data management solutions for the Banking, Government and Insurance industries.

Our goal is to communicate the key value of our software solutions in a way that is meaningful, memorable, makes us stand out from the competition and drives the call action to find out more. We needed help to simplify the complex, translate and cut through the noise of technical jargon, remain customer focused and leverage the power of video to tell stories (that aren't always possible in other mediums).

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

Curveball were recommended by a peer. We considered the quality of referenceable work in comparable industries and enterprise software in particular, the packaging and price of the work and repour with the team.

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

We have completed 4 videos and one more is in the works. We start with a discovery meeting which includes our in-house subject-matter-experts to brief technical detail with the product marketing manager to support the commercial value prop. We then develop a script together, move into storyboarding /scamps before animating. When we have not been 100% sure of how the animation will come to life, we have also added in a rougher-animation stage to confirm the visuals work before moving forward. Final stages are VO and minor sound effects.

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

We have worked with Oliver and his team members including our account and project manager, as well as the animators.

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

You can view the videos on our YourTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STvRY7vGNPo. The videos have been really well received and represent a huge level up in the quality of videos we produce.

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

The team have been very flexible to work with our timelines and preferred ways of working. We have done all our communication over email and zoom. The use of Filestage web app is really helpful for collaboration between us for online feedback, both written visual.

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

They have taken the time to really dig deep and understand the technical detail of our platform and how it works, never shying away from the more complex elements. They invest the time and focus in each call and challenge us to think differently about making things truly resonate. The team is very patient and are flexible when we need to change approach and through multiple rounds of feedback. Their overall methodology and techniques are science-backed, to make sure what we're producing can be understood and remembered.

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

No they're great to work with.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing at Vodeno, a banking provider. We specialize in BaaS technologies and offerings.

What challenge were you trying to address with Curveball Media?

We needed help with video production.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Curveball Media to produce a one-minute explainer video that explained a complex and brand-new technology in the financial services and technology market. We started the project by working together on a script. We went through a couple of iterations, but Curveball Media was incredibly accommodating throughout. After we approved the final script, we went through mood boards and wireframes to show the static versions. Curveball Media then worked on the animations for the video.

After that, we then moved on to the voice-over part of the video, which Curveball Media took care of. In the end, they delivered the main video along with some shorter versions that we could use across social media.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 people from Curveball Media, including the head of the studio, an account manager, a scriptwriter, and an animator.

How did you come to work with Curveball Media?

We found Curveball Media through a referral.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around £12,000 (Approximately $14,600 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2021–September 2022.

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

Curveball Media has successfully delivered the video, and we will be using it across our B2B channels and as conference material. The video has also received positive feedback from our audience, which was our goal.

How did Curveball Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Curveball Media performed well in terms of project management. We were a very difficult client in the sense that they were always waiting for us, but they were incredibly patient and helpful throughout the project.

We used Filestage for the project and feedback management and Google Meet and email for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were impressed with Curveball Media’s ability to bring our concepts and vision to life. They worked collaboratively with us to structure the video in a way that made complex concepts easily digestible and easy to understand. They leveraged their expertise to provide us with insights and recommendations to point us in the right direction and help us make better decisions for the project.

We appreciated Curveball Media’s approachability, friendliness, solution-oriented approach, and willingness to push back when needed. This made us feel like they genuinely cared about the success of our project, which was very important to us. Overall, we really enjoyed working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no complaints. I would definitely work with them again in the future when an opportunity arises.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to trust them and let them do what they do best. I would also advise anyone who will be working with them to provide them with any constraints your industry has.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director at mmi Analitycs, a data analytics company for the beauty industry. We collect a lot of data to help beauty brands present themselves more successfully to consumers.

What challenge were you trying to address with Curveball Media?

Our services are quite complex, and we have two different products. Thus, we required two different videos to present our two products: our media solutions product and our electronic retail (e-tail) product.

Our media solutions are a requirement in the industry; people know that they need media and the insight services that come along with it. However, our product takes those services to the next level. Thus, we needed to produce an art-of-the-possible type of video to explain to our customers what we did and how it would be more beneficial to them than other standard solutions in the market.

On the e-tail side, we track the presence of beauty products for online retailers to ensure excellence in execution. Our goal for this side of our business is to increase their sales and conversion rates by helping them have excellent products and product pages. However, a lot of companies don’t realize that they need this solution, so we required the second video to educate our audience about the benefits of subscribing to a service like ours.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Curveball Media helped us produce two animated videos to educate our audience about our two different products. They were in charge of the entire video production and postproduction, which included a thorough storyboarding process for both videos. Ultimately, they delivered the final videos.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with three people from Curveball Media, but others were working behind the scenes. Their team included producers and copywriters.

How did you come to work with Curveball Media?

They sent me an outreach email, and the timing was right.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent £7,000 (approximately $8,400 USD) per video.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2021–July 2022.

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

Curveball Media’s creative input and storyboarding were very valuable for the project's success. The videos they produced have been very useful externally and internally. Internally, they’ve helped us with our recruitment process, allowing new hires to understand our products. Externally, these videos have definitely helped us increase our sales.

As for general feedback, everybody liked the videos produced by Curveball Media. We’re currently scaling up our business, and these videos have been important for our external company image. Moreover, they’re very professional, so we’re very pleased with them.

How did Curveball Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Curveball Media’s video production process was fantastic. They guided us all the way through and managed our expectations very well. Additionally, they delivered assets on time and pushed back whenever we asked for changes that they thought weren’t right. 

Curveball Media was also very organized and delivered within budget. Throughout the project, they were very clear regarding things that would incur extra costs, and they helped us keep on track. Overall, they were very professional and acted as real partners in every way.

As for communication, Curveball Media’s team was very responsive. They used Filestage to facilitate the process. Additionally, we used email and Zoom to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Curveball Media’s creativity and organization were impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could have improved on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to their advice. They always provide excellent recommendations with very good reasons behind those recommendations. Moreover, treat them as partners and as an extension of your business because they know a lot about video production.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Senior Marketing Manager for a UK-based MGA. We offer insurance solutions to UK brokers and their clients.

For what projects/services did your company hire Curveball Media, and what were your goals?

We wanted to commission a series of product animations that gave brokers an insight into our business.

How did you select this vendor?

I found them via a Google search and once we had met, I decided they were the right company for us to use.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Curveball are always really diligent in their process. They ask many questions up front and then provide a script/storyboard. They give ample time for us to feedback and are very flexible with their timings. Once the final animation/motion is delivered they are also happy to make minor tweaks.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I have worked with Olly the most. It is comforting having had the same relationship the whole way through.

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

We have recently commission 4 small motions for our LinkedIn page. I boosted these motions with a really small spend and we achieved over 15,000 impressions compared to around 1,000 organic.

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

They have an initial information gathering phase, then send a timeline which we would agree to. Then they send a script, which they give us plenty of time to feedback on, however their scripts are always really good - they have taken time to understand our brand and what we need.

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

The whole process is just a pleasure to be a part of, and we are always blown away by the end result.

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

None that I can think of.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of Third City, a PR agency.

What challenge were you trying to address with Curveball Media?

We needed help to produce media to either inform or entertain to be used for our PR campaigns.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Curveball Media helps us produce both animated and live videos for our PR campaigns. For every project, they offer support right from the start, helping us think about the type of video we need and the script it requires. They also suggest some creative ideas and offer creative consultancy.

After that, Curveball Media is in charge of the entire video production; they handle everything. Their services include video editing, audio mixing, casting, and graphic design. The videos they produce have been published on company websites and social channels like YouTube and Facebook.

What is the team composition?

I usually work with Oliver (Owner), who also works as the creative director. However, I’ve also worked with other people from Curveball Media, including Sam (Studio Manager).

How did you come to work with Curveball Media?

I’ve worked with Curveball Media for many years on various projects, so I don’t remember how I originally found them. Over the years, they’ve become my go-to video production agency. 

How much have you invested with them?

Our most recent project cost £30,000 (approximately $36,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2016, and our relationship is ongoing. Our most recent project started in June 2022 and was delivered in September 2022.

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

The videos that Curveball Media produces are always of high quality and get really good results in terms of engagement and viewer feedback. In our most recent project, viewers told us that the video was interesting, emotive, and relevant. Overall, these videos have accomplished what we expected.

How did Curveball Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Curveball Media’s project management is very good. They constantly stay on budget and keep good timing. Additionally, they stick to deadlines that can be difficult to meet, turning things around very quickly and with great quality. We use Filestage to review the workflow, as well as Zoom and email to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Curveball Media is very understanding, and they always come up with the best creative solutions for the briefs we provide. Their team is very talented at communicating the message we want to convey in a very creative way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any constructive feedback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have Curveball Media come on board from the start of the process and work with them on the creative side of the video instead of just telling them what you think should be in it.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a professor of sociology at the University of Kent.

For what projects/services did your company hire Curveball Media?

I wanted a short animated video that can capture the essense of my recently published book - The Flexibility Paradox. The video needed to be short punchy and deliver key messages of the book not only in its main message but also key policy recommendations within 2 minutes.

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

I searched through various sources via online search and word of mouth and of the different companies I've explored, the quality of the work produced by curveball was significantly better than the rest. Exceptional videos.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

After an initial email conversation about the idea/pricing I had a meeting with the creative director and the studio manager to run through some key ideas and concepts they came back to me with a brief idea and concrete pricing, once the contract was set there was a larger meeting with a larger group of folks from Curveball - including illustrator etc. The meeting resulted in a clearer product/which then went through a very thorough process of asking for and responding to feedback

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We had an account manager and writer that worked with me throughout but many other team members came in and out depending on the process.

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

Curveball has made a great video of the book and the video has now been shared across a multiple platforms/social media and garnered close to 1k views across different platforms.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was fast and easy, and their communication was excellent.

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

The quality of their work is great the work ethic and the style of the company was also unique I liked the fact that the company also values their worker's time and creativity which helps them become who they are

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

Nothing in particulr. I don't have anything to fault here

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was Communications Lead at a global health funder

For what projects/services did your company hire Curveball Media, and what were your goals?

We wanted to create an inspiring and emotive animation to support the launch of a new entity and facilitate resource mobilisation

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

We had a competitive pitch process

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

Discover meeting, visual inspiration, script writing and review, storyboarding, production and animation

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

Olly (CEO) and his team - the process was excellent

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

The animation was very well-received, won multiple awards, was played at Davos and helped to put the new entity on the map and facilitate $350m funding

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

Excellent project management and feedback

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

Creative, innovative, kind, hard-working, expert

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

no