Character acting
We establish what the character wants in each shot, then build readable poses, weight shifts and reactions around that intention. Stylized movement can be restrained or exaggerated; the choice follows your direction and audience.
3D CHARACTER ANIMATION
Make the movement
mean something.
A glance that tells the story. A gesture that lands the joke. We animate cartoon characters with intention, personality and a clear sense of timing.
Discuss your projectExplore the scope ↓
THE SERVICE, AT A GLANCE
3D Character Animation
Mimic Cartoon provides 3D character animation services for films, series, commercials and music videos. Our artists shape body acting, facial expression and lip sync through keyframe animation. We can work with an approved character and compatible rig, or scope character creation and finishing alongside the animation. The shot list, performance style and delivery requirements define the engagement.
Meet the animation studioSHAPED AROUND YOUR BRIEF
What we can
create together.
Facial animation & lip sync
Eyes, brows and mouth shapes work together with the body performance. For dialogue, we use approved recordings and consider emphasis, pauses and expression, rather than treating speech as a sequence of mouth shapes alone.
Shot animation & motion adaptation
We plan continuity between shots and interactions with props or other characters. When captured movement helps the brief, artists adapt and refine it for the character’s proportions. Motion capture remains optional support.
A USEFUL DISTINCTION
Character animation creates the performance. Character design creates the asset, and rigging creates the controls that make it movable. Confirm which assets you already have so the estimate covers the work you actually need.
CLEAR DECISIONS. BETTER PRODUCTION.
From the first conversation
to the final handoff.
Set the performance
Review the script, animatic, references, rig and camera layout. Agree the shot list, frame rate and approval responsibilities before animation starts.
Approve the blocking
Review the essential poses and timing in an economical preview. This is the moment to resolve staging, intention and major action changes.
Refine the acting
Develop transitions, facial performance, lip sync and secondary motion. Review in context so individual shots support the sequence.
Check the handoff
Inspect contacts, intersections and continuity. Deliver animation scenes or rendered shots according to the agreed production scope.
DEFINE THE DESTINATION
Know what
you’re receiving.
Choose the parts your production needs. The final deliverable list, technical specifications and source-file requirements are agreed in your brief.
- Animation-only support
- Approved shot animation and review movies, with compatible scene or interchange files specified in the brief.
- Finished sequences
- Lighting, rendering and compositing can be added where you need final pictures rather than animation assets.
- Reusable performance
- Cycles and character actions can be planned for later reuse. Interactive clips need their own transition and engine requirements.
FROM THE WIDER STUDIO’S PORTFOLIO
Samsung Willow.
Mimic Productions contributed character creation, modeling, grooming, keyframe animation, look development and rendering to the Samsung campaign with Kingdom of Something.
Explore the project and creditsBUDGET & SCHEDULE
Scope first.
A clear plan follows.
Runtime alone does not determine the animation budget. Character count, dialogue, camera complexity, interactions, rig readiness and the number of shots affect the work. A short close-up with subtle acting may need more refinement than a longer simple cycle. Share an animatic or shot list so we can estimate the scope and review milestones.
YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
3D Character Animation FAQs
A few useful answers before your character’s first scene.
Can you animate a character we already have?
Yes, subject to an asset and rig review. Share the model, textures, rig, software version and a sample scene. We check whether the existing controls and deformations support the intended performance before confirming the scope.
Do you provide lip-sync animation?
We can scope lip sync and facial performance using approved voice recordings. Confirm the languages, speaking characters, recording status and whether new facial controls are needed. Voice casting and recording should be agreed separately.
Is your cartoon animation keyframed or motion captured?
Keyframe animation leads our cartoon performances. Motion capture can support suitable shots, but animators still adapt the movement, timing and expression to the character and creative direction.
What files will we receive?
Delivery can be animation scenes, agreed interchange files, preview movies or finished rendered shots. We confirm software compatibility, frame rate, resolution, source-file requirements and downstream responsibilities before production.
How long does character animation take?
The schedule depends on the approved shot list, rig readiness, performance complexity and review turnaround. We build milestones around blocking, refinement and delivery rather than promise one fixed turnaround for every project.
Can the same animation be used in a game?
Sometimes, but a rendered film is not a game animation asset. Game delivery may require looping clips, a compatible skeleton, root-motion choices and tested transitions. Define the engine and interaction requirements at the start.
Something else on your mind?Ask the studio