How This Studio Works

1. Production Blocks & Minimum Engagement

All animation is produced using a weekly block system:

• 1 production block equals 5 working days of focused production.
• Each block is dedicated to your project according to the chosen package (MVP, Hybrid, or Polished).
• The minimum engagement is 1 production block.

Project estimates are expressed as a block range to give clarity on time, scope, and cost.

2. First-Time Clients

To reserve a production slot, first-time clients are required to pay for Week 1 (one full production block) upfront. This payment is non-refundable and secures your place in the schedule.

Returning clients may be offered expanded payment options as outlined below.

3. Workflow Overview (MVP → Polished)

Every project follows the same structured pipeline:

1. Discovery call
2. Script or outline review
3. Storyboards and animatic
4. MVP (Minimum Viable Pass) animation
5. Feedback and refinements
6. Polish for Hybrid or Cinematic tiers
7. Final delivery

The MVP-first approach ensures your project becomes fully readable early in production, reduces unnecessary revisions, and allows budget and time to be focused where they matter most.

4. Scheduling & Availability

Production blocks are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to limited weekly capacity:

• Dates are only confirmed after payment is received.
• Reserved blocks cannot be held without a deposit.
• If all blocks are filled, new projects move to the next available opening.
• Accelerated timelines or overtime work may incur rush fees (see Payment Policy).

Missed deadlines or feedback delays may push the project to a later slot in the schedule.

5. Payment Policy

All projects are based on the block system described above. The number of blocks and rate per block are agreed on in advance as part of the estimate.

Returning Clients

• 50% deposit to reserve production dates.
• 25% payment upon MVP delivery.
• 25% payment before final handoff and master files.

Rush Fees

Rush work includes accelerated delivery, overtime, or same-week start dates. Rush fees apply as follows:

• +30% for accelerated timelines within standard hours.
• +50% for overtime or weekend production.
• +75% for same-week starts (when the schedule allows).

Late Payments

• Invoices are due within 7 days of issue.
• Work automatically pauses if payment is more than 3 days past due, and the project is rescheduled to the next available production block.
• A 5% late fee applies to invoices more than 10 days overdue.

Paused projects resume only after payment is received and a new block is available. The original timeline is not guaranteed once a payment has become late.

6. Feedback Delays

Timely feedback keeps production moving. To protect the schedule:

If feedback is delayed more than 5 business days, production moves to the next available block and the timeline is recalculated from there.

The schedule is not compressed to make up for lost time. Instead, the project slides forward in the calendar based on remaining blocks.

7. Stakeholder Feedback & Asset Delivery

Missing Assets

To begin production smoothly, the studio requires all essential materials by the agreed start date (including logos, brand assets, references, scripts, or outlines). If any required asset is missing, production pauses until everything is received.

Missing assets are treated the same as delayed feedback and may push the project into a later production block.

Contradictory Stakeholder Feedback

To avoid circular revisions, the studio requires one designated decision-maker per project. If feedback from different stakeholders conflicts, production pauses until a single, unified direction is provided.

Ongoing conflicting instructions may be treated as a scope change and may require a new estimate or additional blocks.

Feedback Consolidation

All notes for each round of revisions must be consolidated into one final message or document, provided by the main point of contact. Fragmented or partially delivered feedback can be treated as delayed feedback and may impact the schedule.

8. Revisions Policy

Storyboards & Animatics

• Up to 2 rounds of revisions are included.
• Major story changes after approval may be treated as scope changes.

MVP Animation

• 1 focused revision round is included.
• MVP revisions focus on clarity, readability, and timing, not final polish.

Polished / Hybrid Scenes

• 1 refinement round is included for polished scenes.
• Additional revisions beyond the included rounds may require extra blocks and a revised timeline.

9. Scope Changes

A scope change is any alteration that significantly affects duration, complexity, or workload after an earlier stage has been approved. This can include:

• Changes to story, pacing, or structure.
• Adding or extending scenes.
• Adding new characters or designs.
• Upgrading FX or visual complexity.

Scope changes are estimated using a block-based approach, taking into account duration increase, scene complexity, character count, and FX level.

10. Ownership, Rights & Source Files

Usage Rights

After final payment is received, clients receive usage rights for the finished animation for the agreed platforms (such as web, social, advertising, or broadcast).

The studio retains copyright and the right to feature the work in portfolios, reels, and case studies, unless a separate NDA is agreed.

Source Files

Source files (for example, Moho, CSP, After Effects, or 3D project files) are not included in standard pricing. They can be licensed as a premium add-on and are typically priced as a percentage of the project total or as additional blocks, depending on the extent and structure of the files requested.

11. Rescheduling & Cancellations

Rescheduling

Rescheduling requires at least 7 business days' notice. Changes requested with less notice may:

• Incur a rescheduling fee of up to 50% of the upcoming block for returning clients.
• Result in forfeiture of the upcoming block for first-time clients (since Week 1 is paid upfront and non-refundable).

Cancellations

Deposits and first-week payments are non-refundable. If a project is cancelled after production has started, work already completed is billed proportionally based on the agreed block rate.

12. Communication

Clear communication is essential for a smooth production. In general:

• Replies are typically within 1–2 business days.
• Feedback should be consolidated and sent through the agreed channel (usually email plus a shared document or client hub).
• Projects may include a kickoff call, an optional mid-project check-in, and a final review or handoff call, depending on scope and tier.

These policies exist to protect the quality of the work, the health of the schedule, and the working relationship on both sides.

Last note: these policies exist to keep the work high-quality *and* sustainable.