How Long Does It Take to Create a Biotech Explainer Video?

If you’re planning to explain your biotech innovation with a short animated video, you might be asking:

👉 How long does it actually take to create one?

The short answer: 10 to 15 weeks on average.
The long answer? It depends on your feedback speed, team size, and how many revisions you need.

Let’s walk through the full process, with real timelines and hours.

📅How Long Does It Take to Create a Biotech Explainer Video: Timeline Overview

We use a project planning tool called Instagantt to create a clear, visual schedule for your animation—like this:

You’ll receive this timeline at the start of the project, and we adapt it along the way based on your availability and feedback.
We also send early reminders before each feedback round—because bottlenecks happen, and we plan for them.

Project timeline for a biotech explainer video created in Instagantt. Each phase—from scriptwriting to animation—is mapped out clearly to keep the project on track.

🧪 Step-by-Step: How Long Each Phase Takes

Here’s how long each step takes—and why it matters.

1. Kick-Off Call (4 hours)

We meet with you and your team to understand your technology, goals, and target audience.
This includes:

• A 1–1.5 hour call

• Internal prep and summary documentation
  ⏱️ Time invested: ~4 hours

2. Scriptwriting (5 hours)

Our PhD-level writer simplifies your science into a ~300-word voiceover script that’s clear, compelling, and scientifically accurate.
Revisions depend on how quickly your team can respond.
⏱️ Time invested: ~5 hours

3. Storyboard (10 hours)

We create 20+ rough sketches that match the script line-by-line. These are not just illustrations—they’re the visual plan for your whole video.
⏱️ Time invested: ~10 hours

4. Voice-Over (1 hour)

You choose the voice artist, we manage the recording and editing.
You receive a professional-quality audio track that syncs perfectly with the visuals.
⏱️ Time invested: ~1 hour

5. Design & Style Frames (15–20 hours)

This is where we finalize the look and feel: colors, characters, environments, transitions.
You’ll review key frames before we proceed to animation.
⏱️ Time invested: ~15–20 hours

6. Animation (80–100+ hours)

This is the most time-intensive step. Every scene is animated frame-by-frame to match the script and voice. Complex MoAs or transitions can add time.
⏱️ Time invested: ~80–100 hours

7. Review Rounds (30+ hours)

We don’t limit revisions. We expect you to have internal discussions, and we build time for feedback into the plan.
⏱️ Time invested: ~30+ hours (spread across all stages)

⏱️ Total: ~160 hours of skilled work

Spread across 10–15 weeks, depending on how quickly we move through feedback rounds.

⚠️ Creating a Biotech explainer video: Where Delays Typically Happen

Even with a detailed Gantt chart, things don’t always go according to plan. And that’s okay.

We’ve learned that most delays come from clients, and it’s fully understandable:

• Internal team discussions are needed before approving steps

• People are traveling or away from the lab

• Multiple departments need to sign off

We send gentle reminders, but we’re flexible and adapt the schedule as needed.

⚡️ Can It Go Faster?

Yes, we can compress the timeline to 4–6 weeks if needed.
But that means:

• Fewer revision rounds

• Fast, clear decisions

• Agreement that we’ll move forward even if things aren’t 100% perfect yet

The fastest projects happen when the CEO is personally involved and responds quickly.

🧠 Our Rule of Thumb

• ✅ 10–15 weeks → average with regular feedback

• 🚀 6–8 weeks → fast-paced with tight approvals

• 🔥 4 weeks → accelerated, fewer revisions

Smaller teams = faster decisions
Larger teams = more layers and review time

Want to see a sample project timeline for your animation?

We’ll send you a custom Gantt chart and walk you through what to expect.

Or get in touch to discuss your animation needs: Book a meeting with our CEO

Also check our original post about pricing.