Frequently Asked Questions

What is the optimal length of a typical 3D animated MoA film? How long does it take to produce a 3D animated film? We receive many questions about our services every day, so we have compiled a list of the most common and important questions (and their answers) here:

The abbreviation stands for “mode of action” or “mechanism of action,”-i.e., the way an active substance works. In pharma communication, this is one area in which 3D animations are particularly useful. Other areas include mechanism of disease (MoD), patient or consumer information, and instructional videos to explain the use of medical devices.

Our recommendation is 3 to 4 minutes, to avoid overtaxing the viewer’s attention span. The general guidelines are 1. the shorter the better, and 2. focus on one topic per health animation film. For subjects that require a more in-depth explanation, we suggest separating the film into individual modules or chapters.

The first stage in the creation of a 3D-animated film consists of developing a suitable visual story, which usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks. The actual production takes a further 4 to 6 weeks. In between, there are several feedback rounds and the client’s legal, regulatory and medical approval is needed twice: for the storyboard and the final film. Exact production time is therefore difficult for us to predict precisely, as it depends on each client’s company-specific approval processes. This is something that should be considered when calculating overall production time.

Of course there is no simple answer to this question. The cost of a project depends on a variety of factors, including the length of the planned project, the complexity of the project, and the choice of stylistic means. For further information, we have written a detailed blog article for you. We would also be happy to send you a non-binding price quotation so please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail.

The final video belongs to you as the client and includes the global buyout. It includes all rights for copyright and usage in all media, except television, for an unlimited time frame.

The model remains the property of CAST PHARMA. All our customers benefit from our large model databank. We use our models to provide the basis for customized output. Each model receives its own look and feel to meet the needs and requests of each individual client, giving the final film its own unique quality. We guarantee you, our client, that the customized output and look remain exclusive to the project.

The storyline is a short description of the overall story, containing the key points and our ideas for possible graphical settings. It usually spans half a page and is an integral part of our proposals.
The storyboard, on the other hand, as the result of the intense conceptual phase, is a very detailed document that needs to be approved by the client and forms the binding basis for further production. It contains drawings and written descriptions of the later animations, as well as a referenced speaker’s text that is ready to be recorded.

No. All our work is tailored to the individual needs of our clients.

One of the major benefits of working with CAST PHARMA is our extensive in-house medical expertise. Our medical advisers can either work in close co-operation with your medical team or develop a story from scratch, based on their own research into the subject. During the production phase, they only have to cross the hall to make sure that every medical detail is reflected without delay in the graphical implementation.

Fast Sketch is an animation technique that allows the viewer to see the images come to life as they are being drawn, either by the artist’s hand or using computer simulation. Some also call it Whiteboard Animation but we think the name Fast Sketch is better, since it more precisely conveys the dynamic involved – the quick creation of images and animation that is contained in this stylish program. The step-by-step creative process makes it easy to present a topic, explain it, and build a story around it. This also makes Fast Sketch very appealing for pharmaceutical marketing. For further information and to give you an overview of the typical workflow of such a project, we have written a detailed blog article for you.

Yes. All of our films are delivered in MP4 format, so that they can easily be transferred to the iPad via iTunes. Of course, we are also happy to provide you with other formats if desired.

Ordinary 3D-animated films are rendered on the basis of 3D models, which are different from 2D images that look more like traditional drawings. These are all viewed without special glasses.
What we think of as 3D–films that create an additional sense of depth when viewed with special glasses–are stereoscopic 3D animation films. To read up on the technical details, please turn to our blog.

As a standard service, we provide our customers with videos in MP4 format with a frame refresh rate of 30 FPS via a password-protected area on our website. Depending on the length of the film, the size of these videos is between 100 and 200 MB. They are playable on Windows PCs as well as Apple systems and mobile devices. If you are planning to embed the animations in a PowerPoint presentation, we would recommend an additional version in WMV format. If, for any reason, you only have a limited data volume at your disposal, please talk to us. We can compress the videos even more and bring their size down to below 50 MB.