No Voodoo Required!
Why letting clients in on the ‘magic’ matters
From the outside, animation can look like voodoo. A brief disappears into the studio, mysterious rituals unfold, and some weeks later a finished film magically emerges - as if summoned from smoke, spirits, and a dash of eye-of-newt.
And while there is something enchanting about conjuring stories into motion, studios sometimes forget that what feels like second nature to us can seem like the dark arts to clients. Studios may even like that, as having an air of magic and mystery certainly helps sell how special their service is.
But there’s a flipside and a missed opportunity. When the process is cloaked in secrecy, clients are left wondering: What charms are being cast? When will we see results? Will our input change the outcome, or is the spell already set in stone?
We all know that animation is the sum of its parts, but if we don’t share some of the ingredients and incantations, then uncertainty can begin to brew. It can make projects more stressful than they should be and often leads to the dreaded “big reveal” moment, where the potion isn’t quite what the client expected.
There’s a better way.
Pull back the curtain
Let clients become part of the ritual. Don’t close the curtain and mystify them with smoke and mirrors. Invite them to conjure up the magic with you. By opening the spellbook - storyboards, style frames, animatics and shared progress - studios can let clients stir the cauldron. Each step becomes a chance to collaborate, refine, and enjoy the alchemy together.
The result? Clients feel confident, involved, and part of the wizardry. And the finished film is stronger because of it.
At ticktockrobot, we’ve made this openness part of our DNA. We love the wizardry of animation - but we’ve swapped wands for workflows. Our bespoke project tracker lifts the curtain on every step, so clients can see exactly what magic is being summoned throughout the process.
Because the best kind of spell isn’t the one you keep secret. It’s the one you cast together.
