Professional 2D Animator to create a 6-minute TED-Ed video

# Freelance Animator Needed – TED-Ed Style Educational Animation (6 Minutes) ## Project Overview I'm looking for a professional 2D animator to create a **6-minute educational animation** inspired by the visual style and pacing of **TED-Ed** videos. The project explains **Somatic Experiencing**, a body-based approach to therapy, using simple visuals that are engaging, easy to understand, and accessible to a general audience. The goal is to create a polished educational video that uses storytelling, clean motion graphics, and illustrated characters to explain concepts—not a cartoon or promotional advertisement. Side Note: Due to our project timeline, we would like to receive a first draft (storyboard, rough animation, or animatic) within one week of the project starting. This draft does not need to be fully polished, but it should show the overall visual direction, pacing, and synchronization with the provided voiceover so we can provide feedback before full production begins. Remaining revisions and the final animation timeline can be discussed together based on the progress of the first draft. --- ## Deliverables * One completed **6-minute animated video** (1920×1080, MP4) * Animation synced precisely to the provided voiceover * Clean transitions, camera movements, and motion graphics * Original illustrations, icons, and visual metaphors (no copyrighted assets) * Background music and subtle sound effects (royalty-free) if appropriate * One round of revisions based on feedback * Final project files (preferred but optional) --- ## Animation Style The animation should closely resemble the feel of a **TED-Ed educational explainer**, including: * Simple illustrated characters * Clean vector artwork * Smooth motion and transitions * Minimal but effective text on screen * Visual metaphors to explain concepts * Calm, professional colour palette * Educational—not overly playful or childish Examples of visuals may include: * Body silhouettes highlighting physical sensations * Nervous system graphics * Thought bubbles * Environmental scenes * Split-screen comparisons * Icons and infographics * Simple character acting and expressions --- ## How We Will Work A complete script will be provided, along with a recorded voiceover. The script has already been written with the narration in mind, so the animation should be built **around the voice recording** rather than changing the pacing of the narration. The animator is expected to: * Follow the script closely * Match each visual to what is being said * Time animations naturally with the voiceover * Use creative visual storytelling while staying faithful to the narration * Suggest visual ideas where appropriate without changing the educational message Some sections of the script include visual direction, but I also welcome your creative input on how to best communicate ideas through animation. --- ## Required Skills * Strong 2D animation experience * Experience creating educational or explainer videos * Motion graphics and kinetic typography * Storyboarding and visual storytelling * Character animation * Proficiency with software such as Adobe After Effects, Illustrator, Animate, Toon Boom, Blender (Grease Pencil), or similar * Ability to synchronize animation with narration Experience producing videos similar to TED-Ed, Kurzgesagt, or other educational explainer channels is a strong asset. --- ## Communication Good communication is very important. I'm looking for someone who is responsive, open to feedback, and willing to share progress throughout the project. I'd appreciate updates at key milestones, such as: * Storyboard approval * Style frame approval * Animation progress (rough cut) * Final polish This helps ensure we're aligned before moving on to the next stage. --- ## To Apply Please include: * Your portfolio or demo reel * Examples of educational or explainer animations you've created * The software you use * Your estimated timeline for completing a 6-minute animation If you've created work inspired by TED-Ed or similar educational videos, I'd especially love to see it. I look forward to working with someone who enjoys turning complex ideas into engaging, easy-to-understand visual stories.