2D Animator Needed for 3–5 Minute Children’s Book Animation (Watercolor Style)

Hi! I’m Christina, a storyteller and creator building a children’s book series. I’m looking for a 2D animator to help bring my book to life as a short 3–5 minute animated video for YouTube. This is a soft, emotional, and visually creative story about a young Black boy who experiences the world differently and uses creativity to navigate overwhelming moments. What I’m Looking For: • 2D animation (simple, smooth movement—not overly complex) • Ability to work in a soft watercolor or painterly style (or closely match it) • Experience animating children’s content or storytelling videos • Strong sense of pacing, emotion, and visual storytelling • Ability to keep character consistency throughout the animation Project Scope: • 3–5 minute animation • Based on an existing children’s book (script + visual direction provided) • Scene-by-scene animation (not full Pixar-level—more stylized, storybook motion) • Light movement (camera pans, character movement, subtle animation effects) • Final format optimized for YouTube Assets Provided: • Full script (already written) • Visual direction + scene breakdown • Character design references • Completed illustrations (or in progress depending on timing) What I Need From You: • Animation of the full story • Basic scene transitions and pacing • Ability to match the tone of the book (warm, gentle, imaginative) • Final exported video (YouTube-ready) Timeline: Looking to complete within 2–3 weeks if possible. Budget: Budget is $140, Half at the start, Half at completion of project. I will create a $10 that will go towards the final price (You will still get paid for the test even if we don't work together! Looking for someone I can work with multiple times, as I would like to keep the same team for this project. To Apply, Please Include: • Samples of your animation work (especially storytelling or children’s content) • Any examples that match a watercolor or soft illustration style • Your timeline and what you can deliver within this budget • Any questions you may have about the project Bonus (Not Required): • Experience adding sound effects or basic motion design • Experience with YouTube content formatting I’m excited to find someone who can help bring this story to life in a simple, beautiful way. Looking forward to seeing your work! — Christina