Video Production, Animation and AI Video in Manchester
Video production company Manchester brands use for film, motion and AI video
We make video for established Manchester companies: short-form reels, brand films, motion graphics, animated explainers, 2D and 3D animation, AI video that is clearly labelled and checked by a person, and live broadcast. We also run managed editing teams for brands that publish every week. Everything is planned around where it will run and what it should achieve.
A city that knows good video when it sees it
Manchester is one of the UK's big media cities. MediaCityUK in Salford is home to major BBC and ITV operations, and a large community of production, post-production and creative businesses has grown around it. Audiences here, and the marketing teams who brief agencies, have a sharp eye for quality.
The challenge for most businesses is not making one good film. It is producing enough video, consistently, for every channel that now expects it: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, the website, paid ads and sales decks. That needs a production system, not a one-off shoot.
What we produce
- Short-form video and reels for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts and LinkedIn.
- Brand films and company stories.
- Motion graphics and animated explainers for products, services and processes.
- 2D and 3D animation, including product and technical animation and character work.
- AI video: AI presenters, ad variations and generated scenes, always labelled clearly and reviewed by a person.
- Managed editing teams that turn your raw footage into a steady weekly output.
- Live broadcast for events, launches and tournaments.
Video for Manchester's industries
- Fashion, beauty and e-commerce brands: product reels, try-on content, launch films and paid social creative in volume.
- Professional and financial services firms in Spinningfields: explainer animations of complicated services, partner profile films and recruitment videos.
- Manufacturers and engineers: technical and product animation that shows how something works inside, without a factory shoot.
- Health and life sciences teams on the Oxford Road Corridor: patient information animations and research explainers, accurate and approved.
- Tech and SaaS companies: product demos, motion graphics for launches and short clips for LinkedIn.
AI video, done honestly
AI video tools can now produce presenters, backgrounds and dozens of ad variations quickly. Used carelessly, they mislead viewers and damage trust. Our rule is simple: anything AI-generated is labelled clearly and checked by a person before it goes out, and we do not imitate real people without their permission.
UK ads also have to follow the CAP Code, enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority, which means AI visuals cannot exaggerate what a product does. If you collect footage of identifiable people, UK GDPR applies to it too, so we handle releases and consent forms properly.
Where AI genuinely helps is speed of testing. A Manchester retailer can try ten opening hooks for a paid social ad in a week, keep the two that work, and then film properly around them.
Proof: dates that do not move
We have run and broadcast more than 20 large-scale live events. Live work teaches one lesson above all: the date does not move. Cameras, graphics, streams and people have to be ready at the exact minute. We plan every video project with that same discipline, so your launch film is ready for your launch, not a week after it.
Managed editing for brands that publish weekly
For a US client we run a managed video editing team that handles their regular output. It is a model that suits Manchester brands with a steady flow of footage, such as retailers filming product content or firms recording webinars and podcasts. You send footage; edited, captioned and formatted videos come back on an agreed schedule.
Working this way also keeps a brand consistent. The same editors learn your colours, captions, pacing and tone of voice, so the hundredth video looks like it came from the same company as the first.
Working with a video production company: Manchester projects step by step
Editing, motion graphics, animation and AI video are produced remotely, with review links and comments in one place. Feedback rounds are booked at times that suit your team, and each cut is checked against the brief before you see it.
When a project needs filming in Manchester, we plan the shoot in person, and your Signal Lead comes up for it when the project needs it. London to Manchester is about two hours by train, so shoot days are simple to arrange.
- Talk: a 15-minute call about goals, channels and timing.
- Plan: concept, script or storyboard, shot list and delivery dates in writing.
- Build: filming, animation or AI production, edits and review rounds.
- Grow: cut-downs for each channel, captions, performance review and the next batch.
What affects the cost
- Filming days, locations, crew and talent.
- Animation style and length: motion graphics, 2D or 3D.
- Number of versions and formats for different channels.
- Music, voiceover and licensing.
- Volume and turnaround for ongoing editing.
Why 22 Signals
We make the video and also run the ads, the website and the SEO it supports. That means your reels are cut for the formats that perform, your explainer goes on a landing page built to convert, and the results come back in one report under one Signal Lead. Related pages: paid media, 3D rendering, SEO and GEO and our Manchester hub.
Questions
Do you film in Manchester?
Yes, when the project needs a shoot in the city. We plan the shoot in person and your Signal Lead is there on the day. Much of our work, including editing, motion graphics, animation and AI video, does not need filming at all and is produced remotely.
Is animation better than live action for explaining our service?
Often, for complex or invisible things: financial products, software, internal processes or how a machine works inside. Live action is better for people, places and trust. Many companies use both, with a brand film for credibility and short animations for explaining. We recommend based on what the video has to do.
What should we look for in a video production company? Manchester has plenty.
It does, and many are excellent at filming. Ask what happens after the edit: who cuts versions for each channel, who checks performance, and whether the same team can turn learnings into the next batch. A good partner treats video as an ongoing system tied to results, not a single deliverable.
Is AI video suitable for our brand?
It suits some uses well: ad variations for testing, background scenes and presenter-led updates. It suits others badly, such as testimonials or anything that should feel personal. We always label AI content clearly and have a person review it. We will tell you honestly where it fits and where it does not.
How long does a brand film take?
It depends on scripting, filming days, locations and review rounds. Short-form content can be turned around quickly once a system is in place, while a brand film needs more planning. We agree delivery dates in writing at the start and work back from your launch date.
Can you produce a regular volume of social video?
Yes. We run managed editing teams that turn your raw footage into a steady output of reels, shorts and clips, captioned and formatted for each channel. You agree the volume and schedule, and we keep it running week after week.
Do you do live streaming and broadcast?
Yes. We have run and broadcast more than 20 large-scale live events, including tournaments. For Manchester events we plan the broadcast, graphics and streaming, and agree on-site needs with you well ahead of the date.
Book a 15-minute call.
A fit check, not a pitch. A few questions, an honest answer and a clear next step. Not every call ends in a proposal.