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TRANSPARENCY: THE (NOT SO) SECRET INGREDIENT FOR SUCCESS!

Chardo Animation

Cards on the table; we’re not writing this for likes n’ loves, nor are we trying build our “online presence”. Being honest and transparent is a deep, core value at Chardo Animation, both externally and internally, and we’re writing this because we feel clients, colleagues and the creative world should know this about us. Transparency is the glue that holds successful relationships together, ESPECIALLY in a small creative company like ours, where clients and employees aren’t just data in a spreadsheet - they are humans we join forces with. 



But in a world where email ghosting is the norm (look out for an upcoming post on THAT one), management hepa-filters remove 99% of collaboration (effectively!), and brazen lying is shrugged off as some kind of business technique, transparency can sometimes feel like a mythical creature, whipped out only in HR presentation slides and sales outreach emails. 




So, why does it matter? And more importantly, how can we, as a small but mighty creative team, bake transparency into our daily operations to create an environment of trust, accountability, and creativity? Let’s have a lookie-see…


Looking Outward: The Client-Creative Relationship

With decades of collective experience under our belts, we’ve seen our fair share of creative visions suffering “Shifting Goalpost Syndrome”, whether that be from a client, or an internal director…or both!  Lack of transparency can lead to self-inflicted hair loss, broken crockery, missed deadlines, and creative burnout. Typically, there are solid reasons behind all decisions, and transparency provides valuable context that can safely guide all participants through the stormiest of seas. Here’s what Chardo Animation brings to the table, so we can dispense with the speculations and misunderstandings, and just get on with making awesome, creative work with cool people.


🔹 Clear Expectations = No Awkward Conversations

No one likes to play the game “I thought you meant this?”. It’s not fun. And it takes up A LOT of time. To make sure no one gets sucked into this, we do our absolute best to be upfront about deliverables, timelines, and limitations from our end, at the same time distilling this information from clients, so the most ideal common ground can be reached that produces the maximum quality that everyone will be proud of. 


🔹 Pricing Without Perplexity

Hidden fees and unexpected costs are like finding out your “all-inclusive” vacation doesn’t cover toilet paper refills. We believe in being upfront about our pricing structures, so there are no surprises. If something is going to cost more due to extra revisions or expanded scope, we’ll talk about it - no sneak attacks, no ambushes!


🔹 Painting On The Same Canvas

Obviously, regular check-ins and project updates save us all a lot of stress - all parties need to be on the same page, at every step. Transparency means keeping each other in the loop. If we hit a creative roadblock, we let our clients know, and we work it out. If they have new input, we ask for it early. If we’re all holding hands and skipping down the same path, then no one gets left behind. 


🔹 Long-Term Relationships Over One-Off Transactions

Trust breeds loyalty. And a creative team that consistently delivers with honesty and reliability becomes a trusted partner, not just another vendor. A client who feels welcome to peek under the hood is more likely to understand our particular processes, and thus get the maximum quality for their projects; a winning combination for repeat orders! Transparency isn’t just about the “now”; it’s an investment in “the next ones”.


Up Chao Genie Bang In Bangkok
Concept Art for "Up Chao" by Wanchana Intrasombat, Feature Film in development w/Bang In Bangkok

Looking Inward: Transparency On The Homefront

Transparency is not exclusive to our clients. In a small creative company, openness and honesty between people at all levels isn’t just a “nice-to-have” - it’s essential. If our teams feel out of the loop, it will bludgeon morale and creativity. Here’s how we see things amongst ourselves.


🔸 Context Gives Clarity

Nothing kills passion quicker than being directed to work in some particular way without knowing why. It is imperative that all team members understand what they’re doing, why a chosen path was taken, and the reasons why expectations have been set as they are. When people are left to fill in the gaps themselves, it’s an automatic human reaction to go straight to the worst scenario, and negativity saps the soul. A plan works best when everyone is in on the strategy!


🔸 Owning Ones Mistakes

Animation production is nimble, complex and, sometimes, tense. So is running an animation production business. Artists, managers, supervisors, and executives are not super heroes, and are not  infallible. Poor decisions can be made for excellent reasons, and missteps can be taken when someone is simply just having a bad day. Blunders and gaffes are a natural human condition, and we can forgive them much easier when we hear “Oops, sorry.” Accountability brings respect, respect makes great teams, and great teams make great work. 


🔸 Surprise! We’ve Got A New Project!

The various wings and departments of a company MUST function together like horses in the same harness. Sales, Marketing, HR, Admin, Finance, Executive and Production are intricately woven together in mutual support. When new work is on the horizon, it’s not shrouded in mystery: not information for “the chosen few”. It’s an open discussion with the company’s main stations, where input is gathered, and we all get in sync. If the job doesn’t land, then no biggie; we gather worthwhile information for next time. If it does land, then no one is blindsided and knocked off their tracks, and the project launches smoother.


🔸 Trust = Better Work

A transparent work environment means employees don’t have to waste time deciphering vague instructions, second-guessing results, or feeling left out of important conversations. Brain power is an immensely valuable commodity and should not be squandered on easily avoidable speculation. Open information leads to trust, and trust allows us to focus our brains on making cool stuff.


Concept Art for "Up Chao" by Wanchana Intrasombat, Feature Film in development w/Bang In Bangkok
Concept Art for "Up Chao" by Wanchana Intrasombat, Feature Film in development w/Bang In Bangkok

How We Make Transparency the Norm

Transparency isn’t a one-time fix; it’s a way of life. Here’s how we make it part of our daily workflow:


💥 Set The Tone From Day One

For clients, that means clear contracts and honest discussions about expectations. For our team, it means making transparency a core value from the start, where management sets the example.


💥 Communication, Communication, Communication

Not only relying on internal communication apps, regularly seeing each other face-to-face helps us keep organized and in sync. Adapting to clients tools allow us to create channels at the source, where clients can interact directly with our artists, avoiding potentially debilitating misinterpretations.


💥 Ask And Ye Shall Receive

No one should feel like they’ll be penalized for asking questions. We foster a culture where curiosity and clarification are encouraged. Need answers? The squeaky wheel gets the grease.


💥 You Break It, You Buy It

Nothing builds trust faster than admitting when we’ve dropped the ball. Whether it’s a missed deadline, a creative misstep, or a change in direction, honesty is always the best policy.


💥 News Gives Clues

Whether it’s good news or bad news, sharing information is vital to keeping the machine humming. We can’t preempt problems if we don’t know that we don’t know. 


The Bottom Line: Transparency Fuels Creativity

At the end of the day, transparency isn’t only about being ethical - it’s about being effective. Clients who feel respected keep coming back. Employees who trust leadership are willing to put their heart into their art. And in a creative industry, where trust and collaboration are everything, transparency fuels the best ideas and the best work.


We guarantee that when we work this in this way, we’ll make superior visuals that the audience will notice on screen. Win, win, win.


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