How much would a (animation) production house cost?
- Computers
- Animators & Computer Graphic designers
- Rendermen

Able to create an 18-22 episodes of a cartoon (2D such as 'Family Guy'
or 'The Simpsons') per year. I would wonder how much each episode
would cost to Produce, more so, the estimate time if some of
technicians have experience.
An episode is around 25 minutes.

I have read thoroughly the Outsourcing Animation to India and China,
which seems to be cheap to produce, but I'd rather have the production
house for long term value.

To reinterate my question more clearly, to have a production house
that is able to produce such animations would require what and how
much?
Detailed Information, technical specifications and staff requirements
are much appreciated.

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Clarification of Question by yozef-ga on 26 Feb 2006 15:19 PST

2D Softwares are also lauded to produce such cartoons are also encouraged.

It all really depends on what quality ratio you are looking for.
Considering you want only 2D the Computer Graphic designers should
work for $55.00 an hour depending on their level of expertise.
Including computers and the rest of the gear the whole production for
one episode could be done for $7000.
Cheers
Pulsar101

Great... I know this is an estimate, and I'm generally looking for
something like that (not a concrete number). I'm looking for a list of
'Main' departments (staff, equipments...) to produce such a production
house (for Animation). I expect a department for sound effects, a
Animation department, CGI computers, development dep, etc; I need a
clear list, especially with the type of staff I should be hiring, as
in Rendermen, and I'm sure many others I don't know of.

Makes sense in what you just mentioned... I like your answer; Last
thing before we close this deal, How can check your source to be valid
and accurate (of course not  in terms of money) but in terms of
technical engineers.