My estimation of your estimation is based equally on the amount of information known of that particular subject. Also wouldn't modeling and animation cost be better figured into your estimate, as a monetary sum?
The 12k estimate is based upon the time to rent out the motion capture studio. There is also equipment you could purchase, which starts at the figure I stated and goes up based upon the number of actors. You can do it with a single actor, so buying the equipment seems like the wrong pathway. Modeling and animation is a known rate based upon the hourly pay for employees, versus a character design artist that will charge $300/hr. for their work. Of course, it can be accomplished without motion capture data but the quality would be less.
I already posted a project contract estimate when this subject first came up.
