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July 24, 2024

How To Write a Good Explainer Video Script

How do I write a great script for my animated explainer video?

Animated explainer videos are some of the best marketing tools your brand can invest in when it comes to getting the word out about your products and services. For your animated video to be effective though you have to start with a compelling story, and this means writing a good video script.

The truth is no matter how wonderful the animation is if the story behind that animation is confusing, off-brand, and/or boring the video won’t be effective. So, let’s discuss how to write a good explainer video script, shall we!

Before we get started talking about how to craft those amazing stories let’s discuss what an animated explainer video actually is. An animated explainer is a video that uses voice narration to impart information to a brand or companies potential customer base paired with animated visuals and text.

By using the combination of creative visuals and audio you will be engaging more of the audience’s senses and therefore allowing them to retain information faster and easier. Sure, you could just use an animated video with motion graphics and still be able to get your message across to the audience, but without a script, even that will be difficult because the script is the skeleton of the video itself.

Without a skeleton, you wouldn’t be able to walk and it’s the same for your animated explainer video. It is the tool that the animators will

Does The Script Really Matter That Much?

Before we get started talking about how to craft those amazing stories let’s discuss what an animated explainer video actually is. An animated explainer is a video that uses voice narration to impart information to a brand or companies potential customer base paired with animated visuals and text.

By using the combination of creative visuals and audio you will be engaging more of the audience’s senses and therefore allowing them to retain information faster and easier. Sure, you could just use an animated video with motion graphics and still be able to get your message across to the audience, but without a script, even that will be difficult because the script is the skeleton of the video itself.

Without a skeleton, you wouldn’t be able to walk and it’s the same for your animated explainer video. It is the tool that the animators will use to craft the actual animation. So does the script really matter? Definitely! For both the animator and your customer base.

A cartoon boy looking confused

Process of Writing a Good Explainer Video Script

For you to develop a good explainer video script understanding the complete script writing process is necessary. By having a structured outline of the steps you will be able to draft a script that is both engaging as well as informative in no time.

Start With A Brief

Before you even start putting fingers on the keyboard it’s always best if you start with a creative brief. This brief will give a basic overview of what your animated explainer video is looking to achieve and what the overall vision is.

In this brief, you should answer what problem you are looking to solve, what your solution does to solve that problem, as well as a call to action. During this phase, you also might want to create a short summary (sometimes called a lift pitch) that you can impart quickly if asked to do so.

Structure Is Everything

Next, you need to lay out the structure of the script. you should first discuss the problem, then demonstrate your service or product, and after that move on to explaining why your service or product is the way to go.

This is a basic three-act script setup that you can then use to craft a great explainer video. To draft your story use real-life statistics and experiences as much as possible. This will elicit a stronger emotional reaction from your potential client and lead to a better customer conversion rate.

Use our words

Once you have this structure all that is left is to write the actual video script itself. To make your script more engaging, you’ll want to write the way you talk. Basically, this means that your script should be written in a conversational tone.

It should almost feel like a dialogue between the narrator and the viewer. As you are writing just think about how you would have this conversation with a friend and let the words flow onto the page or computer screen.

A 3d cartoon man with glasses smiling

Things To Consider When Writing Your Script

As you begin to lay out the storyline of your animated explainer video some key things have to be considered in order to make your video fit your needs. We like to think there are three categories of considerations that must be present when drafting your awesome video script.

Brand

Animated explainer videos have been around for a few years now, but they are still relatively new when it comes to marketing. Just because it may be a new avenue for you doesn’t mean you should try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, stick with what is true to your brand.

In other words, the video should look seamless when viewed next to other forms of your media. This means you need to write your script in your brand’s voice and stick with what brought you to the party.

Customer

Next up you have to consider the problem you’re looking to solve and the customer that you’re looking to help with this problem. For instance, if you’re writing for a predominantly millennial customer base you will want to stay with a tone that is a little simple and interactive to grab their attention.

This also includes using verbiage as well as visuals that will engage them. Everything about your animated explainer video should not only represent your brand but be something that your potential customer base will be drawn to.

Product/Service

Lastly, you have to look at the product or service you’re looking to offer. This will dictate the stories that you tell and the statistics you use. Without consideration of this factor, the animated explainer video you’re looking to script out will be nothing but a waste of time.

So as an example going back to answering a problem for your customer maybe you’re looking to develop an app that helps the millennial deal with anxiety throughout the day. If this was the product or service that you were scripting your animated explainer video for you would want to use relaxing colors.

You might also want to consider using a more laid-back nonclinical dialogue. Understanding your market and your product will allow you to draft a really great script for your video.

An animated female office worker

Tips To Creating an Animated Explainer Video Script

So now that we have looked at why the script is important, the process, and some key considerations there are also a few tips that we would like to share with you that will help you create an animated explainer video that will elevate your brand’s marketing strategy.

Here are our top 10 tips we know work well when it comes to drafting video explainer scripts that are not only entertaining but beneficial to both you and your potential customers:

Illustratable Words

The trick when it comes to creating an animated explainer video script is to make sure that the script itself is easily illustrated through animation. Using complicated and unfamiliar words may end up delivering a script that is not only cumbersome for the customer but also for the animator who is looking to bring your ideas to life.

So when writing your video script make sure to use simple words that can be translated easily into details and actions in your animated explainer video. Also making sure to use simpler words and concepts will allow the animator to ensure that they can stay within the standard 60 seconds when it comes to video explainers.

Though you’re looking for illustratable words and simplistic concepts you still need to make sure that you are speaking in your potential customer’s language As well as your industry.

You want your customer to feel comfortable as they’re watching your video while still remaining professional. So finding a nice balance between simple verbiage and industry jargon will be key to your script success.

A cartoon woman wearing flowers and celebrating

Use humour

No one wants to sit there for even a minute and watch something that just isn’t entertaining. So when writing your script not only do you have to be informative, but you need to show a sense of humor. This combination engages the customer and keeps them in watching until the very end.

Just giving them a script that runs down a laundry list of statistics and facts will not keep anyone’s attention. Just like with the balance between illustratable words and industry jargon you have to find the sweet spot when it comes to information and humor.

Of course, you don’t have to deliver a script that has people doubled over in laughter but having a little bit in there will break up the monotony and make your video more memorable.

Words and tone

One of the key tips that we can give you is that when you’re writing your script you need to remember that the dialogue placed in it will be done via voiceover. So as you’re writing out this dialogue you’ll want to make sure that you think about your tone. Tone may be one of the most important aspects of your script.

If you want your animated explainer video to be lively and show your brand voice then you’ll want to ensure the tone matches that. Too often when brands or companies are beginning to script out their animated video they think about all the cool visual aspects that the animator will be able to employ.

But those animators need the tone just as much as the narrator to ensure that these video explainers are getting the job done. You also want to make sure you are very clear when it comes to pronunciation and words so that you don’t trip your narrator up when they are doing their voiceover.

Give your animator room to create

Understanding the importance of a script is a good first step but you have to also remember that it’s an animated script which means you have a collaboration going on. The script will of course guide the video itself, but you also have to give a little bit of room for interpretation so that the animators can add their mark to the project as well.

This means understanding that it’s OK if you have a few lines and ideas in the script that you’re not quite sure how will visually be shown. By allowing a few of these abstract concepts to float throughout your script you will allow for some pretty creative moments to be crafted by your animator.

Keep it short

Sometimes it is tempting to draft a script that has every answer to every question about whatever you’re trying to solve. We understand that you want to deliver as much information as possible.

But you also have to understand that typically animated explainer videos only average about 60 seconds. This equates out to about 180 words.

Sure there are voice actors that can read much faster and still be intelligible, but analytics show that longer explainer videos do not perform nearly as well when it comes to social media and other marketing tools that you will be using.

For this reason, one of our biggest tips is to remember that less is more sometimes. Stick to the important aspects and allow yourself to dive deeper once the customer has reached out.

Message In First 30 Seconds

You have very little time to get the point across to your potential customer. After all, as we have already said typically you’re looking at 60 seconds of viewing time. This means you not only have to deliver all the information but get to the point as fast as possible.

A good rule of thumb is to ensure that whatever message you’re trying to get across or problem you’re trying to solve is laid out within the first 30 seconds of your animated explainer video.

With that being said it’s even better if you begin you’re animated video script with the product or service you’re looking to provide the viewer. The quicker you can get the problem out the easier it will be to dive into writing the solution to that problem.

Pace is important

Once again you have limited time to deliver your message and convert your potential customer into an actual customer. Because of this, it means when writing your script pace is very important.

So like we said you need to make sure that you have your main message laid out within 30 seconds and then you need to pace the script so that you get all the important details in without feeling rushed.

Like with everything else having to do with animated explainer videos you will need to make sure there is a fine balance between pace and being informative. When sitting down to write your script make sure to bullet point out the pieces of information you need to have in your script and then work the script according to that list.

Tell a good story to the audience

Just like in television and film you need to make sure there is a cohesive story being told. This means creating a flow in the script that allows for that story to run its course in an entertaining and informative way.

To do that you have to have a good overall story that allows for your statistics and information to be relayed in a way that keeps the potential customer engaged. This can be done not only with the animated visuals but also by being clever with the dialogue and ways that the script imparts your message.

Let your imagination be free

When dealing with live-action atmospheres and actors there is a limit to what can be done without high-cost special effects. That’s one of the biggest benefits of choosing to do an animated explainer video.

The world is your oyster, and you can use your imagination and have things happen that you would never be able to do when dealing with an actual physical set. This of course means that no matter how complex your concepts are or intricate your metaphors the animator will be able to make your dream and vision come into reality.

So when writing keep that in mind because this will give you the ability to deliver a dynamic script.

A second pair of eyes

Any writer will tell you that sometimes it’s good to have a second opinion. So our final tip is to let somebody else read the script before you actually submit it to the company you have animating your video.

This will give you a better idea of how others will take in the information and may allow for some edits that you didn’t see during your first run-through of the script. The more streamlined you can make it the easier it will be for the animator and the quicker the process will be.

Final thoughts on script writing

With video becoming a more and more beneficial marketing tool your company will only benefit from embracing it and one of the ways that can be done is by employing an animation agency to help you create a spectacular animated explainer video.

Understanding how to write a good animated explainer video script will allow you and your brand to get your message across and engage your customers in a better way. By taking time to understand what needs to be considered, the process as well as employing a few of the tips we gave above you should be able to create a video that inspires viewers to look further into your products or services.

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July 18, 2024

What Are the Benefits of an Animated Explainer Video?

Video marketing has become one of the biggest and most beneficial additions to any marketing strategy no matter the industry. Video is simply more entertaining and therefore viewers tend to engage at a higher rate. On top of this, many types of video content are quite easy to produce especially given the technology we have available to us today.

It’s human nature to be enthralled with moving images and that is why more and more companies are beginning to turn to video content as the way to get their brand message out. One of the many methods used is an animated explainer video.

No matter what type of animated explainer video you’re doing whether it is a motion graphic focused project or one that uses animated characters to tell a story there are a lot of benefits that your business or brand will be able to take advantage of by incorporating this type of content into your marketing strategy.

Video content is king!

The truth is more people love watching videos. In many studies, it has been proven that we retain more information when we watch it rather than read or listen to it. Because of this utilising video in your marketing strategy can help you elevate your brand awareness, increase your traffic, and eventually boost sales.

The answer to why is simple video content is simple to engage with and is very sharable on any platform you are using. This means that small businesses or brands can stay more visible longer on social media feeds and grow brand awareness across multiple platforms while using just one simple animated explainer video. So imagine what happens if you have a whole library of them!

13 Benefits of Choosing an Animated Explainer Video

So what are explainer videos good for? There are many types of explainer videos you can choose from but all of them will help you build a content marketing strategy that will deliver your business enhanced results.

Here are 13 benefits that your business will be able to take advantage of if you opt to invest in animated explainer videos:

Stand out in the crowd

With the rapid evolution of marketing today your content has to be consistently fresh to meet the needs of your customer base. By utilising animated explainer videos you will be able to stand out amongst your competitors.

Animated videos give your company the ability to not only show but tell your customers about your unique value propositions and brand message. These videos allow you to give your customers an insight into your company’s values and a deep dive into your products or services engagingly and entertainingly. Utilising an aesthetic that is both engaging and informative will help build your brand’s awareness and make your products and services memorable.

Video marketing is not new, but it has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Even with its popularity though many companies still have not embraced it and so by utilising an animated explainer video you will be a trailblazer no matter what industry you’re working in.

a cartoon man standing out from a crowd

Emote and engage

With the rapid evolution of marketing today your content has to be consistently fresh to meet the needs of your customer base. By utilizing animated explainer videos you will be able to stand out amongst your competitors.

Animated videos give your company the ability to not only show but tell your customers about your unique value propositions and brand message. These videos allow you to give your customers an insight into your company’s values and a deep dive into your products or services engagingly and entertainingly. Utilizing an aesthetic that is both engaging and informative will help build your brand’s awareness and make your products and services memorable.

Video marketing is not new, but it has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Even with its popularity though many companies still have not embraced it and so by utilizing an animated explainer video you will be a trailblazer no matter what industry you’re working in.

Convert those viewers

With the rapid evolution of marketing today your content has to be consistently fresh to meet the needs of your customer base. By utilizing animated explainer videos you will be able to stand out amongst your competitors.

Animated videos give your company the ability to not only show but tell your customers about your unique value propositions and brand message. These videos allow you to give your customers an insight into your company’s values and a deep dive into your products or services engagingly and entertainingly. Utilizing an aesthetic that is both engaging and informative will help build your brand’s awareness and make your products and services memorable.

Video marketing is not new, but it has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Even with its popularity though many companies still have not embraced it and so by utilizing an animated explainer video you will be a trailblazer no matter what industry you’re working in.

A cartoon man having a brainstorm

Rank better

With short-form content becoming more and more accessible viewer’s attention spans are gradually getting shorter. Because of this captivating, a viewer’s attention is becoming more difficult and retention statistics more important. Video may well be the key to this, it is more engaging and entertaining which can keep potential customers’ attention longer.

Because video retains viewers longer it also can help boost SEO when it comes to ranking your website in search engines. The longer someone stays on your landing page or website search engines like Google place a higher priority is because they feel that there is valuable information on that site.

In fact, when this happens Google decides that this landing page or website is an authoritative web resource and places it higher in search results. That means that both Google and your potential customers both see video content as the preferred method of content distribution and so it is a great marketing investment for your brand or business.

Build your brand loyalty

The key to building a long-lasting customer relationship is trust and loyalty. Most people will trust brands or businesses that invest in marketing content that leaves them with a positive feeling, entertains them, and answers a problem they have concisely and creatively.

This is why using an animated explainer video for your business or brand can be so successful. Building loyalty and trust is vital to the success of any business and only comes with a clear vision and precision execution of your marketing strategy.

This means you need your customer to truly feel that your brand or business cares about them. That is why making sure you invest time, money, and effort into creating video marketing content will help elevate your brand loyalty and recognition.

A cartoon man working at his desk

Craft a memorable brand

Animated explainer videos are by far one of the most effective means of content distribution. It interacts both with the customer’s visual as well as auditory senses which means better retention of the information. This combination creates a more memorable experience because it is so immersive and therefore builds a relationship that will help develop a better brand image.

By using an animated video you can develop a brand message and association that helps make your brand’s image more memorable and because of this, you will see an increase in leads and sales.

Not only can you use an animated explainer video to help with customer relationships that are already there but also build new ones to expand your brand message’s reach.

Improve your sales funnel

When you’re considering using an animated explainer video for your business it doesn’t matter at what part of your sales funnel you use it you will receive excellent results. You can craft a video that is at the beginning of your sales funnel process to generate leads or simply use it as a way to retain customers you have already.

You can also use multiple animated explainer videos in different parts of your sales funding especially in those areas that you find lack results. It is a great marketing tactic to use these videos in specific weak spots to elevate your sales process making it smoother and more engaging.

With a well-crafted animation and a killer script, you can use your animated videos to drive traffic to your landing page or websites to convert more viewers into long-term customers. So you can see why choosing to create one or several animated explainer videos can be so beneficial for your brand or business.

No used salesman here

Among the benefits that your business will be able to take advantage of when opting to use an animated explainer video is that they are designed to do one of three things. Explainer videos will explain your product or service to the customer.

Or you can use them to educate the customer on important information about your businesses niche or simply to entertain them. Because of this these types of videos tend to not feel as in your face when it comes to your business selling people on something.

You don’t have to be super direct when it comes to saying that you’re the best at whatever you do either, but these explainer videos can show your audience the systems you use and how your company uses them to help solve their problem.

The fact that this is done entertainingly and engagingly will help your customers feel comfortable and continuing on a relationship with your brand or business.

Complicated becomes simple

Even the most complicated industries can be easily explained with an animated explainer video. Being able to be entertained while learning something will you’re your customer as we have said before retaining the information better and it can build a favourable and lasting brand image in their mind.

So for those businesses that are dealing with complicated things like technology an animated explainer video will allow you to break those concepts down into simple visual images that help the customer understand what exactly is going on.

Many scientific studies show visual perception is more about memory than it is actually the input of the images through the eyes. That means building an animated explainer video that is entertaining and memorable will allow your brand message to stay relevant in your customer’s minds and therefore build a lasting relationship.

They are scalable

Animated explainer videos take less time to create and are easier on the budget than live-action videos or many other forms of marketing content. Because of this, you were able to get more videos in a shorter amount of time than you would typically with a traditional talking-head video explainer.

This allows you to scale and create a content marketing loop. You will be able to develop several videos that tie into each other to give more information to your customer base. By creating a series of animated explainer videos that tackle one part of the problem at a time you can build a playlist that will have them staying on your landing page or website longer.

This ties in with the better ranking in SEO because the more time your customer spends on your website the higher of an authority ranking you have when it comes to a search engines algorithm. Along with this, it is easy to add information like statistics and trends change when dealing with an animated explainer video because all it takes is a simple click here and there to change up the actual animation.

Versitile forms of marketing

The concise nature of animated explainer videos is perhaps one of the biggest benefits there is to use them for marketing your business or brand. The videos have a short amount of time to get all the information necessary to your customer and because of this, there is very little time for your customer to click away.

Once you have a video explainer that is crafted with outstanding visuals and a good script you will be able to take that video and market it in multiple places. The good thing about animated explainer videos is that all social media platforms have begun to focus on video. That means one video can reside on your website as well as be uploaded to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

So you can see how versatile this form of marketing actually is. It doesn’t take much when it comes to these videos to make them fit a platform ideal format. This can like with other aspects we have just talked about allow you to have a wider reach and perhaps even get your message in front of people you would never have been able to before.

Short and sharebale

Attention spans are getting shorter as we said above and so the fact that these animated explainer videos tend to average about 60 seconds makes them vastly superior when it comes to marketing to long-form content. By giving the customer a little taste you can get them to watching longer content or even diving into the written content on your website.

The length of these animated explainer videos also makes them easily shareable across social media platforms. After all, if someone sees some interesting and entertaining content that they think can help friends and family they will share it with those individuals even if it is a marketing video.

So on top of being able to help build a better conversion rate the fact that these videos are short and shareable also increase your reach. But it’s not just your customers that may share these animated explainer videos but also people within your industry. This will build brand awareness with your customer base as well as your peers which will enhance your authority in your field.

Show and tell

One last benefit that we think is crucial to why investing in an animated explainer video is so important is the fact that it shows both the problem and your solution to that problem.

Instead of reading a blog or watching an infographic-heavy video the user will be engaged and be able to visually see what the problem is that you are looking to solve for them. This makes it easier to digest and simpler to decide to opt for your product or service.

Final thoughts

So if you’re looking for a powerful marketing tool to improve your brand or businesse’s engagement and reach an animated explainer video is definitely something you should be considering.

The video through the use of its visuals and audio will allow for the customer to be entertained while getting a look at your brand’s voice and message. This in turn will eventually lead to a higher conversion rate and even elevated sales.

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July 10, 2024

Animated Explainer Videos – Types and Benefits

What You Can Do with An Animated Explainer Video?

One of the most popular forms of an animated explainer video is the infographic but if you take that and elevate it to a newer level by adding narration you get an even more compelling animated explainer video. This form of content can be used in many different ways.

You can utilise an animated explainer video to promote a product or service that your brand or business is offering. They are also great tools to use in your training or recruiting process. The use of audio and graphics combined creates a better engagement and retention when it comes to your audience.

The short but concise videos don’t take up much of your audience time and still impart your brand message and voice in a way that will help build your brand awareness. That is why so many companies, brands, and influencers are opting to utilise these types of animated videos as part of their marketing strategy.

What style of animated explainer video should I choose?

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Whiteboard explainer

Whiteboard explainer videos are a pretty well-known type of explainer video. These videos are crafted by recording the artist as they are drawing illustrations and writing words on a whiteboard. Though nowadays there are also digital platforms that allow you to do this, and they are not always black and white any longer.

This type of animated explainer video is perfect for explaining a service or process without distractions. That means it’s great for B2B businesses, IT companies as well as marketing agencies. It allows for complex processes and information to easily be disseminated to an audience that is drawn into the fact it is being illustrated live. It can also be used for training purposes as it is great for educating individuals too.

This style of animated explainer video is very budget-friendly and takes limited time to produce. That is why smaller businesses and brands can benefit greatly from considering this option.

Motion graphics

This is a graphic and text-based option when it comes to animated explainer videos. it is a simple yet complicated process that uses animation paired with music to create the illusion of motion. Oftentimes this type of animated video finds its way into projects from businesses in the technology or financial industry to name a few.

It is a perfect option if you’re looking to create a commercial or promote your services and products. The intricate yet elegant animation allows for a fast pace which suits the limited time frame afforded for animated explainer videos.

The intricacies that go into the creation of this style of animated video mean that the process of production may take a little bit longer. However, when it comes to budget this option has a wide range of price points Which means you will have to shop around to find the right agency for your business.

A multicoloured animated graphic woman wearing glasses

3D motion graphics

When it comes to animation techniques 3D motion graphics is taking the simple motion graphics we discussed above and adding depth and dimension to a project. By taking the simple shapes, icons, and text that are used in traditional emotional graphics you can add more interest and therefore grab people’s attention faster.

Just like with traditional motion graphics 3D motion graphics are perfect for commercials or product breakdowns. They can even be used to explain complicated technology or products in a more engaging way. But due to the high budgetary costs, this option is best if looking to create a commercial.

This type of motion graphic adds on even more time as there is now a need for rendering out 3D texts and objects. This means that there are much like the traditional motion graphics will be added time onto the base timeline and there will be a lot of variation when it comes to pricing.

Kinetic typography

Another option is kinetic typography which is very similar to motion graphics except for it is solely focused on text. This text can be 2D or 3D but the key factor in this type of animation is the movement of the text.

Because it is focused so much on text and numbers it is perfect if you’re trying to explain an idea. Unlike static graphics though because of the motion, even the simple idea of expressing a concept becomes more engaging because there is motion and most often some sort of sound design or music accompanying it.

With this type of animated explainer video, the timeline for completion can vary greatly depending on whether you decide to go with 2D or 3D. This is also a key factor when it comes to the budget for the project.

Paper Cutout Animation

We will discuss traditional stop motion in a little bit but one of the most endearing forms of stop motion that is commonly used in explainer videos is the cutout animation. This type of animated video requires a little camera work. Taking that camera the animator takes snapshots of the paper cutout animations as they move through the structure of the script.

Once this is done those images are uploaded into a computer and digitally spliced together to create a video. This is a great option if you’re just looking to tell a story. It gives you both a cartoon style feel which elicits a comfortable vibe for your audience. This makes it perfect for a B2C company that is trying to grab attention and build strong brand loyalty.

This process is a little more time consuming than many of the others because there are some very hands-on artistic skills needed. Not only is the animator having to use a camera, but they are also having to hand draw all the elements. This very hands-on approach typically means that this type of animated video explainer may be a little more pricey.

Digital cutout animation

We will discuss traditional stop motion in a little bit but one of the most endearing forms of stop motion that is commonly used in explainer videos is the cutout animation. This type of animated video requires a little camera work. Taking that camera the animator takes snapshots of the paper cutout animations as they move through the structure of the script.

Once this is done those images are uploaded into a computer and digitally spliced together to create a video. This is a great option if you’re just looking to tell a story. It gives you both a cartoon style feel which elicits a comfortable vibe for your audience. This makes it perfect for a B2C company that is trying to grab attention and build strong brand loyalty.

This process is a little more time consuming than many of the others because there are some very hands-on artistic skills needed. Not only is the animator having to use a camera, but they are also having to hand draw all the elements. This very hands-on approach typically means that this type of animated video explainer may be a little more pricey.

Cartoon animation

You may look at cartoon animation and think that this is really only suitable for a brand or business that is looking to market towards a younger demographic. But this type of animated explainer video actually has a wide range of use because it is fun and engaging.

Cartoon animation can be used in many different industries because it utilses a wide range of colours and can still break down complex ideas. By utilising animation in a cartoon style it is also eliciting a sense of nostalgia from the audience which keeps them engaged for longer.

This type of animated explainer video will require some old school animation principles. That being said even with the fact that each cell has to be hand-drawn whether that’s on paper or digitally this process could take a little extra time and that may equate out to a higher budget needed.

An animated doctor in a hospital setting

Silhouette animation

Silhouette animation is a very unique and stylized option when it comes to explainer videos. This animation place is dark characters and objects against a white background. It may be one of the older styles of animation, but it still has a place in the digital marketing age.

This style is very specific and therefore great for brands or businesses that are looking to have a more Avant guard feel to their explainer videos. It is a great option for those looking to highlight specific features and therefore we think this is a great option for educational purposes or training as well as explaining a service.

The lack of detail when it comes to the silhouette animation process allows for a shorter time frame to complete the project. Because of this and the fact it may not require as many animators you may find that this is one of the least expensive options that you can use.

Animation & live-action

No matter what type of video content you create it is going to have better results than static imagery. So, the idea of combining animation with live action is not only entertaining but could be very engaging when it comes to delivering your brand’s message.

Typically this animation is done by filming a live-action scene and incorporating animated elements. You can have your live-action actors interact with animated characters or even words and symbols to create an even more engaging product.

Because of the two different production processes, this type of animated explainer video will take longer. Not only will you have to allow for the time to film the live-action footage but also to create the animated assets.

On top of that, you then have to allow for time to combine the two and because of all of these steps, this option may be a poor one for a small business working with a tight budget.

2D/3D animation

Just like worth combining live-action with animation the idea of combining 2D with 3D elements is also an option when it comes to animated explainer videos. This type of animation is crafted typically with either the characters and objects being 2D or the background. Then the 3D elements and the 2D elements are combined together to tell a compelling story.

This is an intricate and difficult form of animation to include in your animated explainer video, but it can be very captivating, so we suggest you consider it. This type of animation is perfect for selling a concept or product.

The mix of the two styles takes a lot of finessing and time to raft the assets so this option will end up with a longer timeline when it comes to completion. The use of multiple styles of animation and that special finesse will also mean that this type of explainer video might not be a good fit for smaller businesses or services.

Infographics

Infographics are an option that utilises typography with images and objects to help relay statistics. This combination often accompanied by sound effects and music allows the typically dry statistical information to be entertaining and engaging.

This type of animated explainer video is perfect for B2B businesses as well as brands that are looking to share metrics and analysis of those metrics. So, marketing businesses and other services that are looking to assist in improving business results and performance are perfect for this type of product.

On top of this, it’s great for business presentations and pitches. The simplicity of these infographics allows for a quick turnaround and a minimal expenditure when it comes to budget.

Outline animation

The use of varying weights of lines to create characters and objects is what characterizes outline animation videos. This very simplistic yet stylized option gives any explainer video a unique vibe and character.

Many startup companies and smaller brands often gravitate towards this type of animation. It is a great option for storytelling as well as outlining a process or service. It can also be used when dealing with pitch decks or even training videos.

Because it is simple 2D animation that is stylized it often takes less time than some of the other options and therefore requires a smaller budget. This may be why smaller companies and startups are drawn to this style of an animated explainer video.

Graphic animation

Graphic animation when it comes to explaining our videos helps elevate the engagement capacity of your video by incorporating motion and graphics with emotion. This is another type of stop motion animation that will take graphic elements and utilise stop motion techniques to explain ideas.

If a business offers services or products that are more complicated than normal this type of explainer video could be a great option. For that reason, startups and B2B businesses could get a lot of benefit from using this type of animation as it will allow them to explain there are complex concepts and ideas to their audience easier. On top of that, it’s eye-catching and that combined with a good script and sound work will create a captivating video for your audience.

The timeline for this type of animation fall somewhere in the middle ground. In regards to the budget, this is also the same as it depends on the agency that you employ and how intricate your video concept is.

Stop motion animation

Another animation option when it comes to explainer videos is stop motion. As we said in the paper cut out section above stop motion utilises pictures of objects that are moved gradually over time to create motion and build out your brand story.

There is something nostalgic about watching stop motion animation and this emotional reaction to this style makes it great for B2C companies. It is also a nice technique for startups who are trying to make an impression on their potential customer base.

The process does take quite a while and so the timeline tends to be lengthier than other options and there is extra equipment involved so that also means the budget can be a little steep.

A stop motion girl in a car

Final thoughts on animation choice

So when your business is looking to include an animated explainer video in your marketing strategy these are just some of the options that many agencies will offer. the choice of which style depends on the message and vision of what you’re trying to deliver to your customer.

It also is important to understand the time frame you have to complete the project as well as the budget. By looking at all of these aspects you should be able to choose the right type of explainer video that will optimize your customer engagement, retention, and conversion rate.

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