It doesn’t matter if you are a small business, a large corporation, or a non-profit organization. Animated explainer videos can be game-changing if you plan for them according to your needs and wants.
Sit back as we explain everything about animated explainer videos and how they can be useful. Hopefully, you’ll also know which animation explainer video type suits you better by the end of your read.
First, What are Explainer Videos?
In today’s world, attention spans are as fleeting as fireflies. That means if you have a message that needs to be heard, you’ve got to make them pay attention first.
And what better way to grab your audiences’ attention than with an animated explainer video?
They’re short, animated stories that swoop in and explain things sweetly and engagingly. No boring text walls, just catchy music, cool visuals, and a clear message that leaves people thinking, “Aha! I get it now!”
These little video wizards can explain anything:
That confusing new app you downloaded: An explainer video would be like a personal translator!
A product you just invented: Want the world to understand your genius? An explainer video would be your megaphone.
A complex medical procedure you’re facing: Feeling overwhelmed? An explainer video could break it down step-by-step, easing your anxiety and empowering you with knowledge.
Animated Explainer Video Types
Choosing the right animation style for your explainer video can significantly impact its effectiveness. Depending on your brand’s style and personality, your marketing goals, and the topic of the explainer video, you can have anything crafted.
What matters most is finding the right set of tools.
Checking the Animation Outsourcing: Your Concerns, Our Answers blog will give you some valuable insight into one way of acquiring the right skillsets for your animated explainer video. Outsourcing will allow you to:
- Access specialized expertise
- Focus on your main areas of competence
- Stay on budget
- Meet deadlines
- Access flexible scalability
Hopefully, you’ll get the answer to all your questions after going through this edit. And if you did not, we’re always here to consult you with whatever. Just drop us a line here.
Now, we can break down different types of animated explainer videos like 3D, 2D, and Hybrid animation. You’ll find their differences and any points worth mentioning highlighted here below.
2D Animated Explainers
2D animation has captivated audiences for decades and continues to hold their attention and interest. 2D explainer videos are a great way to keep new users engaged and informed as they get started with websites, mobile apps, and other software products. This animation type is:
- Versatile and adaptable
- Nostalgic
- Popular with YouTubers
- Great to show intricate details or mechanics
- Cost-effective
Animation studios like Picotion craft 2D animations with different production methods. Naturally, each method has a different cost and takes different amounts of time to complete. These include:
Flash animation: A digital animation method that uses vector graphics.
Computer-generated 2D (CG2D) animation: A hybrid animation method that combines traditional hand-drawn animation and computer-generated imagery (CGI).
Hand-drawn animation: The classic method of 2D animation involves drawing each frame by hand.
3D Animated Explainers
3D animation lets you create highly detailed and realistic environments and characters. This will come in especially handy when making product demonstrations or educational videos. Of course, no animation type (3D included) HAS to be anything.
The power of animation lies in its versatility and adaptability. Essentially, your 3D explainer can be crazy, technical, or minimal. The choice is yours.
From the point of view of expert animators, however, we can give you a few pointers on using 3D animation for explainer videos. 3D animation is:
- Amazing for hyper-realistic projects
- Great to show intricate details or mechanics
- Great for adding interactive elements to your animation
- Costlier to produce than other animation types
- Not ideal for simple concepts
Whiteboard Animation
Whiteboard animation is a great way to create a simple and relatable experience for viewers. This animated explainer video type is also a great way to explain complex or lengthy concepts.
Whiteboard animation is typically created using animation software to draw on a white background with markers or pens. They’re also:
- Great for creating a sense of intimacy
- Highly-focused on clarity
- Popular with YouTubers
- Cost-effective
- Not ideal for showing intricate details or mechanics
Typography Animation Explainer Video
Watch as words morph into mesmerizing ballets, letters pirouette across the screen, and fonts strut their stuff like runway models. That’s the power of typography animated explainer videos!
They’re punchy and precise. From playful bouncy fonts to sleek minimalist typography, this animation type lets your brand’s voice sing loud and clear.
On top of it all, typography animation explainer videos can come to life with minimal resources. No need for fancy sets or A-list actors. All you need is a good script and a skilled animator.
Hybrid animation
Hybrid animation combines different animation styles like 2D, 3D, and motion graphics. They’re sure to stand out for their uniqueness which is even more highlights since they’re breaking traditional boundaries!
Hybrid animated explainer videos are:
- Great for creating a unique visual tapestry
- Able to blend different animation style’s strengths
- Harder to animate and render
- Not necessary for simpler messages
Why Opt for Animation Explainers?
Animated explainer videos are like the chameleons of the marketing world – adaptable, affordable, and ready to take on any shape your imagination throws at them. Forget hour-long lectures. Explainer videos are concise and sweet, typically clocking in under a minute!
This laser focus forces clarity so your message lands squarely on target before its attention fades.
Breathing Life into Your Story
Facts are essential, but stories are unforgettable. Explainer videos mix your facts with your stories to deliver an irresistible bite of information to your audience. Imagine creating an animated explainer showing a customer facing a relatable challenge, or a cute product embarking on a heroic journey to find its purpose.
Doesn’t that sound immensely more powerful than a boring page full of text?
Stories make your message stick by tapping into human emotions and experiences. You can learn more about
Breaking Down Complicated Ideas
No jargon, no ambiguity. Explainer videos are good at that.
In fact, animated explainers excel at simplifying complex concepts into bite-sized pieces. Add clear language, logical pacing, and visuals that complement the narration together, and boom.
Remember that each explainer video’s goal is to leave viewers with a crystal-clear understanding of your message. So don’t beat around the bush and trust the animators to guide you through the process.
Entertain & Engage at the Same Time
Animation is fun! It uses vibrant visuals and engaging characters to draw viewers in and keep them watching. From classic 2D animation to slick 3D renderings or minimal white-board animations, you get to choose a style and customize results to represent your brand.
Affordability
Animated explainers require no filming costs, actors, or location rentals. More importantly, they’re usually very short. So the costs won’t get that high even if you try.
Once the animation style and core elements are established, creating additional videos becomes more cost-effective as well. After that, you can easily adapt the existing assets to suit new messages or products.
For example, you can animate your brand mascot for your explainer once and then have that mascot say “Merry Christmas!” to your LinkedIn followers!
Actually, that’s what Picotion did here and here! We used one of our original animated characters from the Bunny Brothers’ original IP to wish a happy Christmas to our viewers.
Customizable
From characters and colors to music and style, every element of an animated explainer can be customized to perfectly reflect your brand identity. Unlike live-action, animation allows you to break free from the constraints of reality so you can literally make anything happen.
Put your products in impossible scenarios or create a fantastical world around one of your apps. As long as it’s animatable, we can make it happen!
5 Successful Animated Explainer Video Examples
#1 Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud storage service that allows users to store and share files online. Look how they used this cute and simple whiteboard explainer animated video to elaborate on the benefits of Dropbox and its services.
#2 Spotify
Bright, bold, playful, and smooth. These are the qualities we associate with Spotify and they are ALL present in this animated explainer.
While using dynamic transitions to keep viewers glued to the screen and making use of the negative space to create balance; Spotify convinces the audience to consider it as an advertising platform.
#3 Airbnb
Warm, inviting, and colorful.
Not only does this animation show Airbnb’s freedom and flexibility, it creates a sense of emotional connection with viewers using simple, short, and swet
#4 Nike: Yoga
So you thought live-action explainer videos couldn’t work? Think again. Nike: Yoga short animation explainer video speaks volumes without using words. This is a very nice example of how motion capture can be so powerful in any media format.
#5 Google
Just look at how Google’s explainer animated video elaborates on the complex world of cloud computing using its brand colors. This video uses a series of simple animations and graphics to illustrate the key features of Google for Work, such as Gmail, Drive, and Docs.
So How Do I Choose The Right Animated Explainer Video Type?
Choosing the right animation style comes down to matching it to your message and audience. Want to explain something complex? Whiteboard simplicity might be your jam.
Got a whimsical tale to tell? Or maybe you’re aiming for jaw-dropping visuals? Whatever it is you want to show, animation is your playground.
We can even help you with character development, video game trailers, and 2D and 3D animation services. Contact us and we will create something magical together.
A Final Word
Explainer videos are not fleeting trends; they are potent tools for communication, education, and engagement in the digital age. So far, they’ve done with the power cocktail of storytelling, animation, and concise messaging.
Here’s why they’re the secret weapon every brand should have in their arsenal:
- Unlike video shoots that need mountains of equipment and cast changes, animation lets you edit with the click of a mouse.
- Animation lets you present invisible products like software and ideas in the best way. Harness animation to show viewers how they work and why they matter.
- Forget stock models and rented backdrops. With animation, your brand’s personality can leap off the screen in technicolor.
- With animation, your imagination sets the limits! Show abstract concepts and artistic ideas with flair.
- Instead of dry explanations, animation paints pictures that are hard to forget! Make it clear AND memorable at the same time.
Don’t forget that animation has the power to be mended and adapted to all and any industries, products, services, and means. Whether you need to explain a complex concept, showcase a new technology, or simply tell your brand story, animation is your best bet.
Think of it this way: an explainer video is the Cliff Notes of the marketing world. It condenses complex and lengthy concepts into digestible nuggets of information. Add satisfying animation to it and you have a package no one can ignore.
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