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Animated explainer videos are a great way to simplify complex ideas and capture attention. They help you introduce products, explain services, or share your brand’s story in a clear and engaging way. This guide covers everything you need to know about making an animated explainer video, from planning and scriptwriting to choosing animation styles and adding sound. Ready to create a powerful video for your audience? Read on to learn how!
What Is an Explainer Video?
Explainer videos are short, engaging videos that describe a product or idea, highlighting its benefits over existing options. Companies often use these videos to introduce new products in a simple, compelling way.
Typically, explainer videos last about 90 seconds and explain what your business does, the services you offer, or the products you create. They come in two forms: animated or live-action. Live-action videos add a personal touch by putting a face to the brand, while animated ones are excellent for illustrating complex processes that real footage can't capture—like DNA processes, volcanic eruptions, or how medicine works.
Whether animated or live-action, the main goal of an explainer video is to help viewers easily understand your product or service and encourage them to take action. These videos are powerful tools for boosting conversion rates because they break down complex information into digestible, easy-to-follow pieces.
Who Needs an Animated Explainer Video?
In today’s competitive marketing world, nearly every type of business benefits from a solid video marketing strategy, and explainer videos are one of the most powerful tools to consider. Some industries, however, stand to gain even more from using explainer videos.
Online Learning & Courses
Explainer videos are a cost-effective way to improve online courses, combining animation, storytelling, and concise scripts to make learning engaging. These videos allow learners to study at their own pace—they can pause, replay, or save the video to fit their schedules. This flexibility helps learners integrate education into their busy lives.
Healthcare & Medical
Explainer videos simplify complex healthcare topics, making it easier for audiences to understand challenging medical information. Using animation, you can illustrate things that real-life cameras can’t capture, like how medicine works in the body or how viruses affect the immune system.
SaaS Companies
For SaaS businesses, explainer videos help explain complex apps or services in a straightforward way. They can also be valuable for pitching to investors, supporting an app launch, or boosting conversions and sign-ups by breaking down tech-heavy details into digestible content.
Human Resources
HR managers can use explainer videos for onboarding new employees, which leads to better knowledge retention than traditional methods. A good onboarding experience promotes early success, improves productivity, and builds loyalty.
Construction Industry
Explainer videos in construction can demonstrate techniques, train workers, and showcase projects. They are also an effective way to build your brand, attract leads, and reach decision-makers, replacing some of the traditional “handshake” interactions with a more modern approach.
Each of these industries can benefit greatly from the engaging, educational power of explainer videos.
Also read: Guide to Choosing the Best Webinar Production Company for Medical Webinars
Animated Explainer Video Production Process
Step 1 - Pre-Production Preparation
Understanding the purpose of an animated explainer video is essential before jumping into production. Explainer videos use short animations featuring images and virtual characters to clarify complex ideas simply and engagingly. These are often used as marketing tools to showcase a product or service’s benefits, aiming to boost sales or viewer engagement.
The first step in creating a marketing animation involves gathering background information and setting campaign goals, including target audience, sales objectives, and timelines. During this phase, the team will discuss the video’s aesthetic direction—whether it should follow a storytelling structure or take an interview approach. It’s also important to determine if the animation will serve as a recurring branding piece or if it’s for a specific promotion, like a holiday campaign.
Marketing animations are popular because they offer creative flexibility without needing actors or a film crew, and they’re cost-effective for frequent updates. Brands can also use animation to refresh their image and stay relevant with audiences in a fast-paced digital world. Factors like user habits, device preferences, and platform use will also inspire the creative direction. All these considerations impact budget, style, script, length, and technical approach.
Before moving forward, clients and animation teams should consolidate their ideas, keeping in mind that animations are brief, so they must convey only the most essential information.
Step 2 - Writing the Animation Script
Once goals and creative direction are established, the next step is crafting the script—the blueprint for the entire production. The script merges all creative ideas, forming the foundation of the animation. Depending on the project’s goal, the script may be straightforward or rely on storytelling techniques like problem-solving, character growth, or conflict.
The animation script typically includes a summary for each scene (usually one or two lines), visual descriptions (e.g., a room with a sunset view), character actions (e.g., pacing), and dialogue. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, so it’s essential to stay flexible with script formats and styles, tailoring them to resonate with audiences and achieve the intended message. Experimentation and audience feedback can help develop a unique style that aligns with the brand’s objectives.
Step 3 - Choosing an Animation Style
When starting with animated marketing videos, it helps to understand the different animation styles available. There are various types, each offering unique advantages, team requirements, and production timelines. To choose the best fit, consider your brand’s goals, audience, and resources. Some styles, like 2D animation, are faster to produce, while 3D animation offers high immersion and detail but takes more time and expertise. Quick, adaptable animations often perform well for brands needing frequent updates, whereas complex styles work best for long-term, impactful branding projects.
Here are some popular animation styles to consider:
- Hand-Drawn Animation
Hand-drawn animation originated from pencil-on-paper illustrations, often capturing the artist's personal touch and character. Today, software can replicate this feel, providing a handmade, warm quality that’s popular in commercial branding. - Whiteboard Animation
Whiteboard animation uses a white background with bold text and simple graphics to explain concepts clearly and directly. Ideal for breaking down complex ideas, it’s effective for educational marketing and enhances viewer focus by eliminating screen distractions. - Clipart Animation
Clipart animation involves layering different design elements with simpler transitions. This style offers efficiency, allowing quick production by reusing materials and limiting frame changes. It’s well-suited for fast, budget-friendly projects needing minimal adjustments. - Informative Animation
Designed to share information quickly, informative animations often run under three minutes and are structured to highlight key points. Perfect for introducing new products, these animations use clear visuals and concise scripts to boost viewer interest and encourage further engagement. - 3D Animation
3D animation immerses viewers with lifelike materials, light, and shadows. It requires a complex process, including model building, scene design, and character motion. Although it’s resource-intensive, 3D animation works well for conveying in-depth concepts like machine operations or detailed educational content.
Each animation style brings unique benefits. Weigh the production time, budget, and style that best suits your campaign goals to create an impactful animated video that resonates with your audience.
Also read: 80+ Engaging Corporate Theme Ideas for Your Next Event
Step 4 - Creating the Animation Storyboard
Whether it’s a 10-second social media clip or a full product launch video, preparing a storyboard is essential for animation. Storyboarding turns the written script into a visual layout. This is especially important in animation, where visuals lead the storytelling.
A good storyboard includes detailed information like scene layout, camera angles, visual cues, and transitions. Frames are often represented as drawings or sketches, helping everyone understand the vision before production. A thorough storyboard keeps communication clear with clients, reduces missteps during production, and saves time by minimizing revisions.
To streamline design, some creators use stock images or templates from online libraries like Pexels, Unsplash, and Gratisography (free) or Shutterstock, iStock, and Depositphotos (paid). Make sure to understand any licensing rules before using these assets to avoid copyright issues.
Step 5 - Voiceover Recording
Sound brings depth to animation, even if there’s no narration or dialogue. Sound effects and music play a key role in setting the mood and enhancing the story. When a voiceover is used, it not only explains the narrative but also amplifies emotion, credibility, and audience connection. Choose voice talent carefully, considering qualities like tone, pitch, and intensity. Costs for voiceovers can range widely based on the project, from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Step 6 - Animation Production
Now, it’s time to bring the storyboard and script to life! In 2D animation, tasks include editing, color correction, narration, and effects. For 3D animation, you’ll add steps like model simulation, material coverage, skeleton binding, camera angles, and lighting.
Various software suits both beginners and professionals. For newcomers, options like Stop Motion Studio and Moho are good choices. Advanced users and companies often use Adobe Animate CC, Toon Boom Harmony, and Blender for 3D. Selecting software depends on factors like:
- Tools and Platforms: Computers, tablets, and drawing tablets are common. Some programs work especially well with certain tools, like pressure-sensitive pens for drawing tablets.
- Skill Level: Beginners may find professional software overwhelming. Fortunately, more beginner-friendly platforms like Adobe Creative Cloud Express and Canva provide simple tools with full functionality.
- Pricing: Many software options offer subscriptions, while some have one-time purchase options. Subscriptions, like those in Adobe Creative Cloud, let you try features before committing and benefit from regular updates and security patches.
Step 7 - Sound Effects, Audio, and Music
Music adds a powerful layer to any animation, helping immerse viewers in the story. For custom music, programs like GarageBand, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Logic Pro X are ideal for mixing audio. Since music creation requires a basic understanding of audio software, many opt for professional composers or sound engineers.
Alternatively, if budget or time is tight, licensed music can be purchased from online libraries like Shutterstock, which offer affordable options from a few dollars to several hundred. Prices vary depending on where and how long you plan to use the music.
Bringing Your Story to Life with Expert Animated Explainer Video Company
Animated explainer videos are an effective way to grab your audience’s attention and simplify even the most complex ideas. They turn abstract concepts into clear, engaging stories that help your audience connect with your brand. Whether you’re introducing a new product, guiding customers through a process, or explaining a service, an animated explainer video makes your message memorable.
At Get Camera Crew, we specialize in creating custom explainer videos that bring your ideas to life. Our expert team will work with you from script to screen, ensuring your video is not only high quality but also aligned with your goals and brand identity.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact us now and let’s start creating a video that engages, informs, and drives results!
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