Animated explainer videos have become a compelling tool in the digital marketing toolkit, offering brands a dynamic way to present complex ideas through engaging and easily digestible visual content. These powerful yet concise videos seamlessly blend animation, storytelling, and information, capturing the attention of audiences across various platforms from company websites to social media channels.

With consumer attention spans becoming increasingly fleeting, these videos excel at not only grabbing attention but also enhancing viewer understanding and retention of information. When leveraged appropriately, animated explainer videos can effectively communicate a brand’s message, encapsulate complex concepts, and forge emotional connections with audiences.

What are animated explainer videos?

Animated explainer videos are succinct, typically ranging from 60 to 120 seconds, and are designed to clarify business ideas, products, or services in an engaging and visually appealing manner. They combine compelling narratives with vibrant animations to illustrate a company’s offerings or explain intricate processes in a straightforward way.

The core components of a successful animated explainer video include:

•           Script: The foundation of the video, which conveys the message in a clear and concise way. It typically addresses a problem, proposes a solution, and highlights the benefits, often concluding with a call to action.
•           Visuals: Animation styles can vary from simple motion graphics to intricate 3D animations, tailored to match the brand’s aesthetic and the message’s complexity.
•           Voiceover: A professional voiceover ties the visuals together, ensuring the tone and pace are appropriate for the target audience.
•           Music & Sound Effects: Background music and sound effects enhance the emotional appeal and overall impact of the video, making it more engaging.

These videos are effective because they can distill complex ideas into simple visuals and narratives that resonate with a wide audience. They’re particularly useful for explaining new technologies, illustrating product benefits, or demonstrating how a service works, which might be challenging to communicate through text alone. By using a mix of audio and visual storytelling elements, animated explainer videos increase comprehension and retention of information, making them an invaluable resource for brands looking to convey their stories.

Benefits of using animated explainer videos

Animated explainer videos offer a multitude of benefits that make them an attractive choice for brands aiming to communicate complex information succinctly and effectively. Two of the most significant advantages are their ability to simplify information and their cost-effectiveness.

Simplifying complex information: Animated videos excel in breaking down intricate concepts into simple visual elements that are easier for audiences to understand and remember. By leveraging animation, brands can illustrate processes, visualize data, and narrate stories that might otherwise require lengthy explanations. For example, a video can demonstrate how a new technology works in a few seconds, something that might take pages of text to explain.

Cost-effective communication: Compared to traditional video production, animated videos can be more affordable and require fewer resources. There’s no need for locations, actors, or extensive sets. Once created, these videos are also incredibly versatile and can be used across multiple platforms from a brand’s website to social media channels and beyond. They can be easily updated or repurposed to extend their lifespan, making them a cost-efficient option in the long term.

This combination of simplicity and cost-effectiveness makes them a valuable asset for any company’s marketing strategy.

Who creates animated explainer videos?

The production of animated explainer videos can be approached in several ways, depending on the complexity of the project, the creative demands, and the budget. Brands can choose to create these videos using online tools or by engaging professional animation studios. Here’s a look at both options:

Online tools for simpler videos: For brands with limited budgets or those needing a quick turnaround, numerous online platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and pre-designed templates to create simple animated videos. Tools like Vyond, Moovly, and Animaker allow users to select characters, animations, and even voiceovers without needing extensive technical skills. These tools are particularly useful for creating straightforward explainers on tight deadlines.

Professional animated video production companies: For more bespoke or intricately designed videos, hiring a professional animation video production company is advisable. These companies specialize in crafting custom animations that can align closely with a brand’s identity and messaging needs. Studios bring a level of finesse and creativity that is difficult to achieve with automated tools. They handle every aspect of video production, from scripting and storyboarding to animation and post-production, ensuring a high-quality final product that stands out in the marketplace.

Choosing the right creator for an animated explainer video will depend on several factors, including the brand’s visual requirements, the complexity of the message, and the intended audience. By selecting the appropriate approach, brands can effectively convey their stories through engaging and impactful animated videos.

Implementing animated explainer videos in brand strategy

Integrating animated explainer videos into a brand’s marketing strategy can significantly enhance its ability to communicate effectively with its audience. Here are some practical tips on how brands can use these videos to maximize their impact:

1. Identify the core message: Before creating an animated explainer video, it’s crucial to pinpoint the exact message or problem the video will address. This focus ensures the video remains concise and impactful, directly addressing the needs or questions of the target audience.
2. Tailor content to the audience: Understanding the audience’s preferences and pain points allows for the creation of a video that resonates on a personal level. Customize the tone, language, and visuals to match the demographic, whether it’s a B2B audience looking for technical depth or consumers seeking easy-to-understand solutions.
3. Optimize for different platforms: Each social media platform has its own set of rules for optimal video performance, from length to format. Customize videos for each platform to increase engagement. For instance, shorter videos might perform better on Twitter and Instagram, while longer, more detailed explanations are suitable for YouTube or a company website.
4. Measure effectiveness and iterate: After deploying explainer videos, it’s important to track their performance using metrics such as view count, engagement rates, and conversion metrics. Feedback and data can guide future video projects, helping to refine the approach to storytelling and technical details.
5. Leverage for multiple uses: Beyond just marketing, animated explainer videos can be used for training, onboarding, and customer support, providing a return on investment that extends across various departments of a company.

By strategically incorporating animated explainer videos into their communication arsenal, brands can not only enhance their storytelling capabilities but also foster deeper engagement and understanding among their audiences. These videos serve as powerful tools to simplify complex messages and make lasting impressions in a competitive digital landscape.