How To Pick a Animation Style For Your Explainer Video

A growing body of evidence suggests that animation style videos are the most effective for landing pages, explainers, and introductory videos. Animation not only allows you to present complex topics in a simple and engaging manner, but it is often less expensive and easier to produce than live action videos.

While most of us probably think of our favourite Disney movies when we hear the word “animation,” there are many other types of animation, each with its own set of strengths. Because not every style is well suited to every purpose, it’s critical to understand how each can affect your message and how to select the best style for your explainer video.

Animation is regarded as one of the most powerful tools for expressing and communicating new ideas and information. Timing, stretch, anticipation, precise staging, and other basic principles are used by artists to bring animated characters to life.

Mastering the skill of character animation is difficult, and it takes years of practise and continuous learning to get there.
What kind of cartoon style is best for your message when it comes to animation? We explain the style spectrum.

The Most Popular Animation Styles

To begin, let’s go over some of the most common types of animated videos, in descending order of complexity.

Whiteboard animation videos are popular for good reason. They are simple to create because they are usually done in black and white and involve only text and simple illustrations, and they allow you to easily distil complex topics into simple images.

There is a sense of transparency and increased engagement because the viewer is watching the information appear in real time — viewers want to pay attention to see what happens next.

Motion graphics, which take typography and whiteboards to the next level, bring text and graphic images to life. You could use motion graphics to explain how your product works or to demonstrate a process, for example.

These are ideal for explaining complex products or processes because they require you to distil information into simple graphics while still allowing you to focus on details that would otherwise be lost.

Because you can change the fonts, colours, and illustrations in motion graphics, the overall look and feel of the video is virtually limitless.

Screencasts are ideal for explainer videos because they show the audience specific instructions on how to use something while using actual images from the product. Screencasts are useful for videos that are heavy on technology or have detailed instructions, such as demonstrating new apps or products that can be assembled or modified.

These are usually the cheapest option, but they aren’t always as entertaining as other types of animation.

Typography, while essentially another form of text, can be a powerful way to evoke emotions, emphasise important points, and spur your audience to action when combined with the right fonts, colours, music, and graphics.

Typographic animation works well in narrative videos because the right words at the right time can emphasise key points.

Stop motion animation can take many forms — cutouts, drawings, stick figures, clay, puppets, etc. — but the effect is the same: it may appear low-tech, but it is often entertaining and captivating. Stop motion is made by setting up a scene, photographing it, then moving an element and photographing it again until you’ve captured the entire process you want to explain.

Stop motion animation is one of the more time-consuming forms of animation, and changes cannot always be made on the fly. It also has the potential to be less engaging than other forms of animation, particularly if simple black and white drawings are used.

Again, when most of us think of animation, we think of cartoons. 2D and 3D animation are ideal for telling stories and explaining complex concepts, and they can be done in a variety of styles. Cartoons can take a long time to produce, depending on how complicated your concept is.

Below is the list of details you need to take care of before starting.

1. Facial Expressions

Facial Expressions are an essential component of any character animation video. However, it can be difficult because most expressions happen quickly and we capture them naturally without even realising it.

When facial expressions are added to a character, it becomes much more realistic, increasing its overall appeal to the audience.

Most production companies, for example, record their actors doing voice-overs. The animators watch the characters back while creating them, which helps them add the appropriate expressions to the animation cartoon character.

2. Stylized – Exaggerated

Many cartoons today are stylized, which means that great care has been taken with the details. The only difference between this style and the first is that the character has been rendered with a serious tone. These characters are meant to be dramatic exaggerations of real-life people. The exaggeration heightens the viewer’s emotional response. They, like puppets or modern paintings, reach into the subconscious of the viewer, transporting them to an emotional state.

3. Political Cartoon Exaggerated

When most people think of cartoons, they think of vintage Disney films or Looney Tune animations. These characters are meant to be exaggerated representations of real people. The exaggeration heightens the drama and entertainment for the audience. “Laugh at me,” he says to the viewer, and “Isn’t this ridiculous?”

4. Realistic 

Realism is a safe bet as well, and this style is as close to real-life as you can get without filming someone. As a result, why not just film it? Choosing realism adds more art to the animation. The only disadvantage is that it can drain a budget if people get caught up in tinkering with details. Details such as desk items, fashion, hairstyles, cellphone models, and so on.

5. Secondary Action, Ease in, and Ease Out

Riding a bike does not immediately result in a speed of 80 km/h. It takes some time to pick up speed and reach that figure. This is known as Ease Out in animation.

Similarly, when you apply the brakes, the bike does not come to a complete stop. It slows for a few seconds before coming to a complete stop. This is known as Ease In in animation.

Controlling the speed of the objects results in an animation that is more likely to be believed by the audience.

This method of easing in and out makes the animation more realistic and believable. Also, when working with the motion of a 2D animation, instead of a high-resolution model, you can use a simple proxy model to adjust the settings to make the process easier.

Secondary actions, on the other hand, add dimension to character animation and support the main action. It improves the character’s personality and gives insight into what it is thinking.

Which Type of Catoon Animation Style Is Right for You?

Budget is one of the most important considerations when selecting the right style of explainer video for your company. There are, however, other factors to consider.

1. What is the central message you wish to convey? How can you best communicate your message — through an abundance of visuals or through fewer, more powerful visuals? If you’re looking to emphasise a few key points, a more straightforward style may be preferable. Because each type of animation has distinct advantages and disadvantages, you may need to experiment with a few different styles before settling on the one that works best for your business. Solicit customer feedback, conduct A/B testing, and continuously monitor your results until you discover the animation style that produces the best results. Do you require additional guidance regarding explainer videos?
2. How complicated is your subject? If you’re attempting to explain a straightforward concept, a whiteboard video is an excellent choice. If your product is more complicated or unique, a motion graphic or cartoon with more detail may be a better choice. Keep in mind that you want to keep your videos brief, so choosing a style that allows you to get to the point quickly and succinctly is critical.
3. Which industry standards apply? Which style of animated video is most popular among your competitors? You may be tempted to choose an unusual style in order to stand out, but this could backfire. Creating a whimsical stop motion video in an environment where everyone else is using whiteboards or screencasts may send the wrong message. Choose an animation style that adheres to industry standards while still allowing you to tell your storey uniquely.

The Final Say

It’s easy to admire animation, but it’s much more difficult to become a skilled animator.

It is possible that you will need to spend countless hours, days, or even months developing ideas and creating characters for the animation videos.

Throughout the process, you must be motivated and willing to put in the necessary effort.

As a result, follow the above-mentioned tips, which will not only help you to strengthen but will also bring the characters in the animation videos to life. The tips in this article will assist you in getting started with character animation right away.