Video projects have been limited to things you can see, shoot or reenact — until now
The beauty of videos is that they provide a million different ways to tell a story. One we are particularly fond of is using motion graphics to paint a picture for viewers that might not be possible with simple B-roll or on-camera interviews. In a nutshell, motion graphics are animated illustrations that tell a story. Motion graphics can provide a fresh, creative way to visualize information. Here’s how to get on board with the trend.
Why Motion Graphics?
Visualizing information helps strengthen your audience’s understanding of your message (in fact, 65% of people are visual learners). Sure, pie charts and bar graphs aren’t anything new—we’ve all snoozed through a PowerPoint presentation or squinted at a low-res infographic shared on Facebook. What sets motion graphics apart is their dynamic nature and their compatibility with multimedia projects. Rather than be restricted to static facts and stationary symbols, motion graphics allow you to combine kinetic text, voiceovers, moving images, and animated graphs to add impact and deepen viewers’ understanding of the information you’re sharing.
Are Motion Graphics Right for You?
Before you run off to start a storyboard, it’s important to realize that motion graphics aren’t necessarily a match for every application. But they are particularly good for expressing abstract or complex ideas that might otherwise be difficult to capture on film. City Year’s “Potential” video is a great example of how motion graphics can be used in an impactful and emotional way. Their nonprofit’s concept and the statistics driving their work could be difficult to convey in more traditional video mediums. But with motion graphics, they successfully create a moving and inspiring snapshot of what they do and why.
Cost-effective, shareable, and full of infinite possibilities, motion graphics have become a popular choice for nonprofits looking to differentiate their message. And there are countless other opportunities where they can work their magic to make a video pop. Motion graphics can be easily adapted to enhance educational or explainer videos, new product reveals, kinetic logos, and more. We mean it when we say the possibilities are endless.
How Do I Start Using Motion Graphics?
As with a standard video medium, you should always start with your audience. Think about who you are trying to reach and how you want to make them feel. When the video is over, what do you want them to remember? Using these questions as a starting point will help shape a strong overall concept for your video and will lay the groundwork for the rest of the project. Then you can move on to the fun and creative task of brainstorming and storyboarding your ideas, combining your script and visuals, and seeing the whole thing come together.
An experienced video production and motion graphics company can turn your ideas into polished animations so you can start sharing your story with the world. If you want to break into the wide, wonky world of motion graphics, Bottle Rocket Media can help you get started!