Have you ever scrolled through social media and noticed that all your favorite big brands promote themselves through animated video content? Ever wonder why that’s the case? 

Well, videos have defined the marketing landscape and firmly cemented their status as one of the most impactful marketing tools. Animation is a fantastic way to captivate your audience and deliver information. No wonder social media is flooded with animation videos as professionals are aiming to grow their business by trying to capture the attention of customers and make their websites more appealing.

According to Forbes, websites that incorporate videos get 41% more traffic than the ones that don’t. Sounds promising right? Whether it’s creating motion graphics, 2D animation, or 3D animation, we have put together a comprehensive animation process below that provides all the necessary guidelines that will take your animation video to the next level.

1. Research

Before jumping right into the creative process, take a moment to define the purpose of your video. The purpose of every impactful and well-made video is to bring a vision to life that will fulfill your needs. It is imperative to collect as much information about your target audience before starting the video animation creation process. Ask yourself the following:

  • What message do you want to convey to your audience?
  • What action do you want your audience to take after they engage with your video?

When you ask the right questions, you will be enlightened about expectations, the kind of video content to generate maximum traffic, and you will understand what your competitors are offering. Tailoring your video to your audience will lead to better engagement. A video production company will communicate with you, provide a plan, and get your approval before starting the animation process.

2. Write the best script possible

A good script acts as a blueprint for your animation video, to ensure you incorporate all the elements essential to delivering the right message to your target audience. You need a script that not only evokes strong emotions but also adds to the visual experience you aim to create.

Before the script is completed, work with your video production company team  to make sure you have clarity on the following questions:

  • What is the ultimate purpose of your animation video?
  • Will it succeed to fulfill its purpose?
  • Who is your animation video aimed at?
  • Is the message true to the brand?

Additionally, keep the language simple. Ask yourself if your audience can connect with your story. Remember, a well written script should spark curiosity and it should breathe life into your characters.

3. Create a storyboard for your animation video

Once the script is complete, your next task is to create a storyboard. In simple terms, a storyboard is a visual script of the video which provides a scene-by-scene depiction of how the story will play out. 

Storyboards can be hand-drawn or constructed with the help of software like Storyboarder. The storyboard is crucial to the creation of the animated video as it guides the designer, voiceover artists, and animator to design the background, characters, and create smooth transitioning within the animation. 
It also allows you to envision the final video before you start the creation process. This is why it’s best to keep the storyboard simple and easy to follow. As you work on the storyboard ask yourself if each frame conveys the intended message.

4. Pick the right animation style

At this stage of the process, the designer’s work follows the guidelines of the client, further visualizing the story and adding the element of style to the video. This stage facilitates in helping you to envision the final video better. 

There are plenty of options to choose from. For example, you can pick from various animation styles like 2D, 3D, stop animation, clay animation etc. Whatever style you decide on, make sure to pick the style that resonates with your audience and captures your creative vision. 

It is comparatively easier and cheaper to work on alterations at this stage than during the animation stage. Think of it as a colored storyboard featuring customized, colored images, along with detailed backgrounds, well- defined character designs, illustrations, and text that will appear in the final video.

5. Tell your story

Now that you’ve written your script, created your storyboard, and picked the animation style, this is the last stage in creating the animation video process.

That can be done through voice-over or including lines of text inside the video. Whatever medium you choose, it must enhance the quality of the animated video and not take away from its credibility. If you opt for voice-overs, you can record it yourself or hire professionals to find the correct talent to deliver your messaging perfectly. 

6. Animate your video

In the animation stage, your 2D animation finally starts taking shape after you add movement to your story, thus bringing it to life. Video animation is a time-consuming process, and it only makes sense to allocate a good chunk of time to the animator for them to get into the necessary creative zone.

Animators are integral parts of the animation process because they bring characters, objects, and backgrounds to life from mere sketches. They also synchronize voiceover with the video completing the animation process. If you can find a video production company that specializes in all steps of the animation process, it will definitely alleviate your worry and time.

7. Select the right background music

The right background music will strike an emotional chord with the audience, serving as a perfect garnish on top of a delicious cake. The right music score blends everything harmoniously, taking the story to another level. However, selecting the right music track can be tricky, with people not just selecting the wrong track, but also unknowingly using copyrighted work.

Here are a few bits of advice that will help you navigate the unchartered territories of selecting the ideal background score better.

  1. Select background music suitable for your buyer’s demographic.
  2. Do not use other people’s copyrighted music.
  3. Experiment with the music and choose the one that serves the video best.
  4. Select the music that evokes the right emotional quotient.

Creating animated videos can be a long process, but finding the perfect video production company that knows animation, and can create your ideal animated video is more than worth it to hire them!

We would absolutely love to tell your story. Your brand story. Your product story. The story that matters to your clients and consumers! Connect with us to create your branded motion graphic services video.