2D animation has been a mainstay of the video production community since the early days of Chiron text on the screen.  Since then, artists and technologists have pushed the medium to the limit with complex ideas and growing applications such as Adobe After Effects.  Simple text over video has grown into entire videos, all animated, for the purposes of entertainment and education – including commercials, shorts, feature films, and television shows.

And it should come as no surprise that the creative community continues to push the envelope, which ultimately inspired the computer-generated 3D animation trend that began to take hold in the 1980s and continues to flourish as computers become faster and cheaper.

To the extent that the 3D space world is limitless and ever-evolving, working in 3D is extremely technical and time-consuming, making it more expensive.  That said, the final results are always worth it when executed correctly. 

The Process of 3D Animation

There are many steps included in making a 3D animation video. Below is an overview of the basic 5-step process creators usually follow when working in this medium:

Step 1: Modeling:

Modeling is the stage where all the necessary objects and characters are made for the story. These could be buildings or trees, or text or something abstract.  Whatever you need to tell your story can be created at this stage of the process.  There are two ways to do this: by using a modeling tool and creating an object from scratch or scanning real objects and adjusting them as needed. 3D modeling is like sculpting, but instead of using clay, animators use polygons, geometric shapes, and computer-generated illustrations to create an object.  The polygons are rectangular small shapes that are aligned in different arrangements to make a digital framework of a model. Using polygons and modeling tools gives creators more control over their objects, whereas simply scanning real-world objects saves time. 

Step 2: Add Textures

This step is often time-intensive, and attention to detail is key here. If the framework of the object is created in the modeling phase of the process, the texturing phase is where the “skin” is added. In this process step, animators add personality to objects by adding textures. Obvious examples are fur or feathers, but even smooth surfaces such as countertops or 3D text require a texture to feel real to the viewer.   Most designers spend considerable time adding texture to a model to make it look as realistic as possible. This step adds more depth to the design. This brings a sense of realism to the models and makes them a close representation of the real thing. 

Step 3: Rigging

Rigging is the process of adding a skeleton or joints to these objects. This process can get technical and often requires a bit of experimentation early on, but it is essential to allow movement and range of the modeled objects.  Imagine adding bones and joints to a human being.  This is what rigging is.  Only all objects require some kind of rigging to move throughout the animation.  A walking person is the most obvious example here, but anything that moves will require some rigging.

Step 4: Set the Animation Environment

An animation environment is where your model will be able to come to life.  The environment is the world of the video, in which the model resides.  Here, the models come to life based on where they are placed in the environment.   Besides physical characteristics, such as texture and objects, environments also offer the animator an opportunity to accurately light an object, add natural elements such as wind or water, and ground the animation in a specific mood.

Step 5: Keyframing

After your models are complete within your environments, you will go through the process of animating them.  This is often done with the use of keyframes.  Consider keyframes a point in time that determines the behavior of a model.  Is it a flag waving in the wind or a ball that bounces from one building to another? Position, size, rotation, and environmental reaction are all adjustable at every video stage. Once everything is set the computer needs to store the information for each video moment.  The keyframe stores all this data.

Step 6: Rendering

This is the final stage of the 3D animation process. Rendering an animation is like baking a cake.  Before it goes into the oven, you have a bunch of ingredients loosely connected by the pan they are in.  After the baking is complete you have a fully formed object that lives on its own (until you eat it).  You take it out, put the icing on it (audio design in many cases) and bring it over to your neighbor’s house for a potluck dinner.  Without rendering, you have no cake.  The cake, in this case, is synonymous with a finished video that can be played on any computer without glitches or hiccups.

We hope all of the above steps give you a greater understanding of how 3D animation works and what you can expect from a professional 3d animation video team that you may partner with. The reality is the expense is most definitely worth it, especially when done right. 

We’d love to help you develop the perfect 3D animation project—and the story that shapes it. To learn more about Bottle Rocket Media’s motion graphics services and our all-encompassing video production services, connect with us to start your video project.

Everything makes a comeback eventually. From music, fashion, television content, and even on rare occasions the mullet. Yes, even the mullet. So it’s not surprising that a lot of the up-and-coming animation and motion graphic trends we are seeing today are reminiscent of the past, keeping many designs nostalgic and familiar. That being said, the influence of social media, new emergent animation, and motion graphics design technology have pushed boundaries. And will continue to do so in 2022. 

So, what animation and motion graphics trends are we seeing in 2022? Read on. 

1. Working with 2D and 3D

You may not be aware, but 2D overlays and frames, along with 3D objects or vice versa, can make for compelling storytelling. The new era of storytelling may just be 2D and 3D elements coming together. Popularized since 2019, over the years, it’s gotten easier to create animations combining these two elements. With technologies like blender, where open-source 2D/3D is made more accessible, seamless integration is made easier allowing this new hybrid motion design trend to continue to grow. 

Here is an example of using 2D and 3D animation styles to create outstanding visuals.

2. Animated Logos

Thanks to bite-sized social media trends, we expect messages to be communicated quickly.  This is an underlying culture shift. Couple this shift with faster and easier internet accessibility along with booming online business scenes, and there is no surprise businesses are compelled to add further depth to something that used to be so simple,  logos. But here we are. Quick yet effective animated logos have been successful in delivering an intended branded message in seconds. Should your logo be animated?

3. 3D still dominate

There is no reason why 3D will not continue to dominate as a popular animation trend in 2022. If anything, we may see motion graphic artists push the use of 3D elements in all industries and all types of content. We may even be blessed with more hybrid content similar to the 2D/3D combo. With 3D elements, designers create realistic motion graphics and animations that other forms of design trends have yet to be able to showcase. So, no doubt about it,  you can anticipate 3D to be the formative base for many design trends in 2022. 

4. Grain

Grain, as the name implies, adds a grainy texture to vector imagery. You might think this ruins the original illustrations, but instead, adding grain breathes authenticity into the animation. A little grain makes for an almost homey feel, which many viewers find welcoming. It is also an easy way to add extra depth to what would perhaps be viewed as a more plain design. 

5. The Retro Nostalgia

As mentioned earlier, everything seems to make a comeback at some point. When it comes to design, retro styles and feel are making a swift return into the world of creativity. Gradients, lens flares, and shadows are what designers are implementing into storytelling, but only when appropriate. These elements give animations a nostalgic touch, a remembrance of the simpler times. Pretty sure we can all appreciate simplicity these days. Embedded in popularized cultures, a set of colors and typefaces can all work as reminders of a certain era, making these approaches ideal for designers aiming to create a certain vibe, triggering specific emotions. 

6. Limited and Uniform Color Palette

Non-fussy, hassle-free, but equally impactful. This one is for the long haul, for the committed ones. This animation style is most popular for companies keen on setting a clear branding impact. The restricted color palette helps in viewer retention and creates uniformity throughout the animation. The visual appeal of using a rich palette with semitones and primary colors doesn’t go unnoticed. Here is to say more with less!

7. Lines

Clean and modern. The lines in design give shape and direction and provide a unique style to animations. It is perceived to be simple yet very effective. Often found in explainer videos, lines do an exceptional job of delivering insights without being too overbearing. The hand-drawn feel of lines makes for soothing illustrations and motion graphics. This is when the ability of storytelling with pure simplicity can and should be appreciated.

8. Loops

As social media grows, the appreciation for a satisfying animated loop has grown as well. And this love for a good loop also seems to have extended to the world of motion graphics. This new year, a loop of animation to convey a message is all the rage. Loops are found in both long and short-format motion graphic videos and as always, using different design elements opens space for different feels, messaging, and storytelling components to be effectively conveyed. 

Be it trippy 

Or 

Relaxing 

9. Morphing

An effect in motion graphics that changes one image or object quickly into another with a seamless transition is called, you guessed it, morphing.  Design flows well together and gives continuity to the motions as morphing occurs. This design effect has made a comeback since the 2000s when morphing was used for bold branding. It was mostly popularized by entertainment agencies like VH1, with their iconic logo morphing over the years. 

However, in 2022 this effect has seen some refinement, going beyond the loud and bold transition styles of the 2000s to more subtle forms of morphing that can be used for corporate slides and more professional tones needing a touch of memorable creativity. 

What was once old is new again in 2022.  It seems likely that this year will provide a mix of the old with the new. Take heed as you notice recognizable typefaces, colors, and integrative motion graphics and animations in this bold year of 2022. While new forms of design elements take these nostalgic styles to another level, we can still be sure that variations of design will always be based on the creative mind working its magic.  Coupled with an understanding of the purpose of any given design, the results will be next level. Regardless of whether we are meant to be sent into the future or back in time, you can be sure that the motion designers of 2022 will be taking us on a never-ending journey.

Motion graphics and animation are here to stay and are one of the best ways to tell a complex story in a meaningful way. Bottle Rocket Media specializes in motion graphics services and video production services. Connect with our team to create a brand story that is entirely your own and makes an impact.

For years, motion design and animated videos have been a fun way to inform and entertain customers and employees alike. Producing a custom animation that delivers your message can sometimes cost more than you want to spend. If you are on the fence about whether or not you should use motion graphics to tell your story, keep reading.  Here are the five main benefits of creating motion graphics videos.

1. Simplify Complex Information

If you work in a highly technical industry or simply seek to explain complicated information, communicating with your audience can have its challenges.

Motion graphic videos are an effective way for content marketers to communicate this complex information and data-rich content in an easy-to-digest format.

Once your audience has a clear understanding of your information and process, they can make the connection between what your brand does and how it can fulfill their needs. This is essential to moving your audience through the sales funnel.

Motion graphics can make learning new information exciting. The dynamic nature of the content draws your audience in and keeps them focused—which helps with retention of the information.

Bottle Rocket Media | Litera “Transact”

2. Increase Brand Awareness

We all know that brand awareness is key to driving conversions. In a market that is highly saturated with content – standing out from the crowd can be challenging. After all, if someone has never heard of your brand, how can they be expected to convert?

Put simply: motion graphics are memorable—and that drives brand awareness.

While live action video is a great way to engage your audience, there can be limitations to how much you can incorporate your brand messaging without it feeling like overkill, or too salesy.

Motion graphics, on the other hand, can be easily altered to fit the needs of your different audiences—all while keeping your branding and core messaging consistent.

Bottle Rocket Media | Make Every Vote Matter

3. Communicate in Multiple Languages

The internet has given consumers access to brands from all over the world. Being able to communicate with people in their native tongue can make the selling process flow much smoother. It not only reduces confusion but it also shows your audience they are valued.

Unfortunately, it’s not always practical to create multilingual versions of your live action videos. That’s where motion graphics come in handy—and the possibilities are endless.

Motion graphics allow you to easily produce video content in multiple languages simply by changing the text and voice recording to represent your target region. For a fraction of the cost of the initial video you can have region specific videos running all over the world.  Thanks to motion design and animation, at Bottle Rocket Media we have created videos that span six of the seven continents without all the travel.

Bottle Rocket Media | Walgreens “What is Kaisen” Spanish Version

4. Communicate Without Audio

These days we find ourselves putting subtitles on just about every video designed to hit the social media airwaves. Often when viewers are scrolling through timelines they do not want to be bothered with audio.

Creating motion graphics using text is a way to communicate via video without having to subtitle your images after the fact.

By designing the video to use text from the start you will be able to elevate the design and ultimately create a more compelling video.

Bottle Rocket Media | Mothership “Election Day”

5. Unlimited Creativity

Paramount to all of the above, motion graphic videos allow you to truly tap into your creativity. You can create any scenario you wish with unlimited parameters. And, in a world where budget plays a role in the creation of any video, motion graphic videos tend to be more forgiving for a lower budget.

In essence: With motion graphics you get what you pay for. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to create a video that communicates your message.

Whether you’re telling a story, sharing interesting data, or explaining complex subject matter, motion graphics provide endless possibilities in representing your brand.

Bottle Rocket Media | Drivin Company Video

So stop delaying and create the motion graphics or animated video that will clearly communicate your story around the world!

At Bottle Rocket Media we’ll help you create the right video for your brand. Connect with us to start your motion graphics services video or live action video project.