5 Simple Yet Highly Effective Tips to Make Your Animated Videos Look Professional
Is it just us, or the internet seems like a minefield these days?
Every social media platform and website page is filled with animated videos struggling to get your attention. We say struggling because, well – and pardon our French – they’re doing a terrible job at holding your interest.
Uneven color contrasts, poor voice-over quality, and good-for-nothing scripts – where do we even begin?
We understand this may come as a bit harsh, but we’re not here to talk about rainbows and unicorns. Instead, we’re going to rip off the band-aid right away and tell you an uncomfortable truth: you need to work on your animated video.
At a time when 99% of the users say that they enjoy watching video content, making a mediocre animated video is not a mistake you can afford to commit.
‘Woah! Slow down a bit. What’s with all the negativity?’
Okay, fair enough. We got carried away.
Nevertheless, getting back to the topic, we’re writing this blog to solve your biggest problem: making your animated videos look professional, incredible, and of course, super engaging.
There are different kinds of animated video styles. All of them have their unique applications, so you need to make an informed decision. For instance, some are suitable when there’s room for creativity in the script, while others are ideal for setting a serious and motivational tone.
To give you an idea, here are a few common examples of animated video styles:
Pro Tip: If you’re starting from scratch, don’t be afraid to experiment with different video styles until you find one that speaks you. And once you do, stick with it.
As the celebrated filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock – Master of Suspense – said, ‘To make a good film, you need three things: the script, the script, and the script.’
Well, he was talking about films in general and not animated videos, but you get the point.
Of course, every aspect of creating an animated video is important, but the script is the glue that binds the visuals with the voiceover. So, your script should answer the following questions:
Ah, YouTube ads. The majority of viewers dislike (read: despise) them. But there are some you can’t bring yourself to skip. Have you ever noticed why?
That’s because they’re short enough not to take too much of your time yet catchy enough to hold your attention. So, a good idea would be to keep your animated video between 30-60 seconds.
With that said, sometimes, it might not be a feasible option. For instance, you could be making an explainer video for one of your upcoming technological products, and it may exceed the duration mentioned above.
In such cases, you should focus more on getting your message across loud and clear.
Think of the storyboard as the visual description of your script. You can visualize what the final product will look like instead of having to wait until the end. If it isn’t exactly how you imagined it would turn out, you can start again.
It’s important to mention here that your storyboard is just a plan. Therefore, there’s no need to go into details to make it look incredibly realistic. Instead, it should just highlight the important parts, poses, scenes, or narrations.
Another appealing advantage of creating a storyboard is that it provides a clear vision to your designers, animators, and voice-over artists. Once every involved party has the right idea, the process will move smoothly.
Pay Attention to The Background Music
One of the trickiest parts of creating an animated video is producing the appropriate background music.
‘How?’
A perfectly composed sound design elevates the experience of your viewers while mostly going unnoticed – like Batman watching over Gotham from the shadows.
However, if there’s something wrong with the music, viewers won’t only notice it but declare your animated video unprofessional on the spot. And you can’t exactly blame them for that. Try to understand the situation from your customers’ perspective.
Would you watch an animated video whose background music is so loud that you can’t exactly focus? Or so slow that you can barely hear the narrator? No.
So, don’t treat sound design as an accessory that you may or may not incorporate into your animated video. Instead, consider it an integral part of your project.
It’s Time to Make a Choice
Animated videos are truly one of the most brilliant creations of the modern world. And to see so many people sleeping on it is, simply put, ridiculous. When a well-crafted script, audio, and video go together, there’s nothing your brand cannot achieve.
This is something we significantly understand at AnimationProLabs. We have the required resources and relevant knowledge to transform your idea into the most gorgeous animated video you’ll ever see.
