The Do’s and Don’ts of Animation
To carve a unique mark in the industry, you no longer have to create just an animated video; you must create a thoughtfully-written and beautifully-designed animated video that delivers your message effectively.
But how exactly do you make that happen?
Well, there’s no hard and fast rule that guarantees successful results. That said, following a few tips can help you make an excellent animated video.
Or, if we’re being more precise, what you can and can’t do while creating one.
So, without further ado, let’s dig in:
Marketers leave no stone unturned in ensuring their target audience likes what they offer. That’s why brands incorporate a variety of exciting components that make their animated videos fun, catchy, and upbeat.
Looking at those videos, your first thought will be to produce something similar. While your heart is in the right place, jumping head-on isn’t the right plan.
Instead, developing a strategy first will be a better move.
Think about why you’re creating the video, followed by a structured breakdown of every process from start to finish.
We know this sounds, like, super been there, done that, but sometimes, sticking to tried and tested techniques provides a clear view of the bigger picture.
In one of our previous blogs, Different Animation Styles That Are Not 2D or 3D, we discussed in-depth the various styles of animation. And it’s important to familiarize yourself with them because each is suitable for different purposes.
Although it’s not etched in stone, explainer videos are used to simplify challenging concepts, while character animation is suitable for story-driven videos.
The cost to make these videos and the time it takes also differ. So, consider every factor before arriving at a decision.
The majority of animators prefer starting with a script before moving to other phases of animation, and that’s what you should do, too.
If your video has colorful graphics and excellent music, but viewers can’t tell what’s going on because of the incoherent script, it’ll all be in vain.
So, how do you write a script that the viewers will find relatable?
Well, just how you write an essay.
Meaning your script should have a:
The key to creating successful animated videos is observing real life. And the greater your eye for details, the better you’ll be able to understand the nitty-gritty of how humans interact with their surroundings.
This is not just applicable to character movements; how they express emotions is also worth noticing.
Let’s understand this with the help of an example: you’re making an animated video to raise awareness about cancer. But while delivering the dialogue, it seems like the primary character is smiling.
It’ll come off as highly insensitive and tone-deaf.
It may not have been intentional, but your lack of knowledge regarding how humans emote put you in hot waters. An effective way to prevent that is to keep a keen eye on your surroundings so you can apply what you learn in animated videos.
Animated videos should last between 60-90 seconds.
This is the commonly accepted rule in the marketing world – and there’s a reason behind this.
In today’s digital age, consumers are bombarded with advertisements. And if the videos happen to be long and boring, viewers click the ‘Skip Ad’ button in a flash.
That’s an action you don’t want your target audience to perform.
Therefore, your animated video should be no longer than 90 seconds. While saying this, we understand that sticking to this threshold won’t always be possible.
In cases where you have to explain things in detail, feel free to go above 90 seconds, but keep the video engaging.
It’s easy to get carried away while creating an animated video. After all, you want to get things right the first time. But that’ll never happen – and you shouldn’t feel bad about it, especially if you’re a beginner.
We know where the idea of creating perfect animated videos stems from. You feel inspired after watching those excellent advertisements. They’re great stuff for inspiration, but we’re sure the companies that made them had to jump many hurdles to reach the position.
For now, the only thing that should concern you is whether you’re delivering your core message properly. As for perfection, you can switch things up and experiment with different animation styles.
If you learn just one thing from this blog, let it be this: do not make your animated video boring. This may seem a no-brainer, but the number of dull videos you see on the internet is flabbergasting.
And boring doesn’t necessarily mean showing the same thing repeatedly.
If you steer off track and include information in your video that your target audience isn’t looking for, it’ll come off as monotonous. That’s why sticking to the central idea of your video is essential.
And if that very much idea happens to be about a boring topic, focus on other aspects of the video, like vibrant colors, quirky background music, or unique animation style.
The key to creating a successful animated video is experimenting with different styles. It also helps animators become versatile by expanding their skillset.
Besides, your audience is guaranteed to become bored after watching the same animation style again and again. But remember to keep the context in mind and only choose the style that compliments the video’s overall message.
Otherwise, it’ll stick out like a sore thumb.
At AnimationProLabs, we pay attention to these do’s and don’ts when creating an animated video. Following this approach helps us produce excellent results, regardless of the video’s duration and the industry it’s intended for.
