Huge changes are happening to our working world meaning that connecting and communicating effectively is more important than ever.
Right now, the use of animation is on the rise for:
- Summarising complex data and messages
- Replacing or enhancing presentations
- Making mundane messages more interesting
- Explaining business messages, processes & initiatives
Keep scrolling for how animations can achieve the above and examples from companies such as; Mind, Co-op Insurance, M&S, Missing People, Southern Housing Group and RTS Waste Management plus leading broadcasters have used animation for impactful communications.
The video format is an excellent way to engage your company, teams and audiences with important messages that they need to hear. In addition data visualisation and report summaries helps them understand and plan for the future they want to see. Animation production services can work to a rapid turnaround. Videos can be started at speed and worked on remotely, removing issues around COVID restrictions that could affect some shoots. And right now, the benefits of online video content in 2020 are undeniable. 95% of marketers surveyed in Wyzowl’s 2020 Marketing Survey reported that using video increased the understanding of their product and service, while 88% of them reported a positive return on investment as a result of their videos.
Animations are immensely effective at communicating, clarifying and breaking down information for a wide variety of purposes. Scroll down for examples of excellent animations with clear and effective messages below.
“Explainer” Animations – perfect for company websites, L&D and social media
“Explainer” animations are for conveying what your product/company is about, any plans or changes taking place and processes for onboarding, learning and development and training. Check out Mind’s explainer animation. It was created to support the launch of their Thriving at Work report which was commissioned by the Prime Minister. Mind’s goal was to increase the report’s reach of key messages and encourage employers to get in touch with Mind and to focus on mental health and wellbeing and take steps to implement best practice.
The video was shared on Mind’s website, social media accounts proposals and presentations and LinkedIn where it received over 12.5k views.
It sensitively and clearly lays out the steps and opportunities to improve mental health in the workplace, while everything on-screen from text to scenes and characters is made with Mind’s familiar branding throughout.
Explainer animations are also excellent for telling the world exactly what your service or product is about. In fact, Wyzwowl reported that 36% of people would like to see more explainer video content for informing themselves on services and products. RTS Waste Management honed the “Explainer” animation format for marketing by captivating web users on their homepage to illustrate and sell their innovative waste services, brand ethos and scrupulous standards.
One of the benefits of an animation explainer is that you can give shape and movement to any concept, process or world that you want to present to the viewer. Like the one above, which seamlessly traverses landscapes, people and processes to show web visitors exactly what the company does and why it’s special.Wyzowl reports that 83% of companies with explainer videos on their homepage say that the media contributed to conversions, while 36% of people would like to see more explainer video content for informing themselves on services and products.
Animations to straddle external and internal comms
Southern Housing Group has an excellent animation which was made for two audiences – customers and colleagues – to address their core values and visions for the future, but also provide their audience with transparency and a benchmark to measure their progress throughout the year.
The video colourfully and creatively lays out 5 key priorities of the Corporate Plan: Home, Customers, Communities, People, and Resources in a friendly and informative tone of voice that brings their story to life and resonates with viewers. Their corporate plan has been condensed into one 3-minute video with intricate designs and compelling transitions, guaranteed to engaged audiences across all platforms.
The Co-op Insurance used a hugely successful personalised explainer animation video to build a rapport with 100,000 customers and engage them with key information and data about their insurance policy in an enjoyable short video sent via email. Parts of the video throughout are personalised for the customer on the receiving end for a greater connection with clients. For example, it starts by addressing the customer by their first name through voiceover and on-screen text. The customised statistics are creatively revealed throughout and were specific to the individual receiver. The animation has a cheerful, colourful and no-fuss aesthetic to forge trust and an amiable bond between the customer and brand. This was made in partnership with a personalised animation service called Idomoo which reports x2 greater engagement with personalised animated content.
Animation for Learning and Development
Another great example is Marks & Spencer’s learning and development explainer animation video. Animation is well-known for enhancing learning due to its ability to directly lay out information through specially created scenes, characters, symbols, movement transitions and text to convey meaning. In this case, Marks & Spencer wanted an informative and enthusiastic piece to kickstart their Food Buying Academy launch, explain what it’s all about and inspire their employees taking part.
As the video featured in opening the launch, they wanted a strong sense of their own design, so their branding style is an intrinsic part of the animation. So each illustration was created with the indelible Marks & Spencer style, colour and delicate thin lines.
“Explainer Animations” are perfect ensuring your viewer comes away from the video knowing more. Use them to convey a story, break down a dynamic process or give a holistic and clear understanding of your company or product to viewers.
Animation for data and information
65% of people are visual learners, according to the noteworthy Mind Tools study in 1998. Animation is a great way to present your findings and engage your viewers with on-screen comparisons, illustrations and graphics, transitions, text, voice and sound. A 3-minute animation video can be harnessed to round up your data or emphasize your message.
“Vox Pops were an integral part of our communication messaging. They were able to help us transform a complicated multi-country dataset into a coherent, beautifully animated final product that conveyed the crucial key messages of the data across our entire business internationally. We have never had so much positive feedback from our stakeholders!”
Testimonial from a leading broadcaster
Animations are being used a lot for detailing complex reports and key messages. A leading broadcaster who we work with to generate data for presenting to multiple markets used out “Automated Animation” service. This is specially designed for using a templated animation to generate different outcomes for different audiences depending on the data. Check out the video which fantastic explainer of how these clever animations work!
Automated animations are perfect for reporting on social media stats on a regular basis or relaying routinely updated information from synced spreadsheets on numbers you habitually track. They present the perfect way to reach remote employees to share this information.
Kinetic Typography
“Kinetic typography” is perfect for making sure your words take centre-stage and are remembered. Missing People used a successful “Kinetic Typography” animation video to promote their services to young people who may need to use the Runaway Helpline. The animation emphasizes stories of runaway people by displaying their dialogue on-screen. The video sensitively and creatively tells the stories of five at-risk individuals through illustrations, sweeping transitions, animated text and voiceover. The words and voices of the characters in the video linger on-screen and transition with emotion to encapsulate the various scenarios and feelings that someone may be in who needs to seek help.
If you’d like to talk through animation needs further – get in touch!
