An explainer video is an incredible tool that can help your marketing campaigns in many ways, from greater online presence to branding and social buzz. But have you ever wondered how an animated explainer video is made? How many professionals do you need? Or how much time does it take to make one? Well, wonder no more! Today you'll learn the whole explainer video production process step by step.
As a first example, watch this cute animated video example:
The typical explainer video production process can be divided into 7 stages, which we're going to disclose now.
1. Script
Writing a marketing video script is literally creating the message you want to deliver to your audience. It needs to be a simple, short and clear story so that it keeps the audience's full attention. Learn all about marketing video scriptwriting inside Yum Yum Videos' free eBook: "How to Write an Explainer Video Script".
2. Storyboard
If the script tells the message then the storyboard describes the actions (what literally happens in the video) and the entire visual aspects of the video, it's like a graphic novel of your video. The storyboard will also indicate camera movements, shots, transitions, and so on. It's the essential stage to know what the video will look like once it's done:
This is a fine storyboard sample:
And this is how the resulting video looks like:
3. Voice-Over
An animated marketing video usually needs a voice to narrate the script over the video. It's very important to hire a professional voice-actor that's also a native speaker in order to get a professional video.
The voice-over will guide the story on your video, so if it isn't recorded by a true professional (or also if the voice talent has a weird accent), people won't feel comfortable or emotionally close to that voice, and that mistake could ruin your entire video.
4. Style Frames
These are high-resolution frames (based on the storyboard) that represent part of the video. It's like having your video finished and taking pictures from it. These still images help to visualize the true quality of the final video way before it's done.
See a clear example below:
And here, watch the final animated video:
5. Designs
Once all of the previous stages are checked, professional illustrators digitally draw all the graphic elements that will be used in the video. These include characters, typographies and backgrounds, all depending on the video style choice. Check these rocking character designs:
6. Animation
Using all the graphic elements, storyboard frames and voice-over recordings, professional animators manage to set the entire video in motion: now each character and graphic element comes in motion. Now watch how those colorful rock characters come alive:
Due to its complexity, this is usually one of the stages that take more time to be completed.
7. Sound FX
The music editing and sound FX mixing, along with the final audio adjustments, makes up the final stage of a pro video production process. Sometimes sounds and music are as important as the video itself. Listen to how the jingle plays a central role in this animated TV commercial, making it way more engaging:
And violà! Once it's all done, you can export your video in every file format you need and then embed it everywhere!
You'll never wonder how explainer videos are made any more; now you need to go and make one! Now, if you want more advice before getting into it, visit Yum Yum Videos' Explainer Video Academy to get free eBooks, infographics and educational videos that will lead you to greater video marketing knowledge for your business.