Illuminate Your Audience with an Animated Explainer 🚀
I was scrabbling around for inspiration for a LinkedIn post the other day (’cos the social media overlords say its important to stay relevant!) when a comment a client once made popped in to my head
“You’re like a lighthouse - you illuminate the important stuff and guide us along the right path”.
Now being a visual storyteller I do love a metaphor, and, being the daughter of a merchant seaman, even more so if it’s a nautical one,
And it’s true. In all aspects of Visual Storytelling, it’s the visuals and the narrative that illuminate the way to understanding .. and never more so than when we are talking about explainer animations.
Explainer animations are short, engaging videos that simplify complex messages and make them easy to understand. They use a combination of visuals, text, and voiceovers to break down complicated topics into digestible pieces.
And now that I’ve got that lighthouse analogy stuck in my brain, I’m going to milk it..
Explainer videos will help you navigate through the foggy waters of information overload, and shine light on unknown topics... (cheesy I know!)
Over the years I have created explainer animations on everything from financial literacy for rural populations in emerging economies to explaining treatment options for someone suffering from chronic renal failure. The possibilities are endless!
This showreel gives you a glimpse of some of the animations I have created over the years.
But why are explainer animations so effective?
Captivating Visuals 🎨
Our brains are wired to process visual information more efficiently than text alone. By using compelling visuals, explainer animations keep viewers engaged from start to finish.
Visual storytelling makes learning fun and memorable.
Simplifying Complex Ideas 🧩
We've all encountered situations where we struggled to grasp complicated concepts. Whether it's a new business strategy, a technical process, or an abstract theory, understanding can be daunting.
By distilling intricate ideas into bite-sized chunks, animations make learning accessible to everyone.
This was key when working with rural populations in sub saharan Africa. I could strip away unnecessary financial jargon and focus on the core message, making it easier for semi literate viewers to comprehend the basics of day to day finances and budgeting.
Enhancing Memory Retention đź§
Research shows that people remember up to 80% of what they see compared to only 20% of what they read. By presenting information visually along with a compelling narrative, explainer animations create multiple pathways for our brains to encode memories effectively.
Boosting Engagement Levels 🚀
Explainer animations inject life into any topic by combining storytelling elements with creative visuals.
When viewers feel entertained while learning something new, they're more likely to stay engaged throughout the entire duration of the video. This heightened engagement translates into better comprehension rates as well as increased enthusiasm for exploring related subjects further.
And anything is better than a document or presentation filled with meaningless bullets.
Versatility Across Industries 🌎
I’ve already given you two diverse examples, but explainers are apt for just about any industry sector. From education and healthcare to marketing & finance, regardless of your field or target audience demographics; there's always room for incorporating these powerful tools into your communication strategy.
For instance:
Educators can use animated videos during lessons or online courses.
Businesses can communicate a company vision or a customer journey through engaging storytelling.
Non-profits can spread awareness about social causes via compelling visual narratives.
Healthcare professionals can explain medical procedures/treatments more effectively using animated imagery combined with explanatory voiceovers.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to harnessing the power-packed potential offered by explainer animations!
Time for one last cheesy lighthouse analogy. 🚢 🧀
Just as a lighthouse guides ships safely towards their destination amidst turbulent seas; explainer animations lead audiences towards deeper understanding amid overwhelming information waves!
Sorry - I couldn’t resist!!
Do you have a message you want to bring alive with an explainer. Hit the button below to find out what’s involved or get in touch and we can chat through your ideas. I look forward to hearing from you!
Interested in creating your own explainer animations?
If you, or anyone you know is interested in learning how to create explainers, then I have a self guided course available here. In this course I get you started with the basics of creating explainers in Adobe After Effects.
