Choosing the right graphics and animation style can help your video go from ordinary to something unique and eye-catching. Lindisfarne Productions has experience using and creating a variety of graphics and animation techniques to help enhance all kinds of video projects. Our team has some tips for choosing the right options for your video needs.
Some different types of graphics and animation include:
Motion Graphics – motion graphics take an image that would otherwise be static and adds movement. This is usually done with shapes, objects or text that are set in motion. For example, taking your organization’s logo and spinning it around, or making the bars on a bar graph move up or down.
Typography – typography can be a simple way to add visual interest to your video project. This animation technique includes the movement of words onscreen and can be a way to add impact to a narrative.
Whiteboard – whiteboard animation involves an artist creating illustrations in real time to help distill complex information. This is generally a more cost-effective and time-friendly way to add animation to a project. An example of Whiteboard animation created by Lindisfarne Productions can be found here.
Cartoons – Cartoons are likely what you think of when you picture traditional animation. There are a wide range of cartoon styles that can be chosen to suit your topic. Cartoons generally lead to longer production times and an increased budget.
Stop Motion Graphics – stop motion is created by setting up a scene (with clay, puppets, cut outs, drawings, etc), taking a picture, then moving the elements and taking another picture, until you’ve created a full story of what you want to explain. This is a very time consuming form of animation and can be a costly option.
Depending on what you choose for your video project there are a few things to consider:
Consider Budget
As a rule, the more complicated your graphic or animation the more time and expertise are needed to create that graphic or animation. The length or amount of animation needed will also increase the budget necessary to finish the project.
Consider your message
Graphics and animation can be a great tool for adding interest and increasing audience engagement, however not all styles are appropriate for all videos. Consider how complex your topic is. If you are trying to explain a simple concept you may want to stick with simpler graphics or whiteboard animation. Have something a little more complex? Motion graphics or cartoons may offer more room for details. The main goal is to hit on key points quickly and concisely.
Consider the audience
When considering what style of animation is right for your project it is important to look at who your audience will be. Is your audience students? Or are they business stakeholders? Animation can help add interest to an otherwise bland topic, but the wrong style of animation may detract from a more serious message. Will animation help engage your audience? or will it cause them to take your message less seriously?
Consider branding guidelines for graphics and animation
As with all video, it is important that the visuals and message fit with the overall goals, look, and “vibe” of your organization. Ensuring colour themes and animation style fit in with your organizations branding will help audience with brand identification and makes sure they always know who you are and what you are about.
Lindisfarne Productions has experience in all kinds of graphics and animation styles for video. We’re happy to meet with your team to discuss options that fit with your organizations message, budget, and overall goal for your video project.
Check out some of our previous animation work here.