Video Animation: Is it the Best Medium to Tell a Story?

Intro

Any form of content can evoke a range of emotions if it’s made with eye-catching and spell-binding video animation. There’s no wonder that moving graphics that are dynamic can draw interest from anyone watching a video clip.

So, whether you’re creating something cool for your next social post, or just want to present a mesmerizing video over your YouTube channel, video animation can just be that special ingredient, to trigger the nostalgia that brings viewers back to your content, again and again.

In this blog post, we’ll look into how video animation works better than anything when narrating a story. Plus, we’ll also take a peek at some of the most trending video animation styles that can be used for exceptional digital branding.

So, without further ado, let’s jump right in!

Animation has profound impact

The first reason why animation has a profound psychological impact on us viewers is the fact it offers the possibility to ideate and paint narratives freely.

From the most mature characters to even the dreamiest fairytales can all come to life using a video animation. You can ponder a zillion creative possibilities to create, illustrate and animate.

Animation has a thousand possibilities

Video animation has the power to teleport us into a wonderland. It might not be anywhere closer to reality. But the short escape that we get certainly feels magical and so enticing that we can’t help but imagine ourselves in wonderland.

The experience is immersive, it fills our mind with excitement as we get to witness beyond-the-ordinary characters which not only make us marvel at quality work of art, but also see the world from the lens of new and challenging cultural values.

Perhaps that’s why some storytellers prefer using animation to convey their messages in an impactful manner.

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Animation works wonders for marketers

A big reason why marketers are fantastic storytellers is the access to creative video. You can have a team of artists play around with animation and motion graphics.

Result: you send a compelling narrative that unfolds with eye-catching animation that works to grab and hold the attention of your viewers, making them cheer for you with strong emotion.

Marketers are also making great use of SaaS video production and using animation in SaaS product reveals to stand out seamlessly and make an impact.

Brands today want to leverage on the opportunity. They understand the nostalgic effect animated characters can have on viewers, in particular adults. Animated characters are told to trigger a strong nostalgic response among viewers.

They are delving into how video animation can help them cut through the noise of hundreds of similar videos circling the audience.

That’s why explainer video production that features animation and motion graphics has picked up steam too.

Animation can teach a lot better

What’s even worth knowing is the social learning theory at play. Kids tend to observe and imitate from the very start as they gain their conscience.

And, animated media is nothing new. It can be seen as a powerful tool to teach kids new things such as social skills and basic life skills, keeping the message warm, humorous and effective.

Therefore, brands that target Gen Z are already doing partnerships with a Video Animation Agency.

Trending 3D animation styles in 2023

Educating your customers and prospects on difficult concepts or having them take a peek at your product that can be visualized in 3D makes up for a fantastic experience overall.

One such fine experience made using 3D animation technique is the Augmented reality website experience of Nike and Adidas. Customers can now visualize the shoes they adore so much and want to buy instantly in 3D.

Moving onward, we’ll delve into the realm of 3D animation. We’ll unearth some of the finest 3d animation styles that have taken the world of digital branding by storm.

We’ll look at some of the best techniques and also discover how you can use each one to your own benefit for your digital branding needs.

1. Realistic 3D Animation

You’re familiar with this one.

Realistic 3D animation involves animation done in the realms of architecture, medicine, and product design with the aim to visualize and simulate real-life scenarios.

There is a fascinating degree of detail in realistic animation. Designers work with a dedicated focus on replicating the texture, more prominently lighting, and the physicality of objects and characters.

2. Cartoon Animation

Next up in the most popular style of 3D animation is Cartoon-style 3D animation.

The movies and animated films you saw in your childhood employed this style of 3d animation. So, cartoon animation is very characteristic of animation shown in movies, TV shows, and video games.

The cartoon animations we have encountered in movies and video games often had the most simplified features, large, epoxy eyes of characters to entice viewers emotionally, making them perfect for humor and storytelling.

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3. Cel-Shaded Animation

Our next pick for trendy styles of 3D animation is Cel-shaded animation. This kind of animation mimics the result of traditional 2D hand-drawn animation. One of the most time-taking, yet valuable when it comes to aesthetic appeal of artwork.

Cel animation works with a combination of flat colors, bold outlines, and some depth added with a touch of shading. It is perfectly suitable for creating a comic book or graphic novel kind of look.

Ideally, if you’ve a brand that has characters that are appealing, then using cel animation might just do the trick for you.

Interestingly, this sort of animation is wildly popular in video games and animated series, the cel-shaded animation adds a unique and eye-catching visual dimension to the content.

4. Surreal and Abstract Animation

Another style of animation that is super-trendy these days is the surreal and abstract.

Abstract animation is more common with pastel colors, suiting more to videos and creatives where the theme is more relaxed, and a soothing voice over makes the message not only more compelling, but easier to digest and impactful at the same time.

So, if you want to consider this style of animation, know that this particular style of 3D animation thrives on pushing creative boundaries.

Creatives who leverage the surreal and abstract animations challenge conventional storytelling and visuals, offering viewers an otherworldly experience.

Surreal or abstract animations done in a marketing video can feature a series of unconventional shapes

These animations often feature unconventional shapes, pastel colors, and motion graphics to evoke a strong emotional response. Surreal animation may also be used for videos where the subject is meant to be thought-provoking.

5. Mechanical and Industrial Animation

In addition to this, we also have mechanical and industrial animation. This style of video animation is particularly meant for depicting machinery designs, mechanical procedures and workflow.

Such style of animation is common among brands who have powered up their supply chains with far-reaching technology. This style of animation can work best for showing gears, industrial mechanisms and a lot more.

So, if you're a creative who aspires to tell a story about the mechanical processes of your factory, then style of animation might work perfectly. Additionally, you can even use this mechanical animation to educate trainees and factory labor on how the process has to be executed in the safest way possible.

6. Biological and Medical Animation

Next up on our list of animation styles is biological and medical animation. Modern creatives and designers remark it as healthcare animation.

Such style of video animation is particularly meant for portraying biological processes, anatomical structures and even simulation for surgical and medical procedures.

Prominently, the medical animation can work perfectly for fitness purposes, where the instructor needs to delve into the science and breakdown how muscle growth happens. In short, the purpose of animation here as well is to educate in the simplest, yet compelling fashion.

In addition to this, healthcare animation is also said to work quite nicely for teaching students to understand the anatomy of the human body.

7. Motion Graphics

Next up in our discussion is motion graphics. Motion graphics are being used in 3D animation and trend has picked up steam recently. And, it’s not likely to go out of style anytime soon.

Motion graphics are being used to play around with typography, and also work perfectly when synced with sound. Motion graphics can be used to make thought-provoking ads, videos and engaging presentations.

More importantly, since these are dynamic graphics, they tend to draw the interest of viewers, allow marketers to hold attention, and persuade the viewers.

You may also like reading: Best Motion Graphics Videos That’ll Inspire You

Wrap up

Video animation has immense potential for producing valuable content. Whether you want to add some poise to a good story, or charm the audience with cute sounds and rich visuals, having a touch of animation in your message would do it for you perfectly. Additionally, we also walked you through some of the trendiest styles of 3D animation. For each we also analyzed how a particular style of animation may work well for an intended creative or explainer video. So, invest in video animation, if you really want to tell a story that stays with your audience.