No marketer can deny that the biggest problem they’re facing is the declining attention span of viewers. From a clickbait thumbnail to a catchy quote, or even an animated gif, everything is being made to draw and hold attention of the viewers.
As marketers continue to pry for the attention of their customers, there’s one notable strategy that has come into the limelight very recently. It’s called character animation.
Yes, brands are using animated characters to allow customers to peek into the brand story.
Whether it’s a walkthrough of the finest features of your product, or even a simple GIF that is shared on social to arouse emotion, and encourage shares and comments, character animation is working perfectly to tell a story that stays with your audience.
With that being said, it’s also important to know that in the ever-expanding realm of video marketing, where 79% of executives confess to making purchasing decisions based on animated explainer videos, the need for a unique and relatable approach has never been more critical.
Particularly, when it comes to B2B marketing.
So, in this blog we’ll dive into character animation and how it actually helps a brand to leverage storytelling to their advantage.
So, make sure to read on!
Character Animation Designed for You
Bespoke branded character animation stands out as a solution that is not only relatable but also unique on its own.
It serves as a bridge between complex concepts and audience understanding, reinforcing your brand identity with high-quality content that resonates.
While platforms like Fiverr and Envato provide off-the-shelf character design and animation templates, and generative-AI animations promise low-cost and quick production, these solutions often lack the character and uniqueness required to make a lasting impression.
So, you just cannot expect the quality that would equate with professional 2d animation services.
Standing out in the crowded content marketing space is challenging, and opting for generic solutions risks diluting your brand’s identity.
Therefore, investing in well-crafted, bespoke character animation is an investment in capturing the attention of your target audience and achieving long-term marketing goals.
Insightful Makes Animation Characterful
The success of animated explainers and brand films lies in the application of insights into human behavior and characteristics.
Crafting characters that exhibit relatability, authenticity, and a captivating visual appeal forms the foundation of characterful animation. Here are five reasons why bespoke character animation resonates:
Relatability: Viewers engage more when characters mirror their behaviors and emotions.
Authenticity: Characters with strengths and weaknesses allow deeper audience connections.
Storytelling: Character responses to conflicts make the story more absorbing.
Visual Appeal: Subtle cues like body language enhance a character’s visual appeal.
Diversity: Bespoke animation allows for a diverse range of characters embodying different cultures, actions, and abilities.
A Character Animator Can Bring Your Brand to Life
Character animation injects personality, emotion, and a compelling narrative into your brand. It simplifies complex subjects and makes your message more accessible.
By designing characters that embody your brand’s personality in a professional yet entertaining manner, you can effectively communicate your brand’s message and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Reuse Character Designs Across Multiple Business Videos
One unique advantage of character animation is the ability to reuse characters across multiple storylines.
So, the 2d animation cost, which is perhaps the key deciding factor for most brand managers, becomes much more within their reach.
By owning a character, you can create a series of videos that build upon the character’s journey. This not only saves time and resources but also allows you to establish a consistent and recognizable brand identity.
For instance, the award-winning animated explainer videos created for Brooks Macdonald showcased how viewers could connect with a character on a deeper level, creating a memorable and engaging experience.
Similarly, the campaign for Xaxis spanned different iterations across four years, utilizing characters in web videos, training films, HTML animations, web designs, and print assets like brochures and posters.
Consistent, Cost-Effective Animated Character Video Campaigns
Reusing bespoke characters strategically across different campaigns and media forms maximizes your investment in character development.
Whether in video, print, or digital media, these characters can be seamlessly adapted and integrated, saving time, energy, and financial resources that would otherwise be spent on creating new content.
This approach ensures brand consistency, a continuous narrative, and budget optimization.
Versatility in Marketing and Communication Strategies
Character animation can be effectively employed in various types of videos to support diverse marketing and communication strategies:
How-to videos and explainer films: Bring products or services to life and simplify complex topics.
Virtual and hybrid event videos: Ensure all attendees receive an engaging, branded experience.
Internal communications: Boost engagement and align your team towards a common goal.
The campaign for Tate & Lyle, with 5,000 employees spread across five continents, demonstrated how animated character videos engaged staff globally in town halls, seminars, workshops, and facilities.
Estimated Costs for Animated Video Content
Understanding that cost is a crucial consideration, here are some ballpark figures for animated video content:
Basic 2D character animation (£8,000-£12,000):
The package would usually include 2D character design and animation with a single character.
Advanced 2D character animation (£10,000-£15,000)
You can expect character design and animation for multiple characters.
3D character animation (£12,000-£20,000):
For the price, you can expect 3D character design and animation with a single character.
Bundle 3D character animation (£15,000-£30,000):
The package will likely include 3D character design and animation with multiple characters.
These costs vary based on project complexity, scope, deadlines, audience, and usage. Know that any video agency you decide to work with, will keep you in the loop, and work closely to align final quotes with expectations.
Time for you to find your Creative Animation Partner
There are lots of renowned creative agencies with extensive experience in animation, motion design, and branding, understanding the power of character animation in captivating audiences and achieving marketing goals.
And, quite frankly, most of those agencies, offer a free 30-minute creative strategy consultation.
Plus, as you decide on landing the project with them, their team of experts will collaborate with you to explore content marketing challenges and provide actionable guidance to maximize marketing budgets.
