Have you ever seen a video that’s been created with animations of stick figures and bright white backgrounds? Chances are you’ve come across a whiteboard animation video.
Today, these types of videos are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to explain ideas and concepts in a visually engaging and creative way.
In this blog post, I will explain what whiteboard animation is and how it can benefit your business.
What is Whiteboard Animation?
Whiteboard animation is the art of creating an animated story using a combination of illustrations and audio, often in the form of a video.
It’s used in videos ranging from corporate explainers and marketing campaigns to children’s stories and even YouTube videos.
Whiteboard animation videos start with a blank whiteboard, which then comes to life as the illustrator adds images, text, and music to convey a message.
This process creates captivating visuals that can be used to engage viewers and drive conversions.
There are several different styles of whiteboard animation, each one having its own unique characteristics.
From hand-drawn cartoons and kinetic typography to interactivity, whiteboard animation can be tailored to fit the needs of any project.
Types of Whiteboard Animations:
I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of Whiteboard animation videos on the internet. From brands to influencers, everyone is taking advantage of this engaging and creative storytelling tool.
But what types of animations can you create with Whiteboard animation?
1. Timelapse Animation:
Timelapse animation is one of the most popular forms of Whiteboard animation. It’s perfect for explaining complex concepts or processes in an engaging, easy-to-follow way.
With this type of animation, objects appear to “grow” onto the screen as the animation progresses.
2. Infographic Animation:
Infographic animation is another popular form of Whiteboard animation that allows for the visual representation of data points and facts through illustrations. This type of animation is perfect for getting your point across quickly and effectively.
3. Whiteboard Motion Graphics:
This powerful combination between motion graphics and whiteboarding enables production companies to produce smooth, but still hand-drawn animations with a distinctive style that will draw in viewers and keep them hooked.
Depending on your goals, there are many different types of Whiteboard animations available — you just have to find the right one for your project!
Why Whiteboard animations are so popular?
You might be thinking why whiteboard animations have become so popular for businesses. I believe there are several reasons why, but the main one is that it’s one of the most efficient ways to deliver short and effective messages.
Whiteboard animations are the perfect device to communicate complex ideas quickly and in an interesting way. Plus, they can be produced much faster than physical models or prototypes, so you can make changes on the spot if needed.
The viewer is taken on a journey from complex to simple with these animations, which allows them to easily understand what’s going on.
In addition to this, these videos are incredibly engaging and entertaining. As viewers watch a story unfold before their eyes, their attention is drawn in like a magnet. This helps keep viewers entertained throughout the video, which can lead to increased brand loyalty and ultimately better conversions.
Who are whiteboard animations for?
Maybe you’re still wondering who whiteboard animations are most suitable for. Well, it really depends on the purpose and theme of your video.
As a rule of thumb, whiteboard animations work well for corporate videos, explainer videos, instructional videos and even promotional content.
Businesses benefit the most from whiteboard animation solutions. That’s because they create engaging visuals that capture and keep people’s attention.
Not only that, but they also help to better explain complex topics in a simple way — and that’s something more businesses should be taking advantage of!
Plus, since they take the form of visuals with voice-over narration, viewers can simply sit back and listen while becoming more familiar with your products or services before making a purchase decision.
Benefits of Using Whiteboard Animations:
I’ve personally used and experienced whiteboard animation. Believe me, these types of animations are the best tool to convey messages in a compelling and memorable way.
Here are some of the benefits of using whiteboard animations;
Communication: Whiteboard videos are highly effective in quickly getting a point across succinctly and clearly. The animation style is inviting, yet authoritative and encourages people to stay engaged with the content.
Cost Efficiency: Unlike traditional methods of video production, whiteboard animation is quick, hassle-free, and cost-effective. You just have to provide a script and you can get a doodle video in a short time compared to other styles of video production.
Visual Impact: One great thing about whiteboard animations that really sets them apart from traditional videos is their aesthetic appeal. Most viewers find this type of video stylish and eye-catching on its own merits alone.
How to Make a Whiteboard Animation?
If you’re ready to take the plunge and begin creating your own whiteboard animation videos, it’s easier than you might think. The whole process comes down to three main steps:
1. Scripting:
This is where you decide what story you want to tell and create an interesting script with a clear message. You’ll also decide on the visuals or scenes that will show up as part of the animation.
2. Storyboarding:
Once you have a script and understand what visuals need to be used, storyboarding is where you map out exactly how this will look on the whiteboard canvas, including character sizes and poses, the scale of props and the way animation looks when it moves across the canvas.
3. Animation:
After your storyboards are finalized, the process of drawing starts so that an artist or you (yourself) bring it to life with animation software.
Creating a whiteboard animation isn’t rocket science, it’s just a piece of cake with drag and drops tools. I’m pretty much sure, if you spend some time learning, you’ll be a master within a few hours.
However, Depending on your budget and timeline, you can also outsource this part of the project to a freelancer who can handle this task for you.
At the end of this creative process, you will have a great whiteboard animation video ready for use in promotional material or other content marketing efforts!
Best softwares to make whiteboard animations:
When it comes to software to create whiteboard animations, there is no shortage of options. I’ve also covered a complete blog post about the best softwares to make whiteboard animations.
But, I’ve used a few different ones in the past, and the two that stand out are;
1. Doodly:
This is a great option for a beginner who is looking for a whiteboard animation maker. This tool has a variety of templates and drag-and-drop functionality, so you don’t have to be an artist to use them.
Plus, it also has audio libraries with sound effects that make your video come alive.
For more in-depth knowledge, you can also read my complete review of Doodly…
2. Adobe Animate CC:
It’s one of the most powerful animation software out there with a lot of features. With its powerful vector graphics, it is easy to add illustrations or text, which you can then customize with effects like shadows or gradients. You can export your animation as an MP4 or any other popular file.
Explaindio:
This software offers another great option for creating explainer videos, including cartoon and 3D ones in addition to whiteboard animations.
It has an easy-to-use timeline editor that makes it super intuitive to create videos as soon as you launch the program; you can quickly add images, music or text with just a few clicks.
How do whiteboard animation softwares work?
Now, you might be wondering how whiteboard animation softwares work. It’s actually pretty simple.
Whiteboard animation is created by software that uses what’s called vector graphics. You can think of this like a virtual canvas, which is where all the elements of your animation come together to create the story. The software builds each frame in sequence, so they appear to move when they’re stitched together quickly into a video.
Drawing and Storytelling:
What makes whiteboard animation so special is that it uses storytelling and drawing to convey your message. You can create vivid imagery with hand-drawn characters, props and backgrounds.
Then, you have the voice-over or sound effects to narrate the story and bring it to life. This makes for an engaging experience for viewers that help them retain your message better than traditional video production or static images do.
Animation Templates:
Most animation software like Doodly comes with ready-made templates that allow you to customize content and visuals according to your brand story in minutes.
Just select from a wide range of avatar characters, layouts, props, music and other features available within the software — no prior technical knowledge is required!
How much a whiteboard animation can cost?
Whiteboard animation can cost anywhere between $300 and $10,000, depending on the length, complexity, illustrations and voice-over. The bulk of your budget will go towards the artist’s time. Animators who have a wealth of experience or specialize in whiteboard animation may charge more.
When evaluating costs, consider the following:
- Length: Shorter videos are less expensive than longer ones.
- Illustrations: Specialized animations and custom artwork will cost more than stock illustrations and clipart.
- Voiceovers: High-quality professional recordings are usually more expensive than text-to-speech narrators.
Then there’s also the cost of music tracks, sound effects, video hosting fees and platforms that offer animation services — all of which can add up quickly.
But, if you do animation yourself then you can reduce a lot of money. Again, this will definitely cost you in the form of time.
How long it takes to make a Whiteboard Animation?
As you may already know, no two whiteboard animations are the same. That’s why it can be tricky to pinpoint exactly how much time it takes to create a whiteboard animation — but creating one typically doesn’t take too long.
On average, a simple whiteboard animation video could be done in a day or two. However, if your project is more complex, you may have to wait for days or weeks depending upon the complexity.
A more complex project, on the other hand, could take anywhere from one week to several months. This will depend on how many scenes/frames need to be drawn and animated — not to mention scripting, audio production and other design elements.
Best Practices for Whiteboard Animation Videos:
As someone who has been creating whiteboard animation videos for a while, I can tell you that there are some best practices you should keep in mind when it comes to crafting them. Here are a few of my top tips:
Establish Objectives Before Starting:
Make sure you have an objective in mind for your animation before you start creating it. Whether you’re trying to explain a concept, build excitement around a new product launch, or simply want to make something creative.
Having an end goal will help guide your creative process and ensure the end result is something that will achieve what you set out to do.
Script Writing:
No matter how great your visuals may be, if people don’t understand what’s being said, then your success rate drops dramatically.
Scriptwriting is absolutely essential for creating great whiteboard videos — you’ve to be as clear and concise as possible with your messaging, and helps keep the animation focused on the subject at hand.
Quality Animation:
Having high-quality animation is key to making sure people understand what they’re seeing. Make sure there are no glitches or choppy movements — good animation should be clean and smooth so people can focus on the message being presented.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, whiteboard animation is an ingenious way to bring life to your ideas and further engage your audience.
With modern software, businesses of all sizes can produce whiteboard animations quickly and cost-effectively. By utilizing this versatile medium, you can add an extra layer to your marketing and make a lasting impression on potential customers.
