Like making the perfect cake, a successful animated video requires all the right ingredients. That’s why Squideo is sharing the recipe. We’re looking at the five most important elements needed to create your perfect animated video. Read on to find out how or get in touch with our team.

Squideo can create videos for you in a range of different styles, which can reflect the client’s branding and appeal to the target audience. We’ve broken down our animation styles into six broad categories for clients to choose from. 

1. Character-Driven Animation. Squideo’s Video Producers expertly craft animated characters using our in-house cartoon animation software. Character design depends on the client’s preference.
2. Icon-Based Animation. If characters don’t feel right for your brand but you still want a visual representation of ideas or concepts, icon-based animation is a great alternative. The icons, like characters, can be designed in a range of styles to suit your brand.
3. Isometric Projection Animation. By adding the illusion of depth, perspective rendering and playing with dimensions, this animation style adds a three-dimensional quality to your video. Isometric projection lends itself nicely to videos for construction and design industries.
4. Line Animation. With the illusion of smooth motion and animation, you can better set the mood and create an engaging, powerful story that truly captures your audience by employing line animation in your video.
5. Screencast. A screencast is a video recording taken from a computer or mobile, overlayed with animation and audio. This is a great way to show off software and apps to potential users as it lets them explore with the narrator as their guide.
6. Stock-Footage Animation. With access to millions of commercially licensed clips, Squideo also produce videos that blend animation with stock footage, eliminating the need for filming. Alternatively, the client can send us specific footage. 

02. Keep a Steady Pace

Who is your audience? How long will they watch a video? You can make a masterpiece but if your target audience prefers to watch 15 second reels, creating a 15 minute video is pointless. The total length is the first step to creating an ideal pace. 

The second is to keep the video moving at an even speed. Avoid empty screens, don’t cram all the important information into the last 20 seconds… if your pace is too slow the audience gets bored; if it’s too fast they can be overwhelmed. A steady pace is vital to get your audience hooked, in turn increasing viewer watch time and the overall performance of your animated video.

03. Tone

Not all videos require a script, but when they do it’s important to hit a number of key points within the required timeframe whilst keeping your audience engaged. The script informs the storyboard and final visuals, so it’s important to perfect the script before moving onto the next production stage. 

Your script should reflect your company branding so it can fit in seamlessly with your existing content, and it should be the right tone for your target audience. The tone of a video is the style of language it will use. That doesn’t only mean the dialect of English (British or American, for example), but also the presence you want your narrator to have. Friendly, corporate, energetic – these are all different types of tone.

04. Accessibility

An animated video has the advantage of conveying your message visually and audibly. The addition of a voiceover reinforces your chosen message, making it more memorable. Squideo recommends a 70 word script for every 30 seconds of video, creating plenty of opportunities to explain why your business is amazing and why the audience needs to know it. 

If you do use a voiceover, add subtitles. It keeps your content accessible, and it can also boost your on-page SEO. If you are hosting the video on your own website, simply upload the SRT alongside your video and reap the benefits. If you are unable to host the video file, you can embed a video via third-party hosting (such as YouTube) and include a written transcript within your web page copy.

05. Call to Action

Reflect on the aims of your video before releasing it into the wild. It should end on a call to action (CTA) which tells the viewer exactly what they should do after watching your video. Find the right message by asking yourself:

• What do you want the viewer to do after watching your video? Should they visit your website, fill in a form – be sure to tell them.
• How should they feel? Will your CTA tug on their heartstrings or inspire confidence?
• What impression do you want them to have of your business after the video ends?

The best way to encourage them to do so, and in turn make your video a success, is to put that in your CTA! Watch our recent video for Prerender below for CTA inspiration.

Get Started With Your Video

Ready to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!