What Is The Difference Between Whiteboard Animation And An Animated Video?
Life in the internet age means that video presentations are becoming more and more popular. Explainer videos are short, easy-to-make, and engaging methods of introducing information to both auditory and visual learners. In the marketing business, two main types of animated videos have become widespread tools for meetings, training, and more, in both business and educational settings: animated videos, and whiteboard animation videos. If you’re considering how to use animation to improve your business, it’s important to know the difference between them, and which video style is best suited to your goals.
Whiteboard animation and animated videos are useful tools, but for different reasons, and our job is to help you make the most of them. In this article, we take you through what whiteboard animation and animated videos are, how they are used in a marketing setting, and the key differences between them that might make one more suitable for you.
What Is A Whiteboard Animation Video?
In the olden days, company leaders used whiteboards to walk employees through step-by-step concepts with simple diagrams. Leaders would even create videos of themselves drawing on a whiteboard to be sent out to employees across the globe for learning and referral purposes. Whiteboard animation videos are the next step of this evolution: videos taken in one stream, designed to look like someone drawing on a whiteboard, or white background, with their hand.
Benefits Of Whiteboard Animation Videos
- The simple motion graphics and streamlined creation process of whiteboard animation make production more cost-effective than other types of video.
- Consequently, it’s relatively easy to learn how to produce a whiteboard animation video yourself without a team of professional designers.
- Whiteboard animation videos strike a balance between quality education and entertainment, simplifying complex ideas while allowing the personality of the presenter to shine through.
- The use of text, voice, and simple diagrams makes it easier for viewers to sit through longer presentations and retain more information.
- Whiteboard animation is an incredibly versatile form and can be used to cover a variety of topics from education to marketing and more.
Flaws Of Whiteboard Animation
Of course, no description of a tool is complete without looking at its flaws. Whiteboard animation is inherently restrictive; the focus on simple, frame-by-frame motion graphics and hand-drawn diagrams makes it hard to incorporate too many creative elements. As a result, a whiteboard video is often less expressive, or less “fun,” than other video styles, though an innovative presenter can still find ways to express themselves. This simplicity also makes whiteboard animations more “generic” overall. The lack of color and unique characters presents fewer opportunities to promote your business’ brand or identity.
Animation Video Overview
Animation videos, also called cartoon animation videos, are a broader category of explainer videos where each individual frame of animation is drawn. A cartoon animation video uses colors, amazing motion graphics, and unique characters and settings to inform viewers without sacrificing entertainment or style. The useful and creative nature of animation videos, as well as their broad, encompassing definition, have made them the most popular type of explainer video for professionals.
We’ve also compiled a list of some of the marketing benefits of animation videos:
- The abstract nature of cartoon animation makes it well-suited for describing services and products without tangible forms like software.
- The broad concept of cartoon animation lends itself to greater creativity than a slideshow or live presentation and is often more entertaining to your viewership.
- Thanks to this greater freedom, animations allow you to easily promote your brand. You can incorporate branded colors, images, and characters throughout your presentation.
- Animation video tools are evergreen-friendly as they are easy to update with new information or fixes.
Flaws Of Animation Videos
Animation Vs. Whiteboard Videos: How To Choose?
Now that you know what makes each video style unique and popular, how do you choose which one best suits your project? Here are some general rules regarding the differences between each video form and how they would explain your idea.
A whiteboard animation video is best suited for any presentation where the information being presented is especially important. If you’re introducing a new project, initiative, or summarizing a key idea, a whiteboard video will allow you to go more in-depth. The simple hand-drawn diagrams, motion graphics, and narration will ensure your audience absorbs the information on the screen. The budget-friendly nature of the medium will also let you expand further on your topic without spending more.
Each viewer will be able to retain more information so if said information is particularly important, a whiteboard video will help you heighten understanding while lowering costs. As a result, whiteboard animations are especially useful for training purposes within your own company, where marketing is not a concern.
Animation videos are more feasible if you can sacrifice a little extra from your budget for the sake of production. Do you want your audience to remember the name and message of your company, more so than the information in the video? If that’s the case, then an animation video will help you better connect with your potential market. The medium of animation lends itself to shorter, snappier videos with interesting and memorable images, creating opportunities to emphasize your company brand.
If you’re really looking to make an impression on your viewership, an animation video will help them remember your name and learn who you are. As a result, animated videos make for more effective commercials where production is focused on marketing and branding rather than educating.
Explainer Video Tips & Tricks
- Be concise. Your viewers only have so much patience and capacity to absorb information. 90 seconds or less is an ideal length.
- Explicitly state the key message of your video as early as possible. Don't keep your viewers guessing.
- Include a call to action near the end of your video if applicable like a link to your website - even a message of encouragement to your own employees will help!
- Use simple conversational language with a bit of humor thrown in. Customers have a hard time paying attention to robotic, technical terms.
- Quality is key. Your customers will notice subpar voice acting, lack of motion graphics, or stock sound effects. Make sure to associate your company with quality production and effort.
- Embed your video within a relevant, high-traffic page on your website. Visitors will be inclined to stay there longer.
- Measure video engagement. Keep track of viewership and demographics with custom software or ask your audience directly via conversation or recent posts.
Final Thoughts
All in all, we’ve given you the guidelines for what an animation video or whiteboard animation video typically looks like and the difference between the two. But as innovative presenters, we know that real-life marketing rarely involves thinking inside the box. When it comes to your business, the potential of video as a learning and marketing tool is ultimately up to you. Whether you’re looking to create your own form of video or want to hire the services of a presentation professional, your vision should always be your number one priority. But it’s nice to know where to start!
