Outsource Animated Video Production

Animated video production is one of the most information rich ways of reaching a consumer. Animated videos are high impact, and can directly draw a viewer to the key points of a presentation. In many cases, a video is better able to explain a complex business service than a standard sales page.Additionally, there has been a very strong swing towards the consumption of video content online. Since the launch of Youtube, the percentage of video traffic on the Internet has continued to grow. As of 2010, video traffic accounted for 37% of online traffic. That number is expected to grow to more than 50% by 2014.

Animated videos vs live actor videos and screencasts

There are many different styles of videos online. Some of the most common styles found on Youtube are animated videos, screencasts, and live actor videos. Each style of video has advantages and disadvantages.

Live actor videos often have the potential to have the highest impact, if done in a professional manner. However, they are not easy to create.

The disadvantage of live actor videos are the cost and effort required for professional production. A professional production requires expensive equipment for shooting video, lighting, and sound recording. Also, the cost of hiring high quality actors is not cheap. In addition, since many different experts are required for a professional quality production, scheduling of the many people involved can become problematic.

Screencasts have gained more favor online, thanks to the development of a wide range of production tools. Tools like Camtasia cost just $300, but have a wide range of professional quality editing features. There are even free tools available.

With the wide variety of tools available, the barrier to entry for creating screencasts is very low. This makes it a great tool for creating a walk-through of an online application or software package. However, the impact of a screencast is typically low. Screencasts typically suffer from low user engagement and typically have a very low chance of ‘going viral’. As a result, screencasts are better suited to supplement a product FAQ, or for how to style videos.

An animated video sits in the sweet spot between live actor videos and screencasts. Because an animated video can be created by a small team, without the use of expensive cameras and lighting equipment, the cost tends to be much lower. However, the end result can still be as powerful as a live actor video.

How to create an animated video

When creating animated videos, it’s important to follow a regular process to ensure consistent, high quality results. A typical animated video production process can be broken down as follows:

The concept is the main idea behind the animated video. The concept should take into account the target market of a product or service and any unique selling points that help it stand apart from the competition. The concept should put together a rough concept for a story line, with a hook.

The next step is pre-production. At this point, the main characters in the video will be mocked-up, along with any sets or key artwork. Additionally, a script for the video will be created at this point.

Story boarding is the next step. A story board is essential to a smooth production process. A story board details each scene in the video, along with any movements of the characters in the scene.

Production is where the animation for each step in the story board is created. Additionally, voice overs are created to give live to the video.

When the production is completed, it will be reviewed to see if it meets the intended concept. Often times there will be revisions at this stage to ensure a video is true to the original idea.

Finally, when the video meets the original vision, it’s ready to go live.

Animated videos are a powerful way to pitch your product or service. They can typically be created by a small team or just one to three people. Working with the right team, it’s possible to get a video launched – from concept to going live, in as little as a week.