Animated videos are among the most captivating content on the web today. For entertainment, marketing, education, or social media
Animated videos are among the most captivating content on the web today. For entertainment, marketing, education, or social media, animated videos get attention, communicate ideas easily, and entertain viewers. Animation enables companies and content creators to make their messages more attractive and memorable.
If you ever wanted to make an animation video but didn’t know how to get started, this tutorial will walk you through the whole process, step by step, from planning to publication.
Learning About Various Types of Animation
Before making your animation video, you must learn about the various types of animation styles out there:
1. 2D Animation
This is the most popular form of animation, found in cartoons and explainer videos. It consists of designing characters, backgrounds, and movements in a two-dimensional environment. Popular software: Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony
2. 3D Animation
Applied in movies, video games, and realistic simulations, 3D animation demands sophisticated modeling and rendering skills. Popular software: Blender, Autodesk Maya, Cinema 4D
3. Stop-Motion Animation
This method includes taking real-world objects frame by frame to produce motion. It is labor-intensive but produces a distinctive look. Popular software: Dragonframe, Stop Motion Studio
4. Whiteboard Animation
One of the most common styles for teaching and explainer videos where hand-drawn imagery is shown on a whiteboard-like surface. Popular software: Doodly, VideoScribe.
Canva Video Editor: The Ultimate Tool for Effortless Video Creation
Planning Your Animation Video
Planning will make the process efficient before diving into animation software and will create a great result.
1. Determine Your Purpose and Target Audience
Is your video educational, entertaining, marketing, or storytelling in nature?
Who is your audience? Children, professionals, or the general audience?
2. Make a Storyboard
A storyboard is a visual outline of your video, depicting each scene in a rough drawing. It assists in mapping out:
• Key scenes and transitions
• Character movement
• Timing and pacing of the animation
3. Write an Engaging Script
Your script is the backbone of your video. Keep it:
Concise—Brevity is the key to engagement.
Conversational—Sound natural and relatable.
Structured—Has a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Selecting the Best Animation Software
Your skill level and requirements determine the best animation software to use.
Your tools can either make or ruin your animation experience. Here are a few alternatives:
Beginners: Use Canva or Powtoon for easy animations using pre-existing templates.
For intermediate animators: Get to know Adobe Animate for 2D animation or Blender for 3D works.
For stop-motion lovers: Use Dragonframe to shoot each frame with accuracy.
Online Tools: Tools like Animaker or Moovly are excellent for making professional-level animations in a jiffy.
Free vs. Paid Animation Tools
Free: Blender, Krita, and OpenToonz are free software for beginners.
Paid: Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, and Vyond are paid software for intermediate and professional animators.
Creating Characters and Assets
Your animation video requires characters and objects appropriate to your narrative.
1. Character Designing with Personality
Assign your characters unique features and facial expressions.
Apply vibrant colors and thick outlines for 2D animation.
Create realistic textures for 3D animation.
2. Utilizing Templates vs. Custom Design
Templates: Quick but could be lacking in originality.
Custom Design: More authentic but time-consuming.
3. Where to Obtain Animation Assets
Free assets: Pixabay, Freepik, OpenGameArt
Paid assets: Envato Elements, Shutterstock
Animating Your Video
Once you have your assets and characters, it’s time to animate them.
1. Frame-by-Frame Animation
Each frame is drawn individually, producing a smooth effect.
Applied to traditional and stop-motion animation.
2. Motion Graphics
Takes advantage of pre-designed elements that move dynamically.
Frequent use in promotional and business videos.
3. Keyframing Techniques
Establishes the beginning and end points of an animation sequence.
Software fills in between frames automatically.
Final Thoughts
Producing animation videos is not as hard as it seems but rather an attainable and fulfilling activity with the appropriate tools, skills, and bit of creativity. Begin small, try out different styles, and don’t hesitate to learn by doing. Don’t forget that all professional animators started out with their very first frame.