Dear Notebook reader,
We’ve been working in the field of animation and explainer videos for a decade now. Every single day we turn data and information into powerful animated stories. We’ve failed. We’ve succeeded. But most importantly, we’ve learned.
At some point we started to compile all the most important lessons we’ve learned in a little notebook – as a way to get smarter and make sure we didn’t repeat the same mistakes over and over. A few notes quickly became a lot, and this notebook was born.
Basically, the notebook details everything you need to consider when working with explainer videos: lessons learned, insights and dos & don’ts. Based on our own experiences, we wanted to create useful, hands-on advice in a digestible format.
We use the notebook ourselves in our daily work. So this notebook also gives you the opportunity to benefit from our all the lessons we have learned and become a better animator.
Given that our knowledge and experience will keep evolving, so will this notebook. So follow our Instagram for updates.
We hope you enjoy our notebook!
All the best,
The Notebook
on Animation
Hard-earned insights from our notebook
about animation and explainer videos.
Hands-on, honest and condensed.
Sound should emphasise the story
Sound plays a crucial role in animation, going far beyond simply adding background noise. It’s a powerful tool for strategically emphasising the story, key points, and actions within the video.
Precisely timed sound effects can emphasize actions, making them feel more impactful, and direct the audience’s focus to important details or events on screen. For example, a subtle ‘ding’ for important information or a ‘swoosh’ for transitions can help maintain audience interest.
Carefully consider which sounds enhance the story and how they emphasise it, while omitting sounds that don’t contribute to the main narrative.
Keep the SFX style consistent
Just as visual style is important, so is sonic style. Inconsistent SFX can distract and confuse the audience; sudden changes in sound quality or style can pull the viewer out of the story.
Conversely, a consistent SFX style contributes to a seamless, immersive, and professional audio experience. Whether the sound design is realistic, cartoonish, or stylized, maintaining consistency ensures all sound elements work harmoniously. A consistent sonic palette helps create a cohesive and believable world, where sounds feel natural and integrated.
Don’t overload the soundtrack
Overloading in a soundtrack occurs when too many sound elements compete for attention.
When numerous sounds are layered without careful balancing, it becomes difficult to distinguish individual elements, resulting in a loss of clarity and the risk of a dense, overwhelming soundscape that can tire the listener.
A well-mixed soundtrack, on the other hand, will have clear audio levels and a distinct sound hierarchy. Therefore, prioritize clarity and focus on what’s essential to enhance the story or action.
Prioritise ambient sound
Ambient sound in animation goes beyond background noise, creating a distinct sense of place and atmosphere. It evokes emotions and enhances the believability of the animated world. Even subtle sounds, like rustling leaves or distant traffic, ground the viewer within the environment. Bridging visual and auditory domains, it transforms animation into a dynamic, living world. Despite its background role, ambient sound subtly directs attention to significant details, proving indispensable for the overall effectiveness and impact of animation.
Should work with and without sound
85% of social media videos are watched muted. Social media platforms autoplay without sound, and users frequently scroll in public, during commutes, or in other situations where they may not want or be able to listen to audio. Does that mean good sound design is wasted? Most certainly not. However, relying solely on audio would exclude a significant portion of the audience. Designing videos that are effective both with and without sound ensures the content is accessible, engaging, and maximizes its reach on social media platforms.
Use pauses effectively
Often underestimated, pauses in sound design wield significant power, enhancing audio-visual experiences by building suspense, creating contrast, emphasizing key moments or allowing for a moment of reflection. A sudden silence can evoke unease, while strategic removal of sound draws focus to crucial details. Silence, therefore, is not an absence, but a deliberate tool for impactful sound design.
Little effort, big impact
Sound design is capable of creating a profound impact with minimal input, making it an essential element for any animation seeking to truly resonate. While truly great sound design can be time-consuming, even a small investment of effort, especially when working on a budget, can yield a massive return in viewer engagement. It’s the audio layer that transforms a visual sequence into a fully immersive experience, as sound design breathes life into static images, adding emotional depth, establishing atmosphere, and guiding the audience’s focus.
