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.
Exaggerate movements
Traditional animation tends to focus on achieving natural and believable movement. However, when it comes to short explainer videos that are packed with information, exaggeration becomes a valuable tool to enhance comprehension. Subtle actions might easily go unnoticed by the audience. Therefore, when you want to emphasise a particular element, consider pushing the boundaries of realistic movement. Instead, focus on movements that convey the intended message effectively.
Limit scene changes
It can be tempting to pack in as many different scenes and visuals as possible into a video to make the message come across. However, too many scene changes can actually have the opposite effect and overwhelm the viewer. An animation shouldn’t feel like a slideshow, abruptly flicking from one scene to the next. Limit the number of scene changes and focus on creating a clear and cohesive storyline with a more natural flow.
Dial down the transitions
While transitions and visual animation effects can be visually pleasing as well as adding to the experience of an animation, excessive use can easily overshadow the actual content. Instead, invest more time and effort in developing visual ideas for the actual story rather than crazy, fun or impressive effects that don’t really contribute to the story.
Get into the flow
A big challenge in the animation phase is to get the right flow, in terms of pace, timing, rhythm and pauses. It is instantly obvious when the flow does not work. When this happens, the end result can feel stressful, abrupt, tiresome or unsatisfying in some way. To ensure
you get the right flow, check that the voice-over, music, sound effects, and actions are all in sync, like a beautifully composed piece of music in which all of the instruments complement each other perfectly. When the flow is right, everything should feel fluid, natural, and effortless.
Movement follows story
Explainer videos can often present an overwhelming visual experience, with a range of different elements fighting for the viewer’s attention. To combat this, focus only on movement that aligns with the story being told. Take the time to determine which movements are vital for advancing the narrative and effectively conveying the message. Next, identify any redundant movements that don't contribute significantly and consider eliminating or simplifying them. By aligning movement with the story, you can create a more focused and impactful animation.
Prioritise wisely yours efforts
Animation is not only very time-consuming but also expensive. Therefore, every project forces you to use good judgement when it comes to deciding where to concentrate your efforts. How important is each individual action to the overall story? How much time will each part take? The best approach is to allocate most of your time to the most important aspects.
