XO3D LOGO-WHITE

CONTACT US: INFO@XO3D.CO.UK | PHONE: +44 020 3488 3437

Why is Animation used in Media Content?

Table of Contents

Animation has been around since the very beginning. Whether it’s in Disney films or children’s television shows, the animation is everywhere, and it’s no surprise that it’s so popular; after all, cartoons are easy and fun to watch! But what exactly are the reasons behind animation being used in the media? What causes people to love and support such an art form? Today, we’re going to talk about the most important reasons why animation is such a beloved form of media entertainment across the world. Animation can be used in many aspects of our daily lives, even though we may not recognise it right away. It can be used in graphic design, product advertising, game design, and TV shows to name just a few examples.  Animation can be as simple as an icon moving up and down to represent an app that’s constantly being updated or it can also be very complex and lifelike like the animation featured in major motion pictures. All forms of media, including movies, advertisements, and even music videos, use animation. This article will focus on why animation has been used in different types of media throughout history and why it continues to be used today. It will also discuss the different types of animation used, who works with it, the origin of the most common animation styles such as claymation and stop motion, and how it differs from the live-action film, television, photography, and theatre.

Why is Animation used in Media Content?

Ever wonder why animation has become such a common trend in media today? In short, it’s because it attracts viewers. Whether you’re interested in entertainment or education, animation gives content more depth and draws people to your message.  Using animation could be as simple as adding an introduction with graphics that further clarify an idea or complex topic (think of how animations are often used to teach kids new words). The possibilities are endless, but there are some important things to keep in mind when using animation to boost your content. Customers will want to choose something that is easy to read, educational, and quick to consume given the variety of online content available. Watching a video is usually more appealing than reading a long passage of text when it comes to digesting content. Our most prominent sense is vision, and the great majority of people learn visually. When watching a video, viewers recall 95% of the information, compared to only 10% when reading a written text. As a result, visual learning has a bigger effect on the viewer’s brain. Utilising animations increases the likelihood of receiving more views and shares. This is due to the fact that they make the videos easier to comprehend. The dissemination of animated videos among friends will be promoted. First, choose if you’ll use 2D or 3D—it all depends on what type of message you want to send and how much time/money you have available. You can even mix both together for added interest and production value!  Next, make sure you stick to one style throughout your entire piece so that viewers know exactly who created it and don’t get confused by inconsistent visuals.  Lastly, remember to keep everything visually interesting: While colour palettes should match your brand identity, avoid creating flat images that lack contrast and detail. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out our collection of free animated videos. It’s full of examples from brands like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Red Bull. We hope these blogging tips help improve your blogging skills! Did you know that 60% of business executives say visual marketing is very effective at communicating a company’s value? Or do 53% think webinars with integrated video would better explain products and services than text-only explanations?  With stats like these, it makes sense why companies are quickly integrating visual marketing into their communication strategies. According to research, corporate websites now spend 67% of their marketing budgets on video vs 33% on text content.  In fact, over 50% of all internet traffic will be from videos by 2019. 

How to get started with animation?

The first thing to understand when you’re getting started with animation is that there’s no such thing as being an animator. What do we mean by that? It’s not like writing where you can be a novelist or an essayist. You can’t be just a cartoonist.  Being an animator means drawing cartoons on paper and then scanning them into a computer. Once they’re in digital form, you add effects and colour them. So, even if you only know how to draw stick figures, you can make an animation! It might not look great—but if it moves, it’s animation! And that’s all you need to get started.  Here are some tips for those who are interested in starting their own animation business: Find work: Getting your name out there is really important for freelancers. You should always have a portfolio site so people can see what kind of work you’ve done before. You should also get active on social media, especially Twitter.  Also, don’t forget to join industry groups and follow industry blogs. These will help keep you up-to-date on new trends and opportunities within your field. We recommend checking out these groups: International Network Of Entertainment Professionals (INEP) International Game Developers Association (IGDA) National Cartoonists Society (NCS) National Association Of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) Women In Animation (WIA) Women In Games International (WIGI) Women Who Draw Motionographer Screen Cartoonists Society American Advertising Federation American Copy Editors Society. Be professional: Always act professionally online and off. When you meet someone at a convention, chat with them about their projects and share yours. Treat everyone equally—from fans to fellow professionals. Don’t let ego get in your way; remember that everyone was once just a fan too.  Don’t give up: Even though it may seem overwhelming at times, never give up on your dreams of becoming an animator. There are many ways to succeed, but one thing is certain: if you stop trying, you’ll never reach success! 

How does animation help us learn?

In 2014, neuroscientists Joseph T. Addante and Richard L. Roberts studied how good versus bad animations help us learn about processes, mechanisms, and functions. Specifically, they wanted to know if the animation can be more effective than a written description of teaching students about science and medicine – from physics to anatomy to chemistry.  The results of their study were overwhelmingly positive: Students viewing accurate animations demonstrated significantly better understanding than students viewing inaccurate animations or no visual aids.  Because students find it easier to process information when it’s presented visually, animations have been shown time and time again to enhance learning for children as well as adults. This study also revealed that good animation can make all the difference in whether or not someone retains what they’ve learned after studying something new. If you want to retain knowledge long-term, an animated video is an excellent way to do so!

How does animation build connections with the target audience?

People have different ways of learning, and visually oriented learners benefit most from animation. An animation helps us learn by breaking information down into easily digestible pieces that can be linked together in our minds.  This not only makes it easier to understand abstract concepts but also improves our ability to retain information. Not only that but there’s something innately satisfying about seeing objects move on their own. By using animated graphics instead of static charts and tables, you help people grasp complex ideas quickly and get them engaged with your content before you even finish explaining what it’s about.  That way, they won’t tune out halfway through or forget what you were saying when they go back to re-read later. When should we use animations? There are many times when animation can improve your audience’s experience like when presenting data in an interesting way.  If you want people to remember how much money was spent on media campaigns last year versus how much was spent five years ago, an animated bar graph will stick in their minds long after a static one would fade away.

How does animation promote a brand’s core idea?

Companies can use animation to help consumers see why their product or service will be useful. For example, an insurance company could make an animated commercial showing a car owner driving his new Mercedes to work on Monday, only to have it totaled by a tree that falls on it later that day.  The next day he sees your commercial telling him how much money you can save him by paying for his policy each month instead of paying for coverage one time when he needs it. By animating scenarios where even owners of expensive cars can get into accidents, you demonstrate just how affordable your product or service really is compared to what most people pay now.  In fact, companies have found that using short animations featuring real-life situations and characters with which viewers can identify helps them build credibility and trust with customers faster than traditional advertisements alone.  This means fewer people skip your commercials, giving them more time to absorb your message and compelling them to take action sooner rather than later. As long as businesses keep finding new ways to incorporate animation into media content they’ll continue creating great content because they know how powerful it is at influencing buyers’ buying decisions positively.  This has created so many opportunities for companies that want to stand out from competitors and who want their brands to be remembered by potential customers forever. So don’t hesitate!

Free software to use for Animation

To create an animation, you’ll need special software to edit and compose pictures together. This is called ‘composition’. There are many software that you can choose from, such as OpenToonz (free), Toon Boom Studio ($495), and Manga Studio 5 (around $100).  You will also need image editors that specialise in creating digital art. Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator would be good choices to start with (Around $10-$20/month for each). To go beyond basic animation, you can invest more money into other tools such as Autodesk Maya ($30/month) and 3DCoat ($59/month).  These tools have powerful capabilities for things like editing video sequences and importing still images into 3D scenes. However, if you just want to make simple animations for your business, there are free alternatives available on YouTube. They provide tutorials on how to use free software such as GIMP and Inkscape.

Things to know before starting an animation

The process of making an animation requires several steps. First, you have to decide what type of animation to use, because there are many different types of animations. After deciding on a type of animation and how long you would like it to be, it’s time to write and storyboard your video. Once that’s done, it’s time for voiceover recordings.  Finally, you can edit your media content together using animation software or apps such as Adobe Photoshop. Depending on your project, you may also want to hire someone else to do some parts of these processes.  For example, if you need a script written for your video, you might hire someone who specialises in screenwriting. If you don’t know where to start with any part of creating an animation, ask friends and family members if they know anyone who works with animation professionally.  You might even find someone local who will work with you on some parts of creating an animation. This will save you money since local workers tend to charge less than people working from another city or state. However, when hiring a professional animator to create a full animation project for you, remember that their rates may vary depending on their experience and whether they’re willing to take risks with their career by working with someone new (you).  The cost could range anywhere from $5 per minute of footage up to thousands of dollars per minute depending on the experience level and creativity required. Ask around among friends, family members, and acquaintances before beginning any large-scale project so you know what you should expect when looking at quotes from professionals.  Remember that it takes much longer than most people think it does! Don’t get discouraged if it seems like you’ll never finish. Just keep going step by step, and eventually, your video will be complete. One thing that helps immensely is having a deadline—something you must meet no matter what.  That way, if something goes wrong or gets delayed along the way, it doesn’t throw off your entire schedule. Also, consider keeping each phase separate from one another so that you only focus on one task at a time rather than worrying about multiple aspects of production at once. As long as you know how to break down your overall project into manageable pieces, there shouldn’t be anything standing in your way of finishing it. And once everything’s been completed and edited, feel free to share it with others—but make sure all participants agree on proper credit/attribution practices before publishing anything!

Conclusion

The primary purpose of the animation is entertainment, but it’s also used to communicate with and influence consumers. The language of animation touches all aspects of contemporary life. It can be an engaging tool for marketers who can use it to inspire and entertain, as well as help convey ideas and information that might otherwise be dry.  Whether you need an animated explainer video or an animated infographic, there are many effective ways to bring your message to life using animation. In addition, some techniques are great for marketing both online and off.  For example, graphic design principles such as contrast and repetition make ads more visually appealing; call-to-action phrases like Start Now provide guidance on how to act. These types of messages work just as effectively in static images or printed materials. The main difference between static images and animations is that they move—and move us!  Consumers respond differently when presented with different forms of media. They may not always know why, but if your product or service resonates with them, then it doesn’t really matter what kind of medium you use. If you have a compelling idea, then chances are good that animation will help you express it better than any other form of media.  This is especially true for new technologies where we don’t yet know what works best. Animations often incorporate elements of motion graphics and user interface (UI) designs, so by understanding these fields, you’ll have a leg up on understanding animators.  Finally, most large businesses use social media channels to connect with customers and generate brand awareness. That means even small businesses can take advantage of these trends through online platforms like YouTube and Facebook.  This content tends to do best when it’s entertaining or informative—things that are easier to accomplish through animation. Bottom line: While one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to advertising your business, creating fun animations certainly isn’t out of reach for most organisations looking for creative ways to reach their audience—no matter their size.

Did you find this blog useful? Share it!

Got a 3D project in mind?

We would love to help! Send us your project brief and we'll come back to you with a quote.

Contact Us

Related Posts

Subscribe to XO3D Newsletter
Receive the latest
3D Marketing Tips

Get all the latest 3D marketing tips, industry news, and exclusive discounts straight to your inbox each week.