There are lots of ways to add visuals to an explainer. Here are some of the techniques I use:
Animation
This is a popular option but can be expensive. Prices usually start at £1200- £2000 a minute. It’s more expensive if you want Pixar style 3D animation, less if it’s 2D. Styles that use hand-drawn or illustrated usually cost more.
Motion graphics
Motion graphics is a form of digital animation. It can be a great way to bring diagrams, pictures, and text to life. Because it’s digital it’s easier to change than hand-drawn animation styles and thus usually costs less.
Stop-motion
Stop-motion can be incredibly sophisticated (think Wallace and Gromit) but I’ve often found a low-fi approach can be effective.
Objects
There’s a new style of filming I’ve noticed in the last few years where you accompany your script with a series of filmed objects, often filmed from above. (See also: this edition of Video Ideas on video slideshows) I’m not sure if “objects” is the best to describe this technique but it’s one I’ve had a lot of fun with, for example in this film about the importance of designers.
Presenter
One of the most engaging — and affordable — visual styles is to have someone presenting to camera. One option that I like a lot is to mix presenting with animation or other visuals. For example in this film for BBC Ideas, the author Nir Eyal is talking about “surfing the urge” as a way of not succumbing to distraction. As he says this we cut away to a short animation of this idea before returning to him speaking.
News or documentary archive
Old archive can be used straight or in a more abstract way to add visual interest to an explainer.
Stock footage and photography
Although it’s quite quick and affordable, stock footage and photography are often used badly — slapped on as wallpaper in a way that makes the film bland, soulless and generic. (My particular hatred is corporate time-lapse footage.) However, if combined with good writing and a sense of humour it can work well.
See also: