How to get the perfect whiteboard animation
For decades now, whiteboard videos have been used to create different types of videos; from sales to explainer. In such a dynamic industry, how have whiteboard videos been able to stand the test of time? The devil lies in the details.
Whiteboard videos essentially provide a magical watching experience by having the scenes and characters being drawn by hand. Essentially, they create a situation where you watch every scene unfold as the story continues; most of the times, you feel like you are part of the story.
Whiteboard videos are made up of three components: a white background, a drawing hand, and a constant black drawing. This means that the videos are clean and easy to understand. When combined with the fact that whiteboard videos are a constant reminder of the classroom environment (the place where we understood the most difficult of concepts), it is impossible not to see why whiteboard videos make for an easy understanding. According to some experts, they provide the simplest yet effective medium to explain complex concepts to your audience. But what is the psychology behind whiteboard videos?
How effective are whiteboard videos?
Debate has been on going on the psychological impacts of whiteboard animation videos. One researcher, Dr. Richard Wiseman, conducted research by pitting whiteboard animation videos against the classic ‘talking-head videos.’ After analyzing the results, he concluded that whiteboard videos had a solid 15% lead in terms of memorability as compared to their ‘talking-head’ counterparts. But why is this?
It’s simple. First, whiteboard videos are fun. It is a well-established fact that the human brain retains more information when learning is fun. Secondly, they are simple. At TranspixelStudio we have seen time and again how whiteboard videos can present complex ideas in form of simple and easy to understand animation videos. As such, it is easy to detach from the complexity of the ideas and get immersed in the simplicity of the explanation. Simply, whiteboard videos make for great educational tools.
Steps to your first (effective) whiteboard video
The birth of a great whiteboard animation video follows five basic steps.
1)Script
This is the written text for the video. Since scripts provide the storyline to be followed later, it is important to have an effective script. But what really differentiates between a terrible script and an effective one? An effective script explains three key elements: the what, how, and why.
What- problem does your audience face?
How- does your product solve the problem?
Why- is your product the best or most effective?
When a potential customer watches your video, they are looking for the solution to their problem. As such, it is important to expertly frame your message so that the customer is convinced you know what their problem is (you wouldn’t want a doctor who insists on treating your leg when your arm is aching, would you?). Only then, should your script explain how your product or service solves the particular problem and convinces the customer that you offer the best solution to the said problem.
2)Storyboard
This marks the second step in your animation journey. Simply put, a storyboard is some sort of a table that describes every scene in your video (in detail).
However, unlike storyboards for other types of animations, whiteboard videos’ storyboards are unique and require great attention to detail. This is because in whiteboard videos, every frame is connected to the next. Since one of the basic components of a whiteboard video is the hand drawing the scenes, as a whiteboard animator, you cannot afford to have too many transitions; without the risk of losing the visual continuity that differentiates whiteboard videos.
3) Illustration
As already mentioned, whiteboard storyboards require a lot of attention to detail. This is because they must maintain the simplistic style while still explaining the concept in its entirety, however complex. As such, your illustrations must be made with perfect proportions and placed at the right spaces. To fully express the message in your video, it might also be important to zoom in and zoom out of different sections. This provides you with the chance to give more information without introducing too many transitions. As this step is fairly complex, it is best to work with a professional animator or illustrator to make sure your video turns out as expected.
4) Whiteboard Animation
Just a few years ago, this step was executed by filming a professional illustrator making the drawings. However, technology has greatly revolutionized the industry. Now, depending on the program you are using, you can simply choose and add the drawing hand to the video. Also, you can make your video unique by including some character animation in your video. This will greatly enhance the quality of your video. But, remember, don’t overdo it.
5) Voiceovers, Music and Sound Effects
This part provides the timing for the video. In fact, it actually plays a major role in coming up with the storyboard as the animation transitions must go hand in hand with the voiceover. However, it is usually added last to the video. To guarantee the originality and effectiveness of your script, it is important that the voiceover is recorded by a native speaker so as to effectively capture the local dialect, accents and language. This provides for a greater connection with your audience. An important thing to remember is the music and sound effects should not compete with the voiceover and should instead make for a more interesting viewing experience.
How to own your video
This is the most important part. Without any features, your whiteboard video might seem bland and generic. But don’t worry, there are ways with which you can brand your video.
1) Include your brand colours
This is the most effective technique to own your video. For instance, if Facebook were to create a whiteboard video, it would lose some of its value and effect without Facebook’s iconic blue color. However, do not use a full color pallete. Your video should always have the signature white background (otherwise it will not be a whiteboard animation video).
2) Illustrate with your target audience in mind
This is also very important. One of the reasons whiteboard videos are so effective is that they let the audience be part of the storyline. However, if your characters have no relation to your audience at all, it might be difficult to get your message across.
Now you too can create an engaging whiteboard video for your brand. But remember to keep it simple, high-quality, and short; the video is supposed to be fun.
If you are interested in knowing more about how whiteboard videos can bring in new customers, check out my blogpost at transpixelstudio.com
