What is the advantage of 2D animation over live-action or 3D animation?
Like live-action video, 3D animation, or even whiteboard animation, 2D animation is a tool that you can use to convey your company’s message to your customers. When compared to other options, 2D is enjoyable and engaging. So, if your brand needs a facelift, or if your goal is to make your customers smile, then 2D animated video is right for you.
Consider iTrade’s most recent videos where they both updated their graphics and messaging to make full use of 2D’s stronger aspects.
Still, that’s not all that makes 2D animation special. 2D animation is great for nostalgia, more serious topics, and more information-heavy messages.
So, why would you hire a company like us for their 2D animation services? Let’s talk about it.
2D Animation is Imagination Visualized
What does imagination look like?
Well, thanks to Disney, Pixar, and the Sunday Funnies, we have our answer. 2D video animation does a fantastic job of catching lightning in a bottle and presenting it in a non-threatening and wonder-filled way.
Think about Ghostbusters. You probably watched the live action approach of Zuul with terror when you were a kid. Now, if your kid was watching an animated version of something similar, like this Ghostbusters-inspired video we recently made for scaleout software, that fear wouldn’t be nearly as pronounced. Why? Because 2D animation is just a little bit more fantastical.
The fantastical elements of the situation the characters are in, and the nostalgically styled animation help Scaleout do two things with this video. They get to deliver their message in a fun and exciting way, and they get to insert themselves, at least in part, into their viewer’s memories and imaginations.
After all, we’ve been told by Saturday morning cartoons and larger studios that anything is possible, especially when 2D animated characters are center stage.
2D Animation Is Great For Serious Topics
Okay, so we just made the point that 2D animation is good for topics that require a lot of imagination and creativity. So, why are we saying that 2D animation is good for really grounded and serious messages? Surely 2D can’t be that versatile.
It may surprise you that the same characteristics that make 2D animated videos so good for conveying imagination also make them exceptional at communicating more serious animated messages. The best 2D video animations can even do both.
Take our video series “impatient science” for The Dr. Susan Love Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This series takes breast cancer and breaks down what a diagnosis means, what to do when you have one, and where you can find support. While this video is a mix of live-action and animation when Dr. Love explains breast cancer, we rely on animation to give the audience a buffer.
You can watch the “impatient science” series promo below.
The use of animation creates a small buffer between the audience and the sobering realization that they’re at risk of breast cancer. Because there’s always the knowledge that the animated characters aren’t 100% real, the lessons Dr. Love conveys can sink in deeper and make a more significant impact.
In short, the power of imagination helps the audience realize that even though this message is serious and that it’s for them, they are not in immediate danger.
2D Animation Makes Even the Dullest Concepts into Engaging Stories
There’s a reason why 2D animation videos caught on so fast and so completely.
Great 2D animated videos are only limited by the imagination that we use to create them. Take the work we did for Energy Upgrade California, an initiative by California State’s energy company. They needed a way to make energy upgrades and energy efficiency look “sexy” and “cool” – as strange as that sounds!
We took that need and created a Mission Impossible-themed character animation that framed renewables and energy conservation as something cool, exciting, and just dangerous enough to be interesting.
You can watch that video below.
2D animated videos are a great way to spice up your business’s image during a new launch or a rebranding effort.
Are 2D Animations Right for You?
It’s true, 2D animation isn’t right for everyone (though we think it’s an excellent choice for 90% of companies). So, what do you think? Are you more of a live-action person or a 3D animation buff?
Then, before you tell us your answer, think to yourself, do you want to touch on your client’s nostalgia? Do you need to say something serious without scaring your customers? Do you need something radical and new?
If any of these questions had you nodding your head in agreement, then consider 2D animation for your next campaign!