When it comes to creating animated video content, the idea of cheap and fast production can be enticing. After all, who doesn’t want a solution that stretches budget or reduces production time? But as most marketing professionals know, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Let’s explore some of the most common mistakes when creating animated video content — so you can avoid them before you get started.
Process is Key
We’ve all seen animated videos where the visuals distract from the message. When it comes to animated video production, quality should always come first. Quality animated video content is born of process, from concept development and scripting to storyboarding and production, and cutting corners on any of these steps will inevitably lead to substandard content — regardless of the budget or timeline constraints.
Script and Storyboard
Scripting and storyboarding are imperative parts of the pre-production process. A well-structured script is foundational for creating the engaging content you need to connect to your audience. You want a narrative that is concise and clear with a natural call to action. Once you have your script, it’s important to create a detailed storyboard as this will dictate how the animation will look once it’s produced. Failing to develop either may result in an unclear message or visual confusion during the animation process itself — making post-production revisions expensive and time-consuming.
Production
Once you’ve developed your script and storyboard, you’re ready for the next step — production! Animation production involves creating each frame individually, taking care to ensure that all elements are perfectly synchronized with narration and audio tracks. It’s helpful to understand how the final results are built because it helps you understand the implications of changes at this phase of the process. Make sure you give clear feedback at the defined checkpoints to ensure you don’t have costly changes later in the process.
Bonus: Work with a partner who can guide you through when to bring in other decision-makers to get the feedback you need, without slowing down the process.
Revisions
Punch-ups and revisions are also important when producing animated videos — especially when there are multiple stakeholders involved in the decision-making process such as marketers, sales or operational teams.
Make sure you set aside adequate time for feedback loops at each stage of production so that any changes or updates can be implemented without compromising timelines or budgets. Additionally, keeping everyone informed along the way will help build consensus; disagreements between stakeholders can lead to costly delays as everyone works out their differences.
Audio
Finally, don’t neglect audio engineering when creating animated videos! Audio is just as important as visuals when building engaging content and can be a quick tell of the quality of the production — sometimes even subconsciously.
Animated videos are an effective way for businesses to promote their products and services — but if not done correctly they can detract from your brand value. By understanding what mistakes could potentially occur during pre-production planning through revisions to the final cut—content managers, sales teams, marketers (or anyone else looking to produce animated video) will have a better chance of success when creating quality animated video content that captures viewers attention while on budget & within desired timelines.
Get in touch with Flikli to learn more about animated video production.