2D Explainer Videos Make Messages Attractive: Examples and Tools
Transform your storytelling with 2D explainer videos. Learn to create visually engaging animations using tools like CapCut, discover tips for success, and explore step-by-step guides to make impactful content.
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A 2D explainer video is an engaging animation style that breaks down complex concepts into simple, easy-to-digest visual narratives. Known for their unique ability to captivate audiences, these videos have gained immense popularity due to their simplicity, affordability, and adaptability across various industries, from marketing to education. Their versatility makes them ideal for businesses looking to convey messages effectively and creatively. Modern tools like CapCut add to their appeal and empower creators to design visually stunning and impactful explainer videos easily.
Benefits of 2D explainer videos for businesses
A 2D explainer video is a short, animated video that uses flat, two-dimensional graphics to convey ideas, explain concepts, or showcase products and services in an engaging and easy-to-understand manner. These videos combine visuals, narration, and storytelling to simplify complex topics, making them highly effective for marketing, education, and communication purposes.
In simpler words, a 2D animation explainer is a compelling animation format that simplifies complex ideas through engaging storytelling and visuals. These videos are a powerful tool for businesses, offering several key advantages:
- Simplifies communication
- Complex concepts are made accessible through clear visuals and straightforward narratives, enhancing understanding across diverse audiences.
- Affordable video marketing
- Compared to live-action or 3D animation, 2D explainer videos are cost-effective and offer high-quality results without exceeding marketing budgets.
- Boosts audience retention
- Dynamic visuals and concise messaging keep viewers engaged for longer periods, making it easier to deliver important information effectively.
- Increases conversion rates
- Explainer videos help drive more leads and sales by clearly and persuasively showcasing products or services, turning viewers into customers.
- Improves brand awareness
- Customized animations allow businesses to reinforce their brand identity, ensuring they leave a lasting impression on their target audience.
This combination of creativity and practicality makes 2D explainer videos indispensable for modern businesses aiming to connect with their audience. Wondering how to make a 2D explainer video? We'll find out in later sections.
6 top 2D animation explainer video examples
- Spotify
- This explainer video highlights Anchor's partnership with Spotify with bold animation and engaging content. By opting for animated visuals over live-action, Spotify captures attention and dynamically conveys its message, making complex ideas easy to digest.
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- Operata
- The recent collaboration between Vidico and Operata showcases their expertise in 2D animation, offering a highly personalized and organic visual narrative. Hand-drawn storyboards add a unique, custom touch, setting it apart from typical animated explainer videos and making the story more relatable and engaging.
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- Slack
- Slack's explainer video resonates with its target audience by showcasing a relatable story of transitioning from chaotic email workflows to productive collaboration using Slack. This 2D animation effectively boosts brand engagement and demonstrates Slack's value as a productivity tool.
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- QuickBooks Online + Etsy
- This video targets Etsy users, showcasing QuickBooks as essential for managing their businesses. It uses concise messaging, visual consistency, and relatable storytelling to communicate its value within a minute, making it an excellent example of targeted marketing.
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- Dropbox
- Dropbox's explainer video excels with a clear problem-solution narrative, relatable characters, and visual metaphors. In under three minutes, it effectively demonstrates Dropbox's features, proving to be a cost-efficient marketing solution and boosting brand recognition.
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- CaraKit
- CaraKit's explainer video emotionally connects with its audience through warm colors and a welcoming tone. The use of 2D animation and a relatable narrator fosters a sense of comfort and familiarity, enhancing viewer engagement.
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6 best 2D explainer video makers for creating
1. CapCut
CapCut is one of the best 2D explainer video makers for creating high-quality 2D explainer videos. It offers a range of advanced editing features, including dynamic sticker options, powerful tracking tools, and impressive animation capabilities. These features make crafting visually engaging and professional-looking explainer videos easy. Whether you're creating intricate animations or adding fun effects, CapCut provides a comprehensive set of features for seamless video production.
Start creating stunning 2D explainer videos today with CapCut and take your content to the next level!
- It offers diverse stickers and allows you to generate AI stickers.
- You can add animations to stickers, including spring, fade-in, etc.
- Motion tracking is used to achieve the dynamic effects of elements.
- Provides voiceovers and various types of copyrighted music.
- Advanced features require an internet connection.
How to create a 2D animated explainer video
- Step
- Upload your media
- Launch CapCut, and after choosing "Create project", click on "Import" to load media files into CapCut. Upload your media files (images, videos, audio) and organize them on the timeline. Make sure you gather visuals that complement your message and align with your explainer video's theme.
- Step
- Animate and customize 2D explainer video
- Add visual elements like stickers and texts, adjust their size and position. Then, go to "Animation" to select In/Out/Loop effects or go to "Tracking" to apply "Motion tracking" to make the element move following the target. Moreover, you can use "Voiceover" to record explainer voice or add some music from "Audio."
- Step
- Export and share 2D explainer video
- Once you're satisfied with your video, preview it to ensure smooth transitions and proper synchronization of all elements. Then, click on "Export" to save your video in your desired resolution and format, or directly share it to your social media platforms to reach your audience.
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2. Vyond
Vyond is a powerful 2D explainer video maker that simplifies the process of making 2D explainer videos. With its generative AI tools, such as Vyond Go, users can easily go from script to screen in just seconds. Vyond offers a vast library of customizable avatars, templates, and mixed media features, making it ideal for businesses and creators looking for engaging, professional-quality animations. Whether for marketing, training, or storytelling, Vyond streamlines the video creation process, allowing users to make edits and updates effortlessly.
- Instant video creation with Vyond Go.
- A wide variety of AI tools to create 2D explainer animation.
- Extensive library of video templates for explainer topic.
- Supports mixed media and dynamic storytelling options.
- Watermarks in the videos.
3. Animaker
Animaker is a 2D animation explainer video software designed to create high-quality animation videos easily. Featuring an award-winning animation generator, it allows users to turn simple prompts into stunning videos. With tools like AI character and voice generators, auto lip-sync, and real-time collaboration, Animaker makes video creation fast and efficient. The platform also provides customization features such as AI-generated assets and subtitles, ensuring your content is tailored to your audience globally.
- Customizable characters and assets, including backgrounds and props.
- Over 800 human-like voices in 100+ languages for animation characters.
- Real-time collaboration for seamless teamwork.
- Brand Kit for consistent branding across videos.
- Limited free plan with fewer options.
4. Toonly
Toonly is an easy-to-use, intuitive 2D explainer animation software designed to help users create professional explainer videos in minutes. With a vast library of custom-drawn characters, props, and backgrounds, users can drag and drop elements to create animations effortlessly. Toonly also provides features like voiceover recording, syncing, and royalty-free audio tracks, making it an ideal choice for beginners and businesses looking for a simple and efficient video creation tool.
- Access to a large library of custom-drawn characters, props, and backgrounds.
- Ability to record and sync custom voiceovers directly within the platform.
- Premade scenes for fast 2D video creation.
- Royalty-free music tracks for a professional touch.
- Limited to the available assets in the library.
5. Powtoon
Powtoon is an accessible and versatile 2D explainer video software allowing users to create professional-quality animated videos without design or tech skills. With a wide range of ready-made templates, animations, characters, and footage, users can easily customize videos for different needs. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, Powtoon provides intuitive tools to help you make impactful videos quickly and efficiently.
- Extensive library of ready-made explainer video templates.
- Supports multiple animation styles: 2D, 3D, infographics, and whiteboard animation.
- Provides a large collection of characters, backgrounds, objects, and animations.
- Allows you to access your projects from anywhere and collaborate with others in real-time.
- Some advanced features are locked behind paid plans.
6. Synfig
Synfig is a free, open-source 2D animation software designed for creating high-quality animations with vector and bitmap artwork. It eliminates the need for frame-by-frame animation, making it easier and more resource-efficient to produce professional-grade 2D animations. Synfig offers powerful tools for both beginners and experts, making it ideal for creating complex animations without requiring extensive manpower.
- Powerful vector tweening for smooth animation transitions.
- Offers 50+ layers for creating detailed artwork and animations.
- Advanced bone system for cutout animation and controlling vector artwork.
- Flexible parameter linking for creating dynamic structures and advanced animations.
- Rendering can be slow, especially with high-quality settings or complex animations.
Tips to make your 2D explainer video stand out
Creating a standout 2D explainer video requires thoughtful planning and creative execution. Here are some key tips to ensure your video captivates and engages your audience:
- Focus on the story, not just the features
- Instead of listing features briefly, craft a compelling narrative that demonstrates how your product or service solves real-world problems and adds value to the audience's life. You can use CapCut's AI writer to generate an explainer video script by entering the prompt and topic.
- Keep it short and simple
- Attention spans are short, so aim for an ideal length of 60–90 seconds. This ensures your message is delivered clearly and concisely without losing viewer interest.
- Use high-quality voiceovers and music
- Professional voiceovers and the right background music can elevate your video's impact. Tools like CapCut's audio library provide a variety of music and sound effects to enhance your video's tone and professionalism.
- Leverage humor and relatability
- Add a touch of humor or relatable scenarios to keep viewers entertained while effectively conveying your message. This approach helps build a stronger emotional connection with your audience.
Focusing on these elements can help you create a memorable 2D explainer video that leaves a lasting impression and drives results.
How to use 2D explainer videos effectively
A well-crafted 2D explainer video can be a versatile tool across various business functions. Here are some effective ways to leverage them:
- In marketing campaigns
- Use 2D explainer videos to capture attention and increase click-through rates on social media platforms, email campaigns, and ads. Their engaging visuals and concise messaging make them perfect for promoting products or services.
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- For internal training
- Simplify complex processes or concepts with explainer videos designed for onboarding employees or training staff. They help standardize training materials and ensure better understanding.
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- On websites and landing pages
- Placing an explainer video on your homepage or landing pages can boost conversions by clearly demonstrating your product's value proposition and guiding potential customers toward taking action.
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- For customer support
- Create explainer videos that serve as tutorials or FAQs to reduce repetitive inquiries. These videos empower customers to solve common issues independently, improving satisfaction and reducing support workload.
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Conclusion
2D explainer videos are a powerful and versatile tool for businesses, offering benefits like increased audience engagement, higher conversion rates, improved brand awareness, and simplified communication. Their affordability and adaptability make them ideal for marketing, training, and customer support. For creating professional-quality 2D explainer videos, CapCut stands out as a beginner-friendly solution packed with advanced features, including its sticker, text, animation, and motion tracking features. Before creating your own one, you can refer to the six excellent examples given in the article and combine their strengths to create the best results.
Start crafting your standout 2D explainer videos today with CapCut and take your messaging to the next level!
FAQs
- What does it cost to make a 2D explainer video?
- The cost of a 2D explainer video varies widely, ranging from $5,00 to $20,000 per minute, depending on factors like creating tools, complexity, length, and production quality. But CapCut offers a free solution where you can use stickers, text, animations, and motion tracking to create 2D explainer videos for free.
- What is the typical process for creating a 2D explainer video?
- The process involves research and planning, scriptwriting, storyboarding, design and illustration, animation, voiceover and sound design, and final editing. Each step ensures a cohesive and engaging video effectively communicating the intended message. Even if the steps are complicated, you can use CapCut to complete them, because it provides a complete set of 2D explainer video editing tools, such as motion tracking, animations, and AI writer.
- How to create a script for a 2D explainer video?
- Start by defining the video's purpose and understanding your audience. Structure the script with a clear beginning, middle, and end, focusing on solving a problem and including a call to action. Tools like CapCut's AI writer can assist in generating and refining professional-quality scripts. You just need to enter the prompt and select the video theme you need, AI writer will automatically generate the script.