3D Animation: A Deep Dive into the Production Process

The Psychology of Color

Brand colors can vary between 3 to 8 colors that build the visuals for a brand, usually split into primary and secondary color palettes. Branding uses primary colors across logos, signage, and all other materials for identification (e.g. Coca-Cola signature red). Secondary colors support the primary color by adjusting to trends or local demographics.

Creative agencies strategically use these colors across logos, websites, social media, and packaging, contributing to a recognizable brand presence. A good color palette can improve brand recognition and help customers bond better with your brand.

Why the Choice of Colors Matter for Branding

  • Establish Brand Identity and Recognition:
    Consistent brand colors make your brand recognizable and memorable.

Example: Coca-Cola’s iconic red and white have been synonymous with the brand since 1886.

  • Evoke Emotions and Associations:
    Colors influence customer emotions and decision-making.

Example: Facebook uses blue to convey trust and reliability, creating a calming user experience.

  • Boost Brand Recall:
    Consistent use of colors improves brand recall by up to 80%.

Customers associate repeated visuals with your brand, enhancing recognition and trust.

  • Create a Competitive Edge:
    Stand out by choosing colors that differentiate your brand from competitors.

Analyze competitor palettes and pick colors that reflect your brand’s unique identity.

10 Tips for Choosing the Right Color for Your Brand and Marketing Purposes 

1. Define Your Brand’s Personality:

Identify traits representing your brand, like sophistication, fun, or ruggedness.

For example, Nike uses black and white to convey boldness and simplicity.

2. Ensure Color Appropriateness:

Align colors with your product or service for a cohesive image:

Example: Health food brands often use green to signify freshness and health.

3. Appeal to Your Target Audience:

Consider audience preferences, including cultural and gender-based inclinations:

Example: Barbie uses a vibrant pink to appeal to young girls.

4. Differentiate from Competitors:

Choose colors that make your brand stand out in the market.

Example: Apple uses white and silver for a clean, modern look, contrasting with competitors’ darker tones.

5. Use Strategic Color Combinations:

Create a palette with base colors and contrasting accents to guide focus.

Example: McDonald’s uses red and yellow to grab attention and evoke appetite.

6. Leverage Contrast for Visibility:

Highlight key elements like call-to-action buttons with contrasting colors.

Example: A red button on a green page ensures visibility and encourages interaction.

7. Test Colors in Context:

Apply colors across platforms and gather feedback from your audience.

Example: Testing packaging colors in stores to observe customer reactions.

8. Use Descriptive Color Names:

Choose unique names to make colors more appealing and memorable.

Example: Starbucks’ “emerald green” is more evocative and unique than simply calling it “green.”

9. Maintain Consistency:

Use your color palette consistently across all branding materials.

Example: Coca-Cola’s consistent use of red ensures instant recognition.

10. Balance Aesthetics with Functionality:

Ensure colors enhance readability and usability without overwhelming the audience.

Example: Avoid clashing bright colors that strain the eyes.

If you found this info helpful, explore what the primary colors signify and evoke emotions from the infographic below.

Content Marketing: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Unlocking Social Media Success

Facebook 

Target customer – All age groups

Organic benefits-

Builds brand awareness

Create a separate community to foster active customers. 

Paid  campaign benefits  – 

Target highly specific audience 

Boost content reach 

Generate leads from traffic 

Instagram 

Target customer  – (18 – 40)

Organic benefits-

Establish brand personality 

Attract the right audience 

Paid  campaign benefits  – 

Reach those who need your services 

Increased visibility 

More conversion, more sales

YouTube 

Target customer  – all age groups consuming videos

Organic benefits –

Educate about your brand

Better engagement 

Build brand authority

Paid  campaign benefits  –

Reach the right audience 

More potential customers visit website

More views result in getting viral

Linkedin 

Target customer  – Professionals (20-65), B2B networks

Organic benefits –

Spredas core industry insights 

Establishes thought leadership

Direct interaction with potential customers

Paid  campaign benefits –

Targets decision makers of companies

Generates warm leads

Expand brand connections

Pinterest 

Target customer  – Do It Yourself (DIY) enthusiasts of all ages

Organic benefits –

Boosts blog views 

Quick demonstration of product/service 

Spread brand awareness

Paid  campaign benefits –

Promotes niche based content

Promotes guides, use cases

More sales of visually appealing products 

Twitter

Target customer – Professionals (20-65), B2B networks

Organic benefits –

Keep audience up-to-date

Engage in real time

Establish brand voice 

Paid  campaign benefits –

Beta testing with professionals 

Promotes live events 

Boosts conversions 

Snapchat

Target customer  – Gen Z & Millennials

Organic benefits – 

Engages with younger generation

Fun content gets more shares

Quality content boosts word of mouth 

Paid  campaign benefits –

Direct collaboration with influencers 

Boosts sales of products 

Chance of going viral 

Quora

Organic benefits –

Establishes thought leadership

Builds trust & credibility 

Encourages website traffic

Paid  campaign benefits –

Niche based targeting

Attracts relevant users

Boosts answer visibility 

Reddit

Target customer – knowledge seeker communities 

Organic benefits – 

Get an already engaged audience 

Attracts highly active audience 

Builds brand reputation 

Paid  campaign benefits –

Leverages influencer marketing

Promotes products only in relevant areas

Engages niche based communities 

Telegram

Target customer – Niche Community Participants

Organic benefits –

Builds loyal customer base

Niche specific communities 

24/7 Direct communication using chatbots  

Paid  campaign benefits –

Partnership with relevant channels 

Hosts Ask Me Anything 

Gets more interested customers 

The Evolution of 2D Animation Techniques

Whenever we scroll through social media or browse a website, 2D animation videos as ads appear in our feeds. These videos look awesome sometimes (except the promotional ones, we sometimes hate it too). However, have you ever wondered where these 2D animations came from? What did they look like in the past? What are the iconic names in history that have marked a memory throughout our previous generation? 

Well, running a digital marketing agency in Kolkata, we thought of exploring the roots of 2D animation and penned it down in case you also find it interesting. 

The Evolution of 2D Animation Techniques

From flipbooks to AI and different software-generated videos, 2D animation has covered a very interesting journey so far. As explained below,

1. The Dawn of Animation: Flipbooks and Zoetropes

Before the big studios and fancy technology, animation had humble beginnings. The flipbook was one of the first ways people could create the illusion of movement. By flipping through pages with drawings, each one slightly different, the human eye would blend them into motion.

Example: One of the earliest flipbooks was created by John Barnes Linnett in 1868, where a horse appeared to gallop as the pages were turned. Even in the Taare Zameen Par movie, we have seen flipbooks as a creative art.

The zoetrope came around in the 1830s, a spinning drum with images inside. As it spun, you could see animated images through slits. It was like a prehistoric movie projector!

2. The Birth of Traditional Animation: Hand-Drawn Cel Animation

Hand-drawn cel animation was where animation took off. Artists would draw each frame of an animation on separate sheets of transparent celluloid, known as “cels”. These “cels” were then layered on top of static backgrounds, making the movement look fluid.

Example: Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was the first full-length feature film created with this technique. It required over 250,000 hand-drawn frames!

3. The Golden Age of Cartoons: Disney and Warner Bros.

The 1930s to the 1950s were the “Golden Age” of animation. Big names like Walt Disney and Warner Bros. made animated films and shorts a cultural staple. Traditional cel animation was used here, with many animators working together to create individual frames. 

For iconic cartoons like Mickey Mouse, studios used synchronized sound with animation, making the movement feel more lifelike.

Example: Mickey Mouse first appeared in Steamboat Willie (1928), one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound. On the other hand, Looney Tunes introduced classic characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, which shaped American cartoon humor.

4. The Rise of Limited Animation: Exploring New Styles

As demand for animated content grew, studios needed ways to cut costs. Limited animation was born out of necessity. Instead of animating every frame, only the essential movements were animated, (for example, a character’s arms or legs might stay still while only the head or torso moves) making characters appear more “jerky” but saving a lot of time and resources.

Example: Shows like The Flintstones (1960) used limited animation techniques. While the movement was less fluid than earlier Disney films, the style became a popular and cost-effective way to create TV cartoons.

5. The Computer Age: Digital Ink and Paint

The 1980s saw a breakthrough in animation with the introduction of digital tools. Digital ink and paint replaced the traditional method of painting each cel by hand. This made the process faster and more accurate. Animators started scanning hand-drawn artwork into a computer and then digitally painting it.

Example: Disney’s The Little Mermaid (1989) was one of the first animated films to use digital ink and paint, making the colors richer and more vibrant than ever before.

6. The Digital Revolution: Software and Tools

By the 1990s, animation was fully embracing computer technology. Software like Adobe Flash and Toon Boom allowed animators to create animations faster and with more flexibility. 

Animators were empowered to create vector-based animation which means the images could be resized or altered without losing quality. This opened up new possibilities for animated series and movies, pushing the limits of creativity.

Example: The Simpsons (1989-) used early computer tools in some of its production, combining hand-drawn art with digital technology to speed up the animation process.

7. The Rise of Vector Graphics: Clean Lines and Scalability

Vector graphics, which use mathematical equations to create images instead of pixels, became popular in animation. This made it possible to scale images without losing quality and kept the animation clean and smooth. Here, artists use paths, lines, and points, and the computer calculates how to animate these shapes.

Example: South Park (1997-) is known for using vector graphics. The show’s simplistic, cut-out style makes it easy to animate quickly, and the use of vector-based animation ensures crisp lines in every scene.

8. Rotoscoping: Tracing Live Action for Realistic Movement

Rotoscoping is an animation technique where animators trace footage of live-action scenes frame-by-frame to create realistic movements. This method can blend the line between reality and animation, giving a very lifelike look to the animation.

Example: A Scanner Darkly (2006) used rotoscoping to create a surreal, animated look over live-action footage, with actors like Keanu Reeves appearing in animated form.

9. Cut-Out Animation: Bringing Paper to Life

Cut-out animation involves moving pieces of paper or other flat materials frame by frame to create movement. Each frame would involve repositioning the shapes slightly to simulate movement, similar to traditional stop-motion. While this may sound simple, it requires precision and creativity.

Example: South Park (1997-) originally started as a stop-motion cut-out animation before moving to digital techniques. The show’s characters were made from paper cut-outs, which were moved slightly between each shot.

10. 2D Animation in the 21st Century: Hybrid Techniques and Innovation

Today, 2D animation is a mix of traditional methods and cutting-edge digital tools. Animators combine hand-drawn techniques with software to create more dynamic and fluid animations. There’s also a blending of 2D with 3D elements, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Example: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) uses 2D and 3D animation techniques in a groundbreaking way, creating a visual style that feels like a comic book come to life, with depth, texture, and movement blending seamlessly.

Watch out for the infographic below for a shorter and comprehensive brief history of 2D animation video techniques.

The Rise of Video Marketing: Stats and Trends

We will discuss why video is a great marketing tool for the upcoming generations. Meanwhile, let me ask you something. If you could learn about a new service or product, what would you prefer most?
– A long essay on how-tos? Or a short explainer video?
– A blog on the benefits of the product or service? Or a video pinpointing the benefits for you?

– A para wise guide book? Or an animated video for a visual representation of the step-by-step guide?

If you said yes to video for all of the above, then you can understand why video is a great marketing tool for a business. Whether a small business or working with an experienced advertising agency in Kolkata, incorporating videos into your strategy can revolutionize your marketing game.

Why Video Marketing is So Powerful?

Working with a professional advertising agency in Kolkata can help businesses strategically embed videos into their content, ensuring maximum engagement and returns.

1. Boosts Engagement

  • Videos naturally capture attention and keep users engaged longer than text or images.
  • Stat: Social video generates 1200% more shares than text and image content combined.

2. Increases Organic Traffic

  • Videos improve dwell time, signaling search engines that your content is valuable.
  • Stat: Websites with video are 53 times more likely to rank on the first page of Google. 

3. Drives Higher Goal Conversions

  • Videos simplify complex messages, making users more likely to take action.
  • Stat: 84% of marketers say video has helped them generate leads. 

4. Improves ROI

  • Videos maximize returns by combining high engagement with cost-effective reach.
  • Stat: 92% of video marketers report a positive ROI, up from 83% in 2018.

5. Enhances Emotional Connection

  • Videos use visuals, sound, and storytelling to evoke emotions, building trust and brand loyalty.
  • Stat: 95% of viewers retain a message when watching a video, compared to 10% when reading text. 

6. Mobile-Friendly and Preferred by Users

  • Mobile users increasingly consume video content, making it essential for capturing this audience.
  • Stat: 75% of video views worldwide come from mobile devices. 

7. Supports Multi-Channel Strategies

  • Videos can be repurposed across platforms like websites, emails, social media, and ads.
  • Stat: Including video in an email can increase click-through rates by up to 300%. 

8. Easy to Share and Amplify

  • Video content is highly shareable, increasing its reach organically through social media.
  • Stat: 66% of consumers prefer watching videos to learn about a product or service. 

9. Measurable Impact with Analytics

  • Videos provide actionable insights through views, click-through rates, and engagement metrics, helping refine strategies.
  • Stat: 83% of businesses say video provides a good return on investment due to its measurable results.

10. Versatile for Storytelling

  • From product demos to customer testimonials, video accommodates diverse storytelling formats.
  • Stat: Explainer videos increase understanding of products by 94%, boosting purchase intent. 

How you can use video for different marketing purposes

Different types of videos can serve different purposes. A promotional video of 45 seconds will not bring positive results if you use it to educate your audience about your product or service. 

1. Animated product explainer videos.

2. Educational short videos, or snippets from educational podcasts.

3. User-generated videos.

4. Animated awareness videos.

5. Customer testimonial videos.

6. Product demo or animated how-to videos.

7. Welcome video for newsletters.

8. Short promotional videos or talking heads for effective advertising on socials

Watch out for the infographic below to learn the key statistics about video marketing.

Top Software as a Service (SAAS) Startups in Kolkata

SaaS is one of the most fruitful outcomes of cloud computing. Based on the cloud, this method allows users to avail themselves of software services via subscription models over the internet, not requiring them to install the application in the hardware. You only need a strong internet connection and a web browser.

Popular SaaS applications that have made an employee’s life easier – 

  • Microsoft Office 365, and Slack for collaboration 
  • Asana, Trello for project management 
  • Notion for task management 
  • Google Drive for vital data storage 
  • Salesforce, Zoho for Client relationship management 

The significance of SaaS in 2024

As we move ahead, we can witness the daily evolution of technology in reducing time and increasing outcomes of a business process. SaaS solutions significantly help provide employees the convenience they require to produce more in less time, better than traditional software. Why big and small enterprises should deploy SaaS in their organizations-

  • 24/7 accessibility, from anywhere, using any device 
  • Efficient data storage 
  • No heavy investment in the beginning 
  • Faster time to deploy, no need to install
  • Easy upgradation to match the varying business needs
  • This is most beneficial for small businesses and startups as they can start with limited budgets and resources.
  • Larger enterprises can use these tools for short-term and small projects. 

Trends to see in SaaS tools in 2024 and onwards

  • Integration of Generative AI (think of Canva)
  • Tools for collaboration, especially for remote workers
  • Personalized responses for each purpose
  • Consumption-based pricing 
  • Various SaaS tools will be developed on Low-code/no-code frameworks
  • Vertical SaaS that is specifically designed for a whole industry like manufacturing, retail, or finance, will be in-demand
  • SaaS solutions will rely on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. 

The growing demand for SaaS solutions has also impacted Kolkata. Numerous startups and agencies are building cloud-based solutions for different industries and different purposes. 

There is a list of top agencies that got funded for their solutions. From healthcare to CRM software to the HR department or travel industry, the SaaS tools built by a top software development company in Kolkata are doing wonders worldwide. Have a look at it below.

Maximizing Engagement with Calls to Action (CTAs) in Animated Explainers

Call to Action is a set of action verbs that urges your audience to take action. Your customers often get confused or overwhelmed after engaging with your content. It is your duty to make your audience take action by directly telling them what you want them to do after watching your content. 

Effective CTAs drive engagement and conversions by guiding your viewers towards desired actions. It is recorded that CTAs, if used effectively in an explainer video, can capture conversions of up to 40%. 

Explainer videos simplify a complex topic. It explains how your product or service works and how it can make your audience’s lives better. After watching the whole video, an effective CTA guides your audience to a specific direction, that can be signing up to your email for detailed product breakdown or directly buying from you, etc. 

Examples of effective CTAs based on different categories 

1. Action based: 

“Subscribe here”

“Join us now”

“Get started today”

“Buy now/get now” 

2. Indirect CTAs:

“Contact us”

“Play video”

“Sign up now”

“Get the free bundle”

3. Educational:

“Discover more”

“Get our guide”

“Watch the tutorial” 

“Hear more from us”

Making explainer videos becomes easy with animation companies in Kolkata. Using effective CTAs is just a part of the whole explainer video, that brings overall success by engaging with your viewers and asking them to take the desired action. 

4. Offering freebies:

“Claim your free gift”

“Download for free”

“Click for free trial”

5. Leverage FOMO ( Fear of Missing Out):

“Limited offer”

“Few more hours left”

“Only 1 left” 

“Last chance”

“Valid for the first 50 people”

6. Promoting an event:

“Register now”

“Save your spot”

“Attend free webinar”

7. Social activity:

“Share this with your friends” 

“Follow us on Instagram” 

“Save this post”

“Follow us for more”

“Comment below” 

“DM now”

Top 10 animation companies in Kolkata

Animation videos are gaining popularity among business owners, for its power of conversion. Animated videos look simple yet its potential for keeping the viewers hooked for long, make it one of the most in demand marketing tools among advertising agencies. 

Animation videos like short explainer videos, product videos, whiteboard animation, motion graphics or 3D animation videos, break down most complex concepts in easily digestible and engaging format which its target audience can easily consume and take action afterwards. 

It is high time businesses implemented animation videos to promote their products or services because marketers believe that

“it is possible to get 66% more qualified leads yearly with the help of the explainer video”

Our attention span is getting shorter day by day. But how can you hook the eyeballs of your customers on your product promotion so that your sales increase? You have to leverage short, catchy, engaging, animated explainer videos.

Some of the benefits of using animation videos –

Clear, Simple and Comprehensive: We still love watching cartoons. Animated explainer videos are no different. They are the best tools to represent any complex stuff briefly in an entertaining way. 

Reflects your brand: You can use any color, sound effects, graphics, images, and format of your choice. This empowers you to show your brand in the way you want, which might have been different in the case of live action videos.

Cost-effective: Even with limited resources you can create an explainer video. You also can leverage ready made tools available in the market even though they offer limited customization options, you can make a basic video for your product using them.

Connects with the audience: Animation videos are short and the beginning keeps the viewers hooked till the end. It is crafted for grabbing attention quickly and their appeal remains to be nostalgic in some cases, making people connect with it more.

We know it can be quite challenging for a business to choose one among many animation companies in Kolkata. Hence we curated a list of top 10 animated explainer video companies in Kolkata for you.

10 Types of Animations [With inspiring examples]

You have probably heard and even enjoyed the animated content of the following studios – Walt Disney, Pixar (Toy Story), Barre Studios (Tom and Jerry), and Studio Ghibli (My Neighbor Totoro). They are considered the pioneers who saw and brought to light the endless potential of animation.

Do you remember any brand using animation as a medium of their marketing campaign? Coca-Cola and Kelloggs’ are believed to be among the firsts who used animation in marketing. There are other brands like Slack, Starbucks, Nike, Microsoft, Amazon, and many others that leverage animation videos for marketing their products. 

Why Animation is used in marketing? 

Something that is visually appealing sticks around our minds for longer than just a piece of written content. Animation helps you simplify the complex features of your product and present your brand message in a simple format. 

Other reasons for using animation in your marketing strategy are –

  1. It increases audience engagement. 
  2. Can be shared across all platforms. 
  3. Produces content that sticks with us.
  4. A better and cost-effective approach to increased brand awareness. 
  5. Innovative way to stand out. 

If you need animation videos for marketing your products or services, check out the portfolio of animation companies in Kolkata

The best practices of different types of animation styles that you can use in marketing campaigns are given below. 

2D Animation 

Best for: explainer videos, product demos, and mascots representing brand personality. 

Why it works: Familiar. It creates characters that seem funny, and that viewers can instantly resonate with. 

3D Animation 

Best for: Product launches, provides intuitive brand experience, easy visual demonstration of product features and use cases. 

Why it works: 

Stop Motion 

Best for: Unique brand identity, targeting a specific niche audience, promoting handmade products, and others.

Why it works: Provides a charming feel, and helps your brand stand out by adding a personal touch to marketing campaigns. 

Claymation 

Best for: Best for promoting family-friendly products or services, offers a warm brand image.

Why it works: Similar to stop motion. 

Typography Animation 

Best for: Event promotions as it has short, attention-grabbing content, and highlight key brand messages. 

Why it works: Visually appealing ways to represent text-based information. Works well for grabbing eyeballs in a short time frame. 

Whiteboard Animation 

Best for: Explainer videos, product demos, simplifying complex concepts. 

Why it works: Offers an engaging way to explain complex concepts that build accountability and trust among viewers. 

Motion graphics 

Best for: Infographics, data visualization, technical product demos, and explainer videos with a professional touch. 

Why it works: Represents data and abstract concepts to life in a visually compelling manner, hence best for breaking down core technical data.

Rotoscope Animation 

Best for: Targets sophisticated niche-based audience, offers artistic brand image, and promotions with a focus on realism. 

Why it works: Visually striking because of a mix of realism and artistic style.

Flipbook Animation 

Best for: Simple explainer videos, low-budget animation marketing with a touch of creativity. 

Why it works: Quick way to create engaging content for your audience. 

Puppet Animation 

Best for: Target specifically children’s products to work well, offering a magical brand image. 

Why it works: The detailed hand movements instantly create a sense of strong emotional connection between the product and your target audience. 

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