How 2D Animation Characters Enhance Storytelling in Explainer Videos

Introduction 

How many of you enjoyed comic books in childhood? Do you still remember that large character (Sabu) from Chacha Chaudhary? 

This is the magic of animated characters. They can easily leave an indelible mark in our memory (if not lives) in many ways. 

This is why big brands have used character animation strategically. With our eyes closed, we can all visualize the Amul Girl dancing happily with a piece of bread in her hand, her appealing eyes asking to spread the butter over her bread. 

As of now, I hope you understand the power of character animation. In this blog, we have explained why 2D animation characters should stand at the center stage of an explainer video. Happy reading.

What Are 2D Animation Characters? 

2D animation characters are flat, two-dimensional figures brought to life through sequential images. By displaying these images rapidly, they create the illusion of movement. This technique has been a staple in storytelling, from classic cartoons to modern digital media.

In marketing, 2D animated characters offer a unique advantage. Their engaging and relatable nature can simplify complex ideas, making them more accessible to audiences. This approach captures attention and improves brand recognition and emotional connection with consumers. By incorporating 2D animation, businesses can effectively convey their messages in a memorable and impactful way.

A professional animation explainer video maker now uses AI-powered tools for creating 2D animation characters that help break down complex ideas simply and engagingly. These videos make it easier for your audience to understand your message and connect with your brand.

We still associate the respective popular brands with these 2D animation characters; the Cheetah from the Chester Cheetah, the Surf Excel Girl, the Nirma Girl, and many others. 

Now, let’s understand how these characters play such crucial roles in enhancing storytelling in explainer videos that you can even increase sales using 2D animation characters.

How 2D Animation Characters Enhance Storytelling in Explainer Videos

From reflecting emotions related to real-life challenges or wins just like humans do, to making the animated scenario so relatable that consumers can’t help but imagine themselves in the shoes of the 2D animation characters. 

There are so many nuanced ways an animation character enhances storytelling in explainer videos.   

1. Adds Humor and Fun

2D animated characters bring a playful and humorous element to explainer videos, making the story more engaging. Through fun and exaggerated scenarios, these characters make complex ideas easier to understand while keeping the audience entertained. This light-hearted approach ensures that the story is not only informative but also memorable.

You can understand this clearly in the video that we created for MSP Bandhan to infuse an intended pun into their loyalty program.  

2. Generates Empathy and Emotions

The emotional connection created by 2D animated characters is key to enhancing storytelling. These characters can express a wide range of emotions, making it easier for the audience to relate to the story. Whether they’re feeling happy, nervous, or excited, the audience experiences these emotions through the characters, making the story more impactful and encouraging viewers to take action.

This video highlights the comfort of Darzee Ortho mattresses through our 2D explainer animation shows characters that viewers easily empathize with. 

3. Helps Viewers Relate

When animated characters reflect the audience’s personal experiences, it strengthens the storytelling. Viewers can see themselves in the characters, making it easier to connect with the message. By customizing these characters to resemble the target audience, the story becomes more relatable, making the brand’s message clearer and more persuasive.

As a professional animation explainer video maker, we created an explainer animation for the MITHRON [Me & Drone] app to promote its features featuring characters of farmers that targeted customers could relate to directly and comprehend the message.

4. Simplifies Complex Ideas

2D characters are excellent at breaking down complex concepts into simple, visual stories. By demonstrating how a product or service works, these characters help clarify intricate details that would be hard to explain through words alone. This simplification allows the audience to quickly grasp the story, making it more effective in conveying key information.

We crafted another explainer video featuring 2D characters to simplify the bulk email composition of the MSB app that shows the step-by-step process of the feature that was otherwise a little complex to explain. 

5. Builds Trust

Trust is vital for any brand story, and 2D animated characters help establish it in a friendly, approachable way. These characters create a sense of familiarity and comfort, which builds a connection with the audience. As the characters guide viewers through the story, trust in the brand grows, making the story feel authentic and reliable.

As we are a professional animation explainer video maker from Kolkata, we knew how to use characters in this video to visually explain the concept of digital farming.

6. Makes Your Story Engaging

Storytelling is at the heart of every explainer video, and 2D animation brings it to life. The flexibility of 2D characters allows you to craft unique stories that capture the viewer’s attention. Whether through a journey or a problem-solving scenario, animated characters keep the narrative exciting, ensuring that the viewer stays engaged from start to finish.

In this video, we crafted 2D animation characters out of two non-living objects to make the scaffolding safety more easily communicated to the target audience which enhances the visual storytelling. 

This is a common trait of an experienced animation explainer video maker, and we crafted another explainer video for Car-O-Bar in which the characters engaged viewers till the end to show them the ultimate solution.

7. Endless Creative Possibilities

The creativity that 2D animated characters bring to storytelling is endless. You can design characters that visually represent the brand’s personality and narrative in creative, out-of-the-box ways. This freedom allows the storyteller to visually express abstract ideas, making the overall story more dynamic and interesting.

Our Cputek team loves to experiment and play around with the common stuff in new ways. In another animation explainer video, we crafted two characters namely Donald and Ronald to present a business transformation story that viewers were able to relate directly. 

FAQs

1. Are animated explainer videos effective?

Animated explainer videos are highly effective. They combine both visual and auditory elements, and lively characters, making it easier for viewers to understand and retain the message. Studies show that when both senses are engaged, retention increases significantly. 

These videos are also more engaging, helping brands explain complex concepts simply and effectively, which leads to higher conversion rates. Brands like Dropbox and Crazy Egg have seen substantial increases in conversions thanks to their explainer videos.

2. Why is 2D character animation a popular choice for brands?

2D character animation is popular because it offers flexibility and creativity, allowing brands to design unique characters that express personality and emotions. It is cost-effective and requires fewer resources than 3D animation, making it an efficient choice. Plus, its timeless, nostalgic appeal helps brands connect with a wide audience and evoke strong emotional responses.

3. What is character animation used for?

Character animation is used to bring movement and life to characters, helping to tell stories compellingly and engagingly. It is widely used in marketing, entertainment, and educational content to simplify complex ideas, evoke emotions, and make the message more relatable and memorable. By adding personality and action to characters, animation enhances the effectiveness of explainer videos and other visual storytelling mediums.

Conclusion 

So, there you have it! Who knew those flat little cartoon folks could pack such a punch?

2D animated characters are like the superheroes of explainer videos. They swoop in and rescue your message from the clutches of boredom! They make us laugh, they make us feel things, and they even help us understand those brain-twisting ideas.

Think of them as your tiny, animated salesforce, building trust and making your brand the coolest kid on the block.  And the best part?  With 2D animation, your imagination is the limit! You can create a whole world of wacky characters and tell stories that stick in people’s minds like that catchy jingle you can’t get rid of (you know the one!).

So, if you’re looking to give your explainer videos a serious boost of awesomeness, jump on the 2D animation bandwagon. It’s fun, it’s effective, and it might just turn your viewers into raving fans. Now go forth and animate! And if you need professional guidance or even consultation regarding how to do it, think of Cputek. Your go-to animation explainer video maker who is just an email or phone call away. Here’s to a new year full of growth. Cheers!