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How Much Does an Explainer Video Cost in 2026?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:35:13 GMT

A Global Pricing Breakdown Across 45 Video Agencies

If you’ve ever tried to get a straight answer to the question “How much does an explainer video cost?”, you’ll know the industry doesn’t always make it easy.

Some agencies publish full pricing tables, others hide behind contact forms, and prices can range anywhere from £296 to £20,000+.

To make your life easier, we independently analysed 45 explainer video agencies across the UK, US, Europe and Canada to understand what they charge, how they structure pricing and where Squideo sits in the market. In this blog, we’ll uncover our independent research and what it means for businesses planning video in 2026.

To ensure this research was fair and consistent, we didn’t just rely on published pricing. We created a genuine brief for a real 30-second animated explainer video and contacted over 100 agencies globally. From that outreach, we received 45 responses. Some agencies followed up with generic rate cards or pricing decks, while others provided fully bespoke proposals tailored to the brief. To maintain consistency across the dataset, we used each agency’s lowest legitimate entry price for a comparable 30-second animation. All global pricing was then converted back into GBP using current exchange rates, allowing for an apples to apples comparison across the range of global video providers.

The Real Price Range: £296 to £20,000+

The majority of the market sits squarely in the £2K-£8K range, representing mid-tier agencies delivering structured explainer videos with varying levels of creative and strategic involvement.

Across the 45 agencies analysed, entry pricing ranged dramatically:

Lowest “from” price: £296
Highest published entry price: £20,000+
Most common entry band: £2,000-£5,000
Typical mid-tier average: £3,000-£5,000

The lowest prices in the market often exclude strategic input, audience validation, structured scripting or multiple revision rounds. While the initial cost may look attractive, businesses can end up paying twice if the video fails to convert, retain or communicate clearly.

At the other end of the scale, premium creative agencies often start above £10,000 and position themselves around storytelling depth, creative direction, and brand consultancy.

So, how much does a 30-second explainer video cost in 2026? Based on our independent research across 45 agency responses globally, the average starting price for a 30-second animated explainer video in 2026 is £2,960.

That figure reflects the lowest legitimate “from” price quoted by each agency for a comparable brief, converted into GBP for consistency.

Pricing Transparency

Nearly half of agencies still operate with no visible pricing whatsoever.

That creates friction in the buying journey. Modern B2B buyers, particularly in the UK and US increasingly expect at least a starting range before entering a sales conversation.

Agencies with hidden pricing often justify this by saying “every project is bespoke.” While that may be true, complete opacity can delay decision making and increase buyer hesitation.

Modern B2B buyers now conduct 70-80% of their research before speaking to a supplier. When pricing is hidden, it increases friction and delays internal conversations. CFOs, procurement teams and founders often need a rough benchmark before approving discovery calls. Agencies that publish starting prices shorten the buying cycle and reduce uncertainty.

The industry is slowly becoming more transparent, but still lacks pricing clarity overall.

How Video Agencies Structure Their Pricing

The overwhelming majority still operate on custom quote models, meaning buyers must submit a brief before receiving a price.

Interestingly, performance-led and subscription-style models are extremely rare, representing a significant market gap.

Most agencies still treat video as a one off creative project rather than a measurable growth asset.

Where Agencies Sit in the Market

The largest cluster is mid-tier agencies, competing on quality and structured delivery around £3K-£6K.

Premium agencies cluster above £10K, often leaning heavily on creative storytelling language.

Budget providers compete aggressively on fixed per-minute pricing and simplified and interestingly, performance-led positioning is almost empty.

What Drives The Cost Difference?

Through our analysis, pricing differences typically correlated with five factors:

Creative Depth

High-end agencies offer creative direction workshops, brand strategy sessions, and multi layered animation.

Animation Complexity

Basic whiteboard VS bespoke character animation VS cinematic motion graphics.

Script Development

Founder written scripts cost less. Agency developed narrative frameworks increase value (and cost).

Revision Policy

Limited revisions = lower price.

Unlimited revisions = reduced risk.

Geographic Market

US agencies tend to price 15-30% higher than UK equivalents at similar tiers.

Where Does Squideo Sit?

Based on the data, Squideo sits in a very specific strategic position:

Cost-effective entry pricing aligned with mid-tier market
Typically our videos start from £750-£2500 depending on the project
Structured process with unlimited revisions
Education, healthcare and B2B expertise
Performance led optimisation processes

We expect to see greater pricing transparency, more performance-led retainers and clearer tier separation between budget template providers and strategic video partners. Businesses will increasingly demand measurable outcomes rather than standalone creative assets.

For B2B brands in the UK and US, the smart approach in 2026 is:

✔ Understand your objective (awareness, onboarding, conversion)

✔ Know your expected ROI

✔ Choose a partner that matches your growth stage

✔ Look beyond price alone

The cheapest option may underperform, whereas the most expensive may over-engineer. The best fit sits at the intersection of strategy, clarity, and value.

The days of “How much is a video?” are fading. The better question in 2026 is “What should this video achieve and how will we measure it?”

The agencies that win the next phase of the market will be those that combine:

Creative quality
Transparent pricing
Strategic thinking
And measurable performance

If you’d like a tailored estimate based on your goals, audience, and objectives, without the hard sell, we’re happy to help. Get a transparent quote or book a 30-minute discovery call to discuss your project today.

Minipip Case Study

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:22:08 GMT

How Animated Training Videos Boosted Efficiency and Engagement

The Challenge: Training Was Taking Too Long

Minipip needed a smarter way to train their team. Traditional training sessions were eating up precious time and they wanted a solution that would speed things up without sacrificing quality - freeing their team to focus on bigger priorities.

Why Animation? Because It Works (and Looks Great)

They chose animation for their training videos for its unique ability to tell clear, engaging stories quickly - plus, it keeps things neutral by not showing specific people. This means the training content stays relevant even if the company changes hands, making it a flexible, future-proof solution.

Collaborating with Squideo: Smooth, Efficient, and Stress-Free

Tyrone from Minipip described the collaboration as seamless. Our “batching” approach, sending groups of video files at the end of each day, made feedback quick and kept the project flowing smoothly.

Why “Batching” Made a Difference

This clever workflow meant Minipip could review multiple deliverables at once, send back feedback overnight and keep everything moving without missing a beat. It’s a small detail that made a big difference. No delays, no confusion, just steady progress which is vital with such a huge undertaking of animated videos.

The Explainer Training Videos

We produced a series of explainer style training videos , each tailored to simplify complex topics into easy to digest visuals. These ranged from 1 to 3 minutes in length - long enough to cover core content, short enough to maintain attention. The animation style was clean 2D with consistent branding, animated logo intros, voiceover narration, and supporting on-screen captions.

Learner Feedback: Overwhelmingly Positive

Since the videos have launched, 2,770 learners have signed up to Minipip’s training academy, with feedback being nothing but positive. That kind of response shows just how engaging and effective the animated content really is.

The Impact: Cutting Training Time Without Cutting Corners

Thanks to the videos we created, Minipip reduced the average time spent per client from around 6.5-7 hours down to roughly 4 hours. This saved time helped the team focus on new projects and grow their workforce - a clear win for everyone involved.

How It Stacks Up Against Traditional Training

While video training isn’t a total replacement for face to face training - especially in complex areas like stock market education - it gives learners a strong foundation. This makes live training sessions far more productive and efficient.

Would Minipip Recommend Squideo? Without a Doubt!

Minipip recommends Squideo for our creativity, affordability and solid project management that keeps things on track even if key team members are unavailable. Their final thought? AI might be handy, but it can’t replace the human creativity and intuition needed to produce truly effective videos.

In Summary

Minipip’s partnership with Squideo resulted in a smarter, more efficient training solution that learners love and the business benefits from. A great example of how the right video content can make a real difference.

Universities Are Using Animated Video to Share Research Projects

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:23:53 GMT

From climate change modelling to medical breakthroughs, university research projects are often complex, technical, and difficult to explain to non-specialists. Animated video is one of the most effective tools for academic storytelling, helping research teams reach wider audiences, secure grants, and fulfil dissemination goals with ease.

In a fast paced academic world where clarity, outreach, and impact are everything, animated videos are an essential tool for research communication. Global universities and research centres are turning to animation to simplify their most complex findings, while engaging broader audiences.

At Squideo, we’ve worked with a wide range of universities and academic institutions to bring research to life through powerful, polished 2D animated videos. Whether it’s summarising a PhD thesis or visualising the findings of a multi-year Horizon Europe project, our team knows exactly how to turn dense academic material into captivating, easy to understand content.

Why Use Animation for Academic Research?

Animated video is more than just a visual aid, it’s a storytelling tool that bridges the gap between specialist knowledge and public understanding. Here’s why research teams are using animation:

1. Simplifies Complex Concepts

Whether your project is about AI, epidemiology, environmental science, or social behaviour, animation can break down complex models and processes into visual metaphors that everyone can grasp.

2. Boosts Engagement

Compared to static PDFs or long journal articles, a 60-90 second animated explainer retains attention far better. Viewers remember 95% of a message when it's delivered via video compared to just 10% when reading text.

3. Fulfils Dissemination Requirements

Grant bodies such as UKRI, Horizon Europe, and AHRC require researchers to demonstrate public engagement and impact. An animated video can be used in presentations, on research hubs, and shared on social media to meet those requirements.

4. Reaches Multiple Audiences

An explainer video helps communicate your research to:

Students and teaching staff (e.g., as a learning resource)
Policy makers (who want key takeaways quickly)
The general public (to increase awareness)
Fellow researchers (for conferences and cross-disciplinary talks)
The Squideo Approach to Academic Animation

At Squideo, we’re not just animators; we’re skilled communicators who understand research. Our team has worked with departments across medicine , psychology, education , and computer science to help them deliver clear, visually engaging summaries of complex studies.

We ask the right questions to ensure we fully understand your research goals, not just what your study is about, but why it matters, who it’s for, and what outcomes you’re aiming to achieve. You may be looking to raise public awareness, explain a new methodology, influence policy, or simply make your work more accessible to non-experts, we tailor our animations to suit.

We’ll explore questions like: What are the three main takeaways from your research? Who are you trying to engage - funders, students, policymakers, patients? Are there concepts that typically get misunderstood or oversimplified? This discovery phase ensures that every second of your video communicates purposefully and presents your research in the clearest, most compelling way possible.

We offer a range of 2D animation styles tailored to your audience and subject matter. Each has distinct advantages:

1. Whiteboard Animation

Perfect for step-by-step explanations, this style mimics hand-drawn illustrations appearing in real-time. It’s great for:

Educational overviews
Timeline-based research
Process breakdowns (e.g., clinical trials, behavioural models)

2. Motion Graphics

Highly professional and clean, motion graphics use sleek transitions and data visualisation. Ideal for:

Research funding reports
Statistical findings
Economic or social science projects

3. Cartoon / Character Animation

This friendly style uses characters to humanise the research problem or illustrate lived experiences. Suitable for:

Mental health or wellbeing research
Social justice projects
Youth and community engagement

4. Infographic Animation

Animated graphs, maps and data visuals to help your findings jump off the page. Great for:

Survey data
Geographical analysis
Policy recommendations

A Useful Tool for Early Career Researchers

If you’re a PhD student, postgrad, or early career academic, an animated video of your research project or thesis isn’t just a nice to have, it can be a career asset.

Use your video in job interviews or funding applications
Embed it in personal websites or online portfolios
Share it on LinkedIn or Twitter/X to raise your profile
Present it at conferences, symposiums, or public engagement events

A research summary video positions you as someone who understands the value of clear communication, a huge asset in any academic or industry role.

Case Study: Making Complex Cancer Research Understandable

When the University of Sussex and the GoGirls Ovarian Cancer Support Group needed help explaining the science behind PARP inhibitors (a type of targeted cancer drug), they turned to Squideo to translate medical jargon into an accessible animated explainer video .

The goal? To educate newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients and their families about the science behind PARP and PARP inhibitors, including how these drugs work, who they’re suitable for, and what patients should expect, all without overwhelming them with scientific language.

Breaking Down the Science

PARP inhibitors are a complex subject, even for healthcare professionals. These drugs work by blocking enzymes (called PARP) that help repair damaged DNA in cancer cells, a mechanism particularly effective in patients with BRCA mutations.

Explaining this to a non-medical audience was a challenge, but one that Squideo’s team was well equipped for.

We worked closely with researchers, medical experts, and patient advocates to:

Script a narrative that balanced empathy with scientific accuracy.
Use analogy-based storytelling (comparing DNA repair to a factory’s repair team).
Incorporate soft, friendly 2D animation to ease viewer anxiety while maintaining credibility.
Highlight key terminology visually , so patients could feel more confident during treatment discussions.

The Result

The final video was praised by both patients and clinicians for its clarity and tone. It’s now used by NHS clinicians and ovarian cancer charities as a go-to educational resource . For GoGirls, it also became a valuable tool for funding applications and outreach, demonstrating how well-communicated content can extend a research project's impact far beyond academia.

Collaborating with Academics to Turn Complex Research Into Clear, Compelling Videos

At Squideo, we regularly work with subject matter experts, PhDs, postgrads, and academic researchers who bring a wealth of specialist knowledge to the table. Our job is to take that expertise and translate it into visually engaging, digestible animated videos that can reach audiences beyond the academic bubble.

We understand that many researchers have spent years immersed in complex methodologies, datasets, or theoretical frameworks, and that summarising all of this into a 60-90 second animated video can feel daunting. That’s why we begin every academic project with a structured discovery session designed to unpack your research in a way that respects the integrity of your findings - while making them accessible to students, funding bodies, policymakers, or the general public.

Whether you're funded by UKRI, Horizon Europe, or another body with dissemination requirements, we know the questions to ask to shape your animation into an effective communication tool.

Some of the key discovery questions we explore with every academic client include:

What are the top 2-3 takeaways you want viewers to remember from your research?
Who do you want this video to reach? Fellow researchers, students, policymakers or the media.
Are there any concepts or findings that are particularly difficult to explain through traditional means like reports or lectures?
What impact are you hoping the video will have - awareness, engagement, action, or funding?
Are there any key visuals, graphs, models, processes, we should consider animating to bring clarity?

By asking these focused questions, we’re able to shape your content into a narrative that not only meets your project’s communication goals but amplifies the reach and impact of your research.

And because Squideo has already worked with leading universities across the UK, including helping students and departments secure funding to support animation as part of a grant , we’re familiar with both the expectations and the processes involved. From funding approvals to final delivery, we ensure your research is communicated clearly, creatively, and credibly.

We understand how to translate academic tone into compelling visual storytelling. And with our collaborative process, unlimited feedback loops, and fixed pricing, you’re supported every step of the way.

We also provide voiceovers in multiple accents and languages, subtitles, and formats for web, presentation, or social sharing.

Ready to Animate Your Research?

If you have a project that needs explaining, we’d love to help. Whether it’s early stage ideas or fully peer reviewed publications, Squideo can make your research accessible, memorable, and shareable.

Download our free brief template to get started , or book a discovery call with our team today.

Pitch-Ready Product Videos That Help You Get Funded + Free Template

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:27:01 GMT

Why a Great Product Video for a Pitch Deck Can Change Everything

When you're trying to raise investment, first impressions are everything. UK investors often hear dozens, sometimes hundreds, of pitch decks a week. The decks and pitches that stand out are clear, memorable, and emotionally resonant. That’s where a well made video product demo or explainer comes in; it brings your product to life in ways a static slide cannot.

According to the British Business Bank , in their ‘How to pitch to an investor guidance’, investors emphasise the need to “tell a story” and “present your pitch deck” with clarity.Research by SolidBond (UK) also shows that UK investors value concise, data‑driven presentations, “highlighting the product opportunity, showing real use, market size, and team credibility.”

Multiple case studies globally demonstrate that pitches with engaging product demos, animations or video overviews tend to have higher engagement and clearer funding conversations. Crowdcube has reported that campaigns with videos raise more than 2x the average of those without.

The Benefits of Product Video in Your Pitch Deck

What UK Investors Look for & How Video Supports It

Story + narrative : Investors want a product story. What problem, what solution, what market, what progress, what ask. A video lets you lead with the problem and show the product solving it, rather than describing it.

UK context : If you’re pitching in the UK, having references to UK market data, regulatory context (like SEIS/EIS if relevant), or early UK users matters. Use video to sprinkle in those local visuals or stats in an engaging way.

Time efficiency : UK Business Angels Association and others often note that attention spans are short. Having a polished product video upfront can capture attention in the first 30‑60 seconds of your pitch slide deck.

How to Make a Product Video for Your Pitch Deck that Works

Here’s a checklist + tips to ensure your video does the work:

Keep it short and punchy : 60‑90 seconds is usually enough to communicate a simple product or service. Focus on problem > solution > value > ask.
Visual clarity : Show the product in use, UI, prototype, or screen recordings. Animations or motion graphics help simplify complexity.
Strong narrative arc : Start with the pain, show the solution, highlight your progress or traction, and end with what you need.
Credibility boosters : Testimonials, numbers (users, revenues, growth), endorsements, real‑world usage.
Professional voiceovers + sound design : Poor audio or confusing narration can kill trust.
Brand style and polish : Visuals should align with your branding; avoid over complicated visuals, keep colours, fonts, design consistent.

Unicorns & Startups That Raised Funding Using Video & Visual Storytelling

There are many high‑growth companies where video, demos or strong visual / animated product storytelling played a meaningful role. These examples help show that using video in pitch decks isn’t just nice to have, it can make a strong differentiator.

Build Your Pitch-Ready Video Script in 5 Steps

A powerful product video doesn't start with visuals, it starts with a story. This 5-step script framework is designed specifically for pitch decks, product launches, and investor intros. Whether you're speaking to angels, VCs or crowdfunding backers, this guide will help you script a video that actually sells.

How to Use This Template:

Each step includes a prompt and example line.
Fill in the boxes using plain English - clarity beats cleverness.
When you're done, you'll have the skeleton of a 60–90 second pitch video script.

Pitch Video FAQs

Do I really need a product video for my pitch deck?

While not essential, a short, high-quality video can help you stand out from hundreds of other pitch decks. It can also improve clarity and memory recall, especially when pitching complex products or tech.

How long should a pitch deck video be?
Keep it under 90 seconds. 60 is often ideal. Focus on the problem, solution, how it works, and proof of traction.

What’s the best style of video for pitch decks?

For B2B or tech products, clean 2D animation with screen walkthroughs or visual storytelling works best. You want simplicity, not flash.

We’ve helped startups raise, scale, and stand out - from seed stage to Series A and beyond. We can help you build a compelling video that speaks louder than slides.

If you’re ready to make your product pitch deck unforgettable, a video could be the edge that gets you noticed. If you have a product or prototype , get in touch with us today; we’ll help you craft a pitch ready video that shows, not just tells, your value.

Need inspiration? We can share real examples or walk you through our video approach.

5 Ways to Turn Confused Visitors Into Customers in 60 Seconds

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:21:36 GMT

Struggling to turn website visitors into actual customers? You’re not alone. High traffic means nothing if confused users leave without converting. Whether it’s unclear messaging, overwhelming copy, or a lack of instant clarity; these issues silently kill conversions. In fact, most visitors decide whether to stay or bounce in under 10 seconds. That’s where explainer videos come in. They simplify, clarify, and sell.

Below, you’ll discover five proven strategies to fix low CVR with video, all designed to keep users engaged, informed, and ready to take act

1. Hold Attention Instantly: The 10‑Second Rule

Most UX studies highlight that website visitors often bounce from a page in just 10–20 seconds unless they’re presented with a clear value proposition immediately.

Explainer videos solve that by offering a play button - a low commitment invitation. On average, 79% of users prefer watching a video over reading text, and 97% say the right explainer helped them better understand a product.

Action Tip: Place your explainer video above the fold and keep it to 60 seconds or less. That time frame aligns with best practices and keeps users engaged.

2. Cut Through Overload by Simplifying Complex Ideas

When visitors don't understand what you're offering, they leave. Explainer videos work because visuals and narration stick better than text. In fact, viewers retain 95% of a message from a video versus only 10% from reading.

They also help unpack intricate information, like SaaS features or internal processes, which might otherwise overwhelm.

Action Tip: Use animation to highlight how your product solves a problem or improves life, not just what it does.

3. Build Trust Quickly Without Walls of Text

Trust is a key conversion driver. When people land on your site, they want answers fast. They’re not looking to scroll through paragraphs to figure out what you do. They want clarity and confidence.

That’s why explainer videos are so powerful. They build trust by simplifying your message and delivering it in a way that’s easy to understand and hard to forget. Brands using explainer videos report up to an 81% boost in sales conversions, and some see support tickets drop by over 50%, because the video handles the heavy lifting upfront.

There's real science behind it, too. Studies show that people retain information better when it’s delivered through both visuals and audio. An explainer video does exactly that, combining clean animation with clear narration to connect faster and stick longer.

If trust is the barrier, video is your shortcut.

4. Seamlessly Guide Viewers to Take Action

Explainer videos should end with a clear and compelling CTA. After 90 seconds of content, viewers are primed to act.

Videos don’t just engage, they drive deeper attention. Landing pages with video keep visitors on-site longer, increase click-throughs, and boost conversions.

Action Tip: Combine your video with a strong visual CTA right below, like “Book a Demo” or “Watch the Next”.

5. Multiply Touchpoints, Multiply Conversions

Explainer videos don’t live on landing pages alone. Deploy them across email campaigns, social ads, pitch decks, and internal comms - honestly the list goes on!

One study shows that personalised videos in outreach emails can lead to 5× higher open rates and 8× more replies.

Action Tip: Reuse your core 60‑second explainer in trimmed formats for LinkedIn, YouTube prereels, and support libraries.

Explainer videos aren’t just a marketing accessory, they’re high-conversion powerhouses. When done with clarity, creativity, and strategic placement, they become your silent salesperson. Squideo’s style is clean 2D visuals, a flair for storytelling , and a rhythm that keeps viewers watching. Got a brief ready? Share it with us today for a free , no-pressure quote. Not quite there yet? Download our free brief template to get started in minutes.

Summary Table

The Top 5 Animated Ads of 2024 and Why They Worked

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:41:13 GMT

Animation isn't a new concept in advertising, but recently, companies have increasingly invested in animated video production to craft distinctive and compelling content that captivates audiences and differentiates their brand from competitors. Animated videos have a way of bringing stories to life, making them more captivating and memorable than any other video format.

Studies have shown that If video and text are both available on the same page, 72% of people will watch the video to learn about a product or service rather than read the text. This preference demonstrates the power of visual storytelling and highlights how consumers favour dynamic, engaging content over traditional written descriptions. So, it’s a no-brainer for businesses - investing in high-quality video content can be a real game changer.

Why Animated Ads Dominate in 2024

In 2024, animated video advertisements emerged as a powerful marketing tool, revolutionising brand storytelling and boosting audience engagement.

By using advanced animation techniques, video production and creative storytelling, companies are breaking through the digital noise, capturing viewers' attention more effectively than the traditional static ads.

These dynamic visuals allow brands to communicate complex messages with simplicity, humour, and emotional resonance, making even technical or mundane products feel compelling and memorable.

The rise of social media and short-form content platforms, such as YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, has accelerated the popularity of animated ads, enabling brands to easily create shareable, eye-catching content that can quickly go viral and significantly expand their digital reach.

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s worth showcasing some of the best-animated advertisements brands have produced so far this year, examining the key elements that contributed to their success.

Top 10 Animated Ads of 2024

#1. Microsoft

Overview: This ad introduces Microsoft Loop - the new collaborative app that is designed to help teams manage projects more efficiently. Known for their visually striking animated advertisements, Microsoft has once again delivered an impressive and engaging promo for their latest offering.
Why It Worked:
Good use of animation to demonstrate the UI with real-life examples.
Uses animation to effectively highlight Microsoft Loop's key features and capabilities.
Visual movements such as Pan and Zoom keep viewers engaged.
Strong brand messaging - viewers can automatically associate the ad with Microsoft with the use of the brand logo and colours.

#2. Barbour Christmas Advert 2024

Overview: Aardman, the renowned animation studio, has partnered again with the prominent heritage and lifestyle brand Barbour to feature Shaun the Sheep in their new Christmas 2024 campaign. This simple yet effective storyline depicts the flock of sheep struggling to sing due to the cold, only to have Bitzer, the quick-thinking sheepdog, come to the rescue. Bitzer gifts the entire flock cosy woolly hats and scarves, allowing the sheep to stay warm and continue their festive carolling.
Why It Worked: This heartwarming narrative perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the holiday season, highlighting the theme of providing warmth and comfort to those in need. The ad strikes a family-friendly tone that aligns seamlessly with the Christmas theme and Barbour's heritage brand identity. Through this well-executed storytelling, the collaboration between Aardman's beloved Shaun the Sheep characters and the Barbour lifestyle brand effectively engages the viewer while conveying the core message of spreading holiday cheer.

#3. Duolingo

Overview: Duolingo's animated advertisement captured the essence of its brand mission: to make language learning free, fun, and effective. Through a series of animations, the ad showcases how the app makes it easy for users to learn practical language skills for everyday situations, from ordering a croissant to getting a haircut at a salon.
Why It Worked:
Brand consistency: The ad’s animation reinforces brand identity and user familiarity by using the same visuals and characters that are seen on the app.
Problem solving: Using everyday scenarios helps illustrate the practical applications of the app's translation capabilities. This approach makes the content more engaging and impactful, as users can readily see how the app's features could benefit them in their own lives and communication challenges.

#4. Samsung Biologics

Overview: In this brand awareness campaign, Samsung uses animated visuals, background music, text, and sound effects to promote their work and show how it can affect everyone around the world. The ad doesn't use any voiceovers but instead uses light to guide viewers through the story right to the end.
Why It Worked:
Unique 3D animation style
Strong brand messaging using words that are simple to understand
The ad uses uplifting music to enhance the narrative to create a more immersive, inspiring viewing experience for the audience.
Special effects such as parallax and gradients are used to complement the brand colours and themes.
The musical choice helps amplify the ad's positive, forward-thinking tone, leaving viewers with a feeling of excitement and enthusiasm about the development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals.

#5 Just Eat x The Joy of Everyday

Overview: The latest Just Eat campaign leverages the lives of animals to tell a compelling story about the convenience of food delivery. Created by McCann London, the creative includes a series of nine short animated vignettes, each featuring animal characters who personify different customer cohorts. Through these bite-sized, character-driven narratives, the campaign succeeds in positioning Just Eat as the ideal food and grocery delivery option for moments of convenience across a range of everyday scenarios and lifestyles.
Why It Worked:
Storytelling Approach: Rather than simply showcasing the product features, the campaign opted for a narrative-driven approach, using engaging mini-stories around the animal characters and their food delivery needs. This storytelling format is more compelling and memorable for the audience.
Whimsical, lighthearted tone: This upbeat, playful approach aligns well with the convenience and joy of food delivery, making the messaging more positively received.
Other videos in the series:

What We Can Learn from These Ads

Above are just a few of the brilliant animated ads produced this year, and from these examples, we can see how animation is used to bring various stories to life. Demonstrating product features and establishing brand identity helps to create engaging and memorable content that connects with the audience on an emotional level. The strategic use of animation, visual techniques, relatable characters, and compelling narratives helps these ads effectively communicate their brand messages to their target audience.

The Future of Animated Videos: 2025 and beyond

As we look into 2025, it's clear that animated videos will continue to be a preferred and engaging marketing choice for businesses across industries. Whether the goal is boosting brand awareness, showcasing a new product, or even using animation to upskill employees, video marketing is a highly effective investment.

Animated content offers a range of advantages that make it an increasingly valuable tool in the modern marketing landscape. Through the power of visual storytelling, brands can captivate audiences, communicate complex information in a digestible format, and build emotional and memorable connections.

As technology continues to advance and audience expectations evolve, the role of animated video will only grow stronger. Brands that embrace this dynamic format will be well-positioned to cut through the noise, deliver memorable experiences, and achieve their strategic goals in the years to come.

Unlock Expert Insights: How Explainer Videos Can be Used in the Construction Industry

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:31:09 GMT

The construction industry is well known for its technical nature and complex processes. Workers and staff are often required to interpret architectural plans, operate heavy machinery, and learn key health and safety skills to stay safe on construction sites.

In some cases communicating these complicated yet important concepts to the workforce and stakeholders can be quite challenging and can often have detrimental outcomes. According to the OCHA ( Occupational Safety and Health Administration ) 1 in 10 construction workers are injured each year. Although there are many reasons why workplace injuries occur, lack of training is a key player in improper equipment operation and failure to follow the correct safety protocols and procedures.

With that in mind, many industries, including construction companies are exploring new ways to educate and train their employees and workforce to help improve the statistics and effectively minimise the risk of accidents and mishaps.

In this blog, we’ll explore the concept of video marketing and how the construction industry is leveraging explainer videos as a strategic communication and training tool. Whether you're a construction company seeking to streamline your internal operations or a client looking better to understand the ins and outs of a project, this guide will equip you with knowledge and insights into using explainer videos effectively.

Understanding Explainer Videos in Construction

What exactly is an explainer video? And how can it help my workforce? In basic terms, an animated explainer is a video that explains and demonstrates products or services engagingly. Using a combination of clear visuals, simple text, and easy-to-understand concepts, an explainer video can help your target audience understand complex topics far more effectively than a lengthy 20-page textbook, which would normally be handed to them on their training days.

Explainer Video Applications in Construction

There are many video types and styles you can use to convey a message across. Whether you would like to demonstrate new products used on construction sites, or train staff on health and safety, an explainer video can do it all. Here are some other examples of what you could use an animated explainer video for in the construction industry.

Safety training and protocols
Site safety procedures
Equipment operation guidelines
Emergency response rules
Construction phasing sequences
Site logistics planning
Project proposals
Project design concepts and modifications
Installation procedures
Regular maintenance routines

Construction Video Explainer Examples

See some of our previous explainer videos for the construction industry , created using our video production service at Squideo.

What are the benefits of explainer videos?

Improved comprehension and retention of complex information

Statistics show that videos are way better at conveying messages with viewers retaining 95% of video message s, compared to 10% information retention when reading the text version. This is because visuals in video content have the power to become more meaningful and memorable than presentations or written instructions. This makes animated explainer videos ideal to use in the construction industry, where the workforce and stakeholders will be required to understand complex and important information.

Reduced training time and costs

Hiring professional actors, renting a studio, gear and equipment, sound, and lighting, all cost money and can easily add up the longer it takes to get the job done. With animated explainer videos, you don’t have to worry about any of that, and the video will be just as effective. You can easily change scenes, add/remove sections or update the content based on the latest building regulations. Explainer videos can also reduce training time, as they can convey the same information to your audience in a fraction of the time compared to the traditional formats.

Enhanced client satisfaction

Construction projects often involve complex architectural plans and intricate designs that can be challenging for clients to fully understand Animated explainer videos allow construction companies to bring these plans to life through animations. Clients can see proposed layouts, building features, a breakdown of technical elements in a more engaging manner and demonstrate construction sequences in an easy-to-understand format. This can help clients to feel more informed and confident, reducing the risk of dissatisfaction.

Best Practices for using explainer videos in the construction industry

Identify key areas for video implementation: Analyse your construction workflows and highlight all the areas where animated videos can create the biggest impact. This could be safety videos, client onboarding, equipment training etc.
Personalise videos for your audience: Animated explainer videos can be developed in may creative ways to ensure the videos have the maximum impact on your target audience. For example, visual metaphor’s can be used to describe complex building processes.
Ensure the videos are technically correct : Animated videos are simple to update and change based on the latest industry standards and regulations.
Keep videos short and to the point: You should aim for an explainer video to be approximately 2-5 minutes long in length. By focusing on a single subject matter, you’ll be able to maximise view comprehension and retention.
Optimise the video for mobile: Construction workers are often on the go, so you need to ensure the videos can be easily accessed on mobile devices.
Measure and improve: The best way to measure the success of a video is by receiving feedback from your viewers. This can help you to identify key areas of improvement for future development.

Key Takeaways

Within the construction industry, animated explainer videos will not only change the way health and safety material is delivered, but they can also contribute towards a more productive, efficient and safe workforce. It also has the potential to help reduce the number of work-related accidents that are often caused by a lack of knowledge.

If you’re working in the construction industry and have ideas on how an animated explainer video can help your team develop then get in touch with our production team today.

How to Choose the Right Type of Animated Video for Your Startup

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 17:40:31 GMT

Considering animated explainer videos for your startup? You've made a smart choice. Animated content offers a wealth of possibilities, but the key lies in selecting the right video type to suit your unique brand and message. As a startup, it can be overwhelming to navigate the world of video content and figure out the right type for your business.

Animated videos are a powerful tool for startups, targeting investors and crowdfunding companies. With a short, engaging, and informative video, you can effectively communicate your startup idea and get potential investors excited about your company.

But with so many types of animated videos available, how do you know which one is right for your startup? Whether you have a new product, software, offering a service, or training courses, there are specific types of animated videos that work best for each. In this blog, we’ll go through each type of video and give you tips and advice on how to maximise the potential of your animated video.

Importance of animated videos for startups

Wyzowl : 95% of marketers said that video marketing helped them increase brand awareness.
Wyzowl : 91% of people have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service.
Wyzowl : 82% of people have been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a video.
Fundera: Crowdfunding campaigns with videos earn 105% more than those without videos.
Optinmonster : 87% say video marketing has helped them increase sales.
Optinmonster : 96% of video marketers say video marketing has increased internet users' understanding of their product or service.

Key takeaways

Ultimately, video content is engaging, attention-grabbing and a convenient way for audiences to receive and digest information. With more people spending time online than ever before, you need to capture your audience's attention and gain a competitive edge in the crowded digital landscape. The consistently high figures in the data confirm the importance of video marketing and the positive impact it can create for marketers and investors alike.

Understanding Your Goals and Audience

What makes a truly successful animated video is its ability to resonate with the right audience. For example: you create an impressive explainer video for a groundbreaking healthcare product. The metrics look promising – high view counts and impressive reach but engagement rates remain low. So, has this campaign really been a success?

Many new startups often face this challenge of disconnect between their content and their target audience. The key here is to be specific in your targeting strategy. Therefore, rather than reaching a large audience group, focus on those who are most likely to benefit from your healthcare innovation. Your video campaign needs to focus on industry professionals and users within the healthcare sector to spark meaningful engagement.

Remember, it's not just about who sees your video, but who interacts with it. When you align your content with the right audience, you'll see a noticeable rise in engagement. And it's this engagement that ultimately paves the way for conversions, turning viewers into valuable leads and investors.

Matching Video Types to Specific Startup Needs

Animated Product Videos

Product videos allow you to promote and explain your products in a simple yet effective way. People like to visually see the product first before learning more about it. Here are the benefits of creating a product explainer video:

Help viewers visualise the product
Demonstrates how the product works
Breaks down complicated features into easy-to-understand visuals
Evokes desired feelings associated with your product.

Animated Service Videos

Animated service explainer videos can help improve your target audience's understanding of your service. Here are the key benefits of using animated videos to promote a new service:

Brings abstract service ideas to life through visual metaphors
Shows processes and workflows that are otherwise difficult to explain
Emphasise what sets your service apart from competitors
Showcases benefits in a memorable and visual format
Visual aids can help clarify how your service works
Tells a story that resonates with your target audience's pain points

Animated Software Explainer videos

Animated software explainer videos allow you to demonstrate new software developments, applications and new systems in a simple yet informative way. Here are the key benefits of using animated videos to promote new software:

You can demonstrate user interface and features in action
Breaks down complex technical features into understandable visuals
Creates tailored scenarios for various user roles or industries
Visually represents how the software works with other tools or systems
Shows how the software solves real-world user problems

Animated Training videos

Animated explainer videos for training purposes allow you to transform your content into informative and educational videos for a wide range of audiences. Here are the key benefits of using animated videos for training and education:

Demonstrates the effectiveness of your training methods visually
Presents complex topics and subjects in an easily digestible format
Showcase case studies or success stories in an engaging visual format
Appeals to visual and auditory learners
Develop relatable scenarios that resonate with your target audience
You can use data visualisations to show measurable results

And finally…

Don't underestimate the power of animated videos in today's digital age. With crowdfunding and social media platforms becoming increasingly popular for startups, having a visually appealing and engaging video can make all the difference in capturing attention and standing out from the competition. No matter what type of startup you have, our team at Squideo can help you create an animated explainer video that suits your needs and helps you achieve your goals.

How Crowdfunding Companies are Leveraging Animated Videos to Attract Investors

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 17:08:55 GMT

In the bustling world of crowdfunding, where countless innovative ideas compete for attention and investment, standing out from the competition is more important than ever.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. But in the world of crowdfunding, an animated video production might just be worth a thousand investments. Whether you need to simplify a complex idea or use storytelling to develop a deeper connection, video content is proving to be a secret for success for many crowdfunding projects.

In this article, we'll dive into the world of animated videos and explore how crowdfunding companies are harnessing their potential to capture investors' attention, convey their vision, and ultimately, secure the funding they need to turn their ideas into reality.

In this article, you will find all the tips and tricks you need to know about how to use animated videos in the best possible way to reach your goals.

Overcoming Crowdfunding Challenges

One of the biggest challenges a crowdfunding company faces is the ability to build trust amongst potential investors in the turbulent economic market and the rise in the cost of living. Another common barrier is not knowing where to start in building awareness and engagement with potential investors. It can be quite overwhelming, especially when you don’t have much background knowledge of marketing and choosing the right channels for your business.

One of the ways to overcome these challenges is to really understand your business and how it will help to solve problems for your audience or how it will make a difference in their lives. With this, you’ll be able to tell a captivating story to engage and demonstrate to investors why they should consider investing in your startup. With a compelling narrative in place, marketing opportunities become virtually limitless, including putting forward a compelling value proposition to engage and attract investors.

The Rise of Animated Videos in Crowdfunding

While video marketing often brings to mind popular social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, its potential extends far beyond these channels. In fact, animated videos can be a powerful tool for capturing the interest of potential investors.

Recent statistics show that Crowdfunding campaigns with videos earn 105% more than those without videos. This goes to show the power of visual storytelling in attracting and persuading potential backers.

In our fast-paced world where attention spans are increasingly short, animated video campaigns are perfectly suited to capture and retain the interest of the most demanding viewer. By injecting key messaging into engaging and digestible content, videos can effectively cater to the modern-day audience.

Benefits of animated video content for Crowdfunding success

Simplify complex ideas

If you have a complex product or need to describe complicated concepts or technologies, then animated visuals can do a far better job of simplifying the information, compared to a person speaking to the camera.

Watch the example below of how we created an animated video to showcase the cutting-edge work of early-career academics and inspire future participants and investors alike.

Create emotional connections

You can use video animation to showcase compelling stories that resonate with investors or people they know. This will help to build emotional connections, and trust and help drive action. Telling personal stories, adding testimonials and sharing success stories can all contribute toward achieving your funding goals.

Showcase product potential

Video content brings your product to life for investors, allowing them to see it in action. For a beauty product, you can demonstrate its application and highlight its benefits visually. If you're seeking investment in a new app, you can showcase its key features, illustrate how it addresses current challenges, and provide benefits for the user. This dynamic presentation helps investors grasp your product's value proposition and envision its market potential.

Enhancing brand identity

One way to stand out from the crowd is to bring your brand to life using animated videos. Animated video content is easy to digest, memorable and gives potential backers a taste of what your brand stands for and how it can look in the market.

Tips for Creating an Impactful Animated Video for Crowdfunding

Write a clear problem-solution narrative: Animated videos are much more than promotional materials. They give your brand a voice and the opportunity to showcase solutions.
Know your audience: Understanding your target audience will allow you to tap into their emotions and create a video that resonates with their beliefs, pain points, and values.
Use compelling visuals and branding: Raise awareness of your brand using engaging visuals and memorable information.
Ensure your script is concise and engaging: Tell your story in a way that will get investors excited about your thoughts and ideas.
Use clear call-to-actions: Don’t forget to leave your viewers with clear call-to-actions, so they know exactly what to do next and how to get in touch.
Keep it short: Long videos can be disengaging and can contain too much information to digest. Keeping videos short and sweet is more impactful and gets the message across fast.
Investing in quality production: Ensure you have the right video production team on board to help you create the best digital version of your ideas.

In conclusion…

Animated video production not only allows you to get creative with your content, but it’s also a powerful tool to generate meaningful experiences and create lasting impressions on your investors. If you have an idea for your new project, why not speak to our team today, we’ll help you create animated explainer videos that will bring your vision to life. Get a free quote today .

Nonprofit Video Marketing: 5 Strategies to Increase Conversions

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:32:46 GMT

Video production is an effective way to bring your product or story to life. With the rise of accessible platforms such as TikTok, Insta Stories, and YouTube, it's safe to say that videos dominate the marketing industry. In a 2023 study, 91% of companies use video marketing in their business, which will continue to grow as the demand for videos increases, no matter what industry you are in.

In our latest blog, we’ll give you 5 effective strategies on how you can use video production to help connect with your audience and increase conversion for your non-profit business. From creating compelling story videos to utilising social media platforms, we’ve got you covered with expert advice and tips to make your non-profit business stand out in the digital world.

Whether your goal is to increase conversions, donations, event registrations or volunteer sign-ups, discover how animated explainer videos can make a significant impact on your charity's marketing efforts.

Step 1: KYC - Know Your Customer

Before you start any marketing campaign or video, it is important to get to know your audience, learn their interests and hobbies and understand their values and what they are passionate about. These insights will then help you to shape the video message, tone of voice and the type of content you’d like to share on the video.

To help understand your target audience better, you could conduct a survey and ask people to share their opinions and views on your charity. You could also ask:

Why are they interested in the charity? What does it mean to them?
What types of videos would they like to see?
Which platforms do they use the most?

With this information, you’ll be able to narrow down your target audience and be able to create effective video marketing campaigns personalised to the right type of audience.

Step 2: Tell Not Sell

Storytelling is a highly effective way to drive emotional connections. Whether you are trying to enhance your business for future donors or looking to reach a wider audience, visual storytelling is a powerful way to create memories that resonate with viewers. Studies have shown that 72% of donors are ‘very likely’ to donate to a charity after watching a video about their work, and 84% of people are more likely to respond to videos that show emotion.

Once you have your story in mind, you can get help from our professional video creators to help bring your story to life. We work with you by understanding your goals and objectives to create a compelling, emotive and engaging explainer video for your charity. Why not speak to our team today to find out how we can help?

Conveying the Right Video Message

Educational videos: Inform your audience about the specifics of your charity, how it works, and how you first started. Educational videos can help to establish your charity as being trustworthy and an expert in the field.

Organisational videos: Offer a general overview of your non-profit organisation and why your missions deserve the time and support from your audience. This video can be used as a generic video across a variety of platforms for all types of audiences.

Fundraising videos: Video marketing is a fun and engaging way to encourage people to take action. You can use video to explain how donors can get involved and how their input will be used to make a difference.

Testimonial videos: Review videos are great for storytelling, as you get to share the impact of donations and what it means for the people on the receiving end. You can use these video testimonials as a recruitment tool and show what it’s like to work for the charity and the difference a volunteer can make.

Examples of our Non-Profit Explainer Videos

Crohns & Colitis UK : Animated explainer video building brand awareness for Chrons & Colitis and how the charity can help anyone with the condition.

Oakwood Dog Rescue: An animated explainer video promoting a dog rescue charity and how people can get involved.

GO Girls: An animated explainer video that helps to simplify the definition of PARP Inhibitors, how it works, side effects, and different types of drugs

Step 3: Use Clear Call to Action (CTA)

In any video marketing campaign, you want to leave the viewer with a clear and concise call to action. This can be to encourage viewers to sign up, or volunteer, instructions on how to donate, how to share the video on their social media etc.

You can also consider using different types of CTA, such as in-video texts and also use clickable links in the post description to further drive clicks and conversions.

Step 4: Optimise Videos for Mobile and Social Media Platforms

Approximately 86% of people in the UK use their mobile to go online, which is why it is paramount any video you create is optimised for mobile experiences. You will also need to consider your distribution strategy and which social media platforms you’d like to use to showcase your campaign such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

Top tips for promoting video on social media

Use short engaging videos for Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Create vertical or square videos for Instagram stories and TikTok.
Convey the message in the first few seconds of the video.
Include a clear Call to action.
Use subtitles where possible.

Step 5: Measure Performance

It’s important to track the performance of your video campaign, to help understand what is working and what isn’t. Using analytical tools such as YouTube Analytics, Facebook Insights and Google Analytics, you’ll be able to measure key performance metrics including watch time, engagement rates, conversion rates and which platforms yield the most performance.

With this data, you can optimise your video campaign to help boost visibility and conversion rates. For example, if you notice your video click-through rate is low, you could try adjusting your call-to-actions to ensure they are clear for users to act upon. Making educated improvements to your video increases the chances of quality conversions and helps to build a stronger brand presence online.

Key Takeaways

Here’s a quick recap on what you need to do to create effective video marketing campaigns for your non-profit organisation:

Understand your audience.
Tell a compelling story.
Encourage viewers to engage.
Optimise for mobile and social media.
Measure performance and improve.

So whether you're looking to educate, promote a local fundraising campaign, or simply tell your charity’s story, Squideo is here to help. We’re dedicated to making a difference through our work, and we would like to collaborate with your charity or non-profit organisation. Let us help you tell your story through our animated explainer videos.

Take Your Video Marketing to the Next Level with Squideo

At Squideo, we can help you captivate your audience with engaging interactive videos. A must-have secret weapon in your digital marketing toolkit, our bespoke interactive marketing videos are designed to engage your audience and maximise sales.

By unleashing the power of interactive video, you can simply understand specific viewer needs, gather audience contact information, and generate enquiries and requests straight from your video.

Using our creative flair, innovation, and strategic thinking, we keep your goals front of mind when working on any project. When combined, our range of skills creates the ultimate digital marketing synergy.

Our team are dedicated to creating high-quality content for your brand at a low price point. So, whether you need animated promotional videos, corporate video production, company explainer videos, customer service videos, explainer videos, or graphic design, we can help.

Get in touch with the team at Squideo today to get started!

Creative Ways to Use Video For Marketing

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:12:17 GMT

Video has become a powerhouse for businesses looking to connect with their audience in meaningful ways. From captivating storytelling to dynamic product demonstrations, video offers endless possibilities for engaging audiences.

In a recent study , 87% of video marketers said video helped them directly increase sales and generate more leads, proving the importance of video in digital marketing strategies.

The growing importance of video in digital marketing campaigns stems from its ability to capture attention, engage audiences, and convey messages quickly and effectively. With the rise of social media and smartphones, video has become the preferred content type for online users.

Video can also enhance SEO and offer a fresh and unique approach to showcasing products, customer testimonials, and brand stories.

Join us as we explore creative ways to use video for marketing, providing innovative strategies, inspiring real-life examples, practical tips, and solutions to common challenges.

Exploring Creative Video Marketing Strategies

Here are some creative ways to use video for marketing:

Product Demonstrations

Imagine bringing your product to life on screen, showcasing its features in a way that sparks curiosity and excitement. Whether it's through unboxing experiences, step-by-step tutorials, or fun explainer videos, craft narratives that resonate with your audience, making them eager to experience your product firsthand.

Customer Testimonials

There's nothing more powerful than real stories from real people. By sharing genuine customer experiences through video testimonials, we're not just selling a product – we're building trust and loyalty. Let's shine the spotlight on your customers and let their voices be the heart of your brand story.

Fun Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks

Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors? Give your audience a peek behind the curtain and show them the people and passion that make your brand special. From introducing your team to sharing funny bloopers, these videos are all about letting your audience get to know the real you

Interactive Live Streaming

Get ready to engage with our audience in real time and create memorable experiences that leave a lasting impression. From exciting product launches to interactive Q&A sessions, live streaming allows us to connect with our audience on a personal level, building trust and loyalty along the way.

Interactive Storytelling

Interactive and digital storytelling allows marketers to create compelling stories for social media and the web. With modern tools and creative design techniques, interactive storytelling breaks free from traditional media by leveraging 3D video, illustrations, animated gifs, and logo animation. From videos for social media, polls and quizzes, TikTok challenges, interactive ads, live Q&A sessions, and live shopping events, the sky's the limit!

Real-life examples from Squideo

Some real-life examples of ways to use video for marketing from Squideo:

Qualzy

Qualzy is a web-based platform that helps researchers create and manage qualitive research projects. To effectively communicate their core service, Squideo built an explainer video that simplifies complex software features, making it easier to understand and appealing to the audience.

This video includes interactive elements such as animated gifs and logo animation.

Check out the video here.

Inntravel

Inntravel is a UK-based travel company specialising in walking, cycling, and snow-based holidays across Europe. Squideo was commissioned to create their B2C campaign advert, which uses captivating visuals and storytelling to evoke emotion and inspire viewers to holiday.

This video includes interactive elements such as creative animated designs and interactive storytelling.

Check out the video here .

Practical Tips for Crafting Compelling Video Content

Preparation and Planning

Preparation and planning help clearly define the message you want to convey through the video. They ensure the message stays focused and communicates the information effectively to the viewer.

Defining objectives, understanding your audience, storyboarding, and scripting are all crucial planning steps for creating compelling and impactful video content.

Production Quality

Well-produced videos are more likely to captivate the audience and set content apart from competitors. Furthermore, high-quality videos reflect professionalism and attention to detail, which can positively affect your brand's image.

A tripod paired with a modern smartphone equipped with a high-quality camera can capture professional-looking videos. This means small businesses can create high-quality videos without breaking the bank.

Platform Optimisation

Each platform has a unique audience demographic and content format, so it’s important to tailor videos for YouTube, the website, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Consider your audience, video length, content style, and how to best optimise titles, tags, hashtags, and captions to improve reach and engagement on each platform.

Measuring Effectiveness

Don’t forget about your video once it’s been posted. Ensure that you check key metrics for video performance, such as views, engagement, click-through rates, and conversions, to measure the video's effectiveness.

Most platforms have built-in analytic tools that offer basic insights. For more in-depth breakdowns, consider posting via a social media management platform such as Hootsuite, Buffer, or Sprout Social.

Overcoming Challenges in Video Marketing

Budget

Businesses often feel that they need high-end equipment and expertise to create high-quality, professional video marketing material. In today’s digital, fast-paced world, some of the best video marketing is captured via a smartphone while on the go.

For marketers looking to stay within budget constraints, consider leveraging user-generated content, repurposing existing content, and using cost-effective editing tools.

Consistency

For some marketers, maintaining a consistent posting schedule can be difficult. To overcome this, create a content calendar and batch-produce videos. Planning allows you to stay organised and ensure a consistent posting schedule, even during busy periods.

Additionally, consider repurposing content for consistency without the need for constant filming.

Technical Difficulties

Technical issues such as poor audio quality and software glitches can disrupt the filming process and cause delays. Investing in reliable video production equipment, regular maintenance checks, and researching troubleshooting techniques can all help to prevent these challenges.

Marketers may even want to consider outsourcing some tasks to a professional to further mitigate risk.

Take Your Video Marketing to the Next Level with Squideo

By unleashing the power of interactive video, you can simply understand specific viewer needs, gather audience contact information, and generate enquiries and requests straight from your video.

Get in touch with the team at Squideo today to get started!

Utilising Video in Digital Marketing for Investing Start-ups

Tue, 14 May 2024 11:10:50 GMT

In the fast-paced world of investing, where every moment counts, and every decision carries weight, capturing attention and effectively communicating complex concepts is paramount.

This is where video marketing emerges as a beacon of possibility, offering investing start-ups a dynamic platform to not just convey their message but to captivate, educate, and inspire their audience.

As an animated video production company, we intimately understand the transformative impact of video marketing in the digital landscape. Let's delve deeper into how investing start-ups can harness the power of video to accelerate their growth trajectory and amplify their brand presence.

The importance of digital marketing

As the digital world does not sleep, investing in online marketing solutions such as video marketing will allow you to connect and engage with yourtarget market 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether it's a captivating product demonstration, an engaging tutorial, or a heartfelt brand story, videos have the power to resonate with viewers in ways that text or static images sometimes can't. Plus, with the prevalence of social media and various online platforms, the potential reach of your video content is vast.

After all, more people than ever are communicating, shopping, researching products, and carrying out countless other daily tasks in the digital world. With this in mind, the power of digital marketing content, including visual storytelling through animation, should not be underestimated.

A report published by Ofcom in 2023 revealed that: “In total, 47.9 million UK adults accessed the internet on smartphones, tablets and computers in May 2023, spending an average of 3 hours 41 minutes a day online.”

The importance of digital marketing trends

Keeping up with digital marketing trends is critical, especially as the online landscape continues to evolve. With new platforms, algorithms, and consumer behaviours constantly emerging, businesses need to stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive. Adapting and leveraging digital marketing strategies is no longer just an option but a necessity for all companies to stay relevant and thrive in today's digital age.

But why do digital marketing trends matter?

Here are just some of the reasons why digital marketing trends matter:

Changing consumer behaviour: Consumer habits and preferences online are changing constantly, and if you stand any chance of staying ahead of the competition, it’s essential that your digital marketing campaign always aligns with current trends and what your audience wants to see.

Always remain relevant: In the digital world, it’s vital that you always stay relevant and keep pace with changing trends. You'll likely see better results if your content remains fresh and relevant.

Optimise marketing potential: One of the main benefits of remaining in tune with digital marketing trends is that they provide a whole host of exciting opportunities to leverage cutting-edge marketing tools and strategies.

Finally, understanding current trends can help you anticipate what will be following in the digital world so you can remain one step ahead and maximise all engagement opportunities first.

Video Marketing as a Powerful Trend

Video marketing has emerged as a major trend in digital marketing, largely due to the evolving preferences of today's consumers. With attention spans shrinking and digital devices becoming ubiquitous, visual content reigns supreme in capturing and retaining audience interest.

After all, videos are impactful, engaging, informative, and easy to digest, making them ideal for delivering important marketing messages and making a memorable impression online. Brands that use video content also benefit from increased engagement, which, in turn, boosts ROI.

This can be particularly useful for investing startups for several reasons:

Firstly, videos offer a dynamic platform to showcase a startup's unique value proposition, effectively communicating its mission, vision, and offerings to potential investors. Through compelling visual narratives, startups can captivate audiences, instil trust, and differentiate themselves in crowded markets.

Secondly, video content allows startups to humanise their brand, putting faces to names and fostering authentic connections with stakeholders. By featuring founders, team members, and satisfied customers, startups can build credibility and rapport, crucial elements in attracting investment.

Furthermore, video marketing facilitates broader reach and exposure, enabling startups to amplify their message across various digital channels. Whether through social media, email campaigns, or targeted advertisements, videos have the potential to go viral, exponentially increasing brand visibility and attracting the attention of potential investors.

Lastly, video marketing's measurable nature provides startups with valuable insights into audience behaviour and campaign performance. By analysing metrics such as views, engagement rates, and conversion metrics, startups can refine their strategies, optimise their messaging, and ultimately drive better results.

The art of visual storytelling, video types and how they help start-ups

There are lots of different video types that can help start-ups achieve their marketing goals. Here are just some of them:

Product Demo Videos: Product demo videos are designed to showcase your product's features and demonstrate them in action using high-quality visuals.

Brand Story Videos: Brand story videos are a great way to share your start-up's story, mission, and values. This will create a memorable first impression and help potential customers connect with your brand from the offset.

Customer Testimonial Videos: People buy from people, and customer testimonial videos are a great way to build high trust and credibility with potential customers. Of course, this marketing tactic is a fantastic way to shout about your greatness!

Social Media Videos: Social media is now considered one of the most powerful platforms for connecting and engaging with your customers. Social media videos are ideal for creating eye-catching content that can be tailored for different social media platforms.

Case studies

Explainer videos are a secret weapon in the world of digital marketing, as they tell the audience a story. With moving graphics accompanied by an engaging voiceover, complex messages become broken down into a format that is easy to understand, digest, and remember.

Explainer videos can benefit start-ups by creating more brand awareness, generating excitement about a new product or business concept and showcasingonly the best features in the right way.

Here are some of the brands that we have helped:

MooFree

MooFree came to us looking for an impactful video to showcase its new branding for its dairy-free chocolate range. They wanted to create brand awareness and generate excitement about their new look while promoting their product line. We used a mix of static and moving assets to create a heartwarming yet quirky animation for MooFree.

Qiiosk

Qiiosk was founded in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its primary function is to make it easy for restaurant, cafe and bar guests to order food and drinks and pay straight from the table simply by scanning a handy QR code on their smartphone. This meant bars and restaurants could stay open during the pandemic by serving guests using table service only. qiiosk came to us wanting an animated explainer video to explain how the app worked, its benefits to customers and how to download it!

If you're a startup and you want to benefit from an animated explainer video like the examples above, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Stint

Stint was founded by two university students in 2018, who found a gap in the hospitality sector market. Stint is an app targeted specifically at students who need temporary jobs to earn extra income while they’re studying. They came to Squideo looking for an animated explainer video to explain the concept behind their app, how it works, and how to use it. We recreated the app in a more simplified way to promote the app and encourage viewers to start using it!

Why Choose Squideo for Your Animation?

At Squideo, we create professional, goal-orientated, bespoke animated explainer videos that entertain and engage target audiences. Armed with a wide range of skills, we are experts in creating the ultimate digital marketing synergy, offering a range of extras such as full scripting and copywriting, thumbnails, and bespoke animated business logos.

From lead generation and gathering feedback to immersive E-learning, we can help elevate your brand with intuitive interactive videos that will propel you above your competition.

We create animated promotional videos, corporate video production, company explainer videos, customer service videos, explainer videos and graphic design, and offer white-label services to save you money, time and resources.

Our in-house team comprises video producers, account managers, marketing specialists and directors. The Squid Squad are one big family, and we treat all our customers the same, so you're not just an order number for us. We work with you to get the best result!

Ready to get started? Get in touch today to find out more and get a quick quote.

World Cartoonist Day

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 14:37:04 GMT

Cartoonists are the unsung heroes behind some of our fondest memories, from childhood Saturday morning cartoons to the latest animated blockbusters. Their creations not only entertain but also serve as mirrors reflecting society’s quirks, challenges, and aspirations.

That’s why every year on May 5th, we celebrate World Cartoonist Day to honour the incredible contributions of these artistic visionaries. It's a day dedicated to recognising the profound impact cartoons have on our lives, with their ability to inspire imagination, facilitate creativity, and provide escapism during difficult times.

As we commemorate this special day, let’s delve into the enchanting world of cartoons and celebrate the illustrious artists who have left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds.

Cartoonists who Capture Hearts and Inspire Minds

The Legacy of Walt Disney

No discussion about the impact of cartoons on popular culture would be complete without mentioning the legendary Walt Disney. With a vision as vast as his imagination, Disney pioneered the art of animation, introducing iconic characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy to audiences worldwide. His studio’s groundbreaking films, including "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "The Lion King," and "Frozen," continue to captivate generations, proving that the magic of animation knows no bounds.

The Whimsical World of Hayao Miyazaki

In the realm of anime, few artists have achieved the level of acclaim and admiration as Hayao Miyazaki. The co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki is renowned for his visually stunning films that blend fantasy, adventure, and profound ecological themes. From the enchanting forests of "Princess Mononoke" to the soaring skies of "Castle in the Sky," his work celebrates the beauty of nature and the resilience of the human spirit, inspiring audiences of all ages to dream boldly and embrace empathy.

The Satirical Genius of Matt Groening

For decades, "The Simpsons" has served as a cultural touchstone, offering sharp-witted commentary on everything from politics and pop culture to family dynamics and existential angst. At the helm of this animated institution is Matt Groening, whose irreverent humour and keen observations have made Springfield’s residents household names. Through its clever satire and timeless humour, "The Simpsons" continues to entertain and provoke thought, reminding us that laughter is truly the universal language.

The Playful Pen of Charles M. Schulz

No list of influential cartoonists would be complete without honouring Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. Through the endearing antics of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang, Schulz captured the essence of childhood innocence, friendship, and resilience. With his deceptively simple art style and poignant storytelling, he touched the hearts of millions, leaving behind a timeless legacy that continues to inspire readers of all ages to find joy in life’s simple pleasures.

Cartoon Animation in Daily Life

Animation is all around us. Away from the silver screen, we see cartoons in daily life, from creative adverts that convey important messages to explainer videos that make complex concepts easily understandable. Animation has permeated every facet of our lives, enriching our experiences and enhancing communication in ways we may not even realise.

Animation in Advertising

In advertising, animation serves as a powerful tool for storytelling and brand engagement. From colourful characters to captivating narratives, animated adverts have the ability to leave a lasting impression on audiences, conveying messages with charm and creativity. Whether it's a whimsical commercial for a children's toy or a heartfelt campaign promoting social change, animation has the unique ability to evoke emotion and connect with viewers on a profound level.

For Example:

Aldi's Kevin the Carrot stands as a prime example of how animation can transform a brand's image and captivate audiences. Introduced as the supermarket chain's festive mascot, Kevin the Carrot quickly became a beloved character, starring in a series of animated adverts that have become eagerly anticipated each holiday season.

Through these adverts, Aldi utilised animation to craft engaging narratives centred around Kevin's adventures, whether it's his quest to find love, his daring escapades to save his family or his humorous encounters with other characters. With each instalment, audiences were drawn into Kevin's world, eagerly following his journey and eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

The success of Kevin the Carrot demonstrates how animation can breathe life into a brand, fostering a connection with consumers and leaving a lasting impression. By leveraging the power of storytelling and creativity, Aldi effectively used animation to engage audiences, drive brand recognition, and spread holiday cheer. Kevin the Carrot not only became synonymous with Aldi's festive offerings but also exemplified the magic of animated advertising in captivating hearts and minds.

Animated Explainer Videos

By combining engaging visuals with concise narration, explainer videos make complex ideas easy to understand and compelling to audiences of all backgrounds.

Imagine you're introducing a revolutionary new app that simplifies personal finance management. Describing its features and benefits solely through text might leave potential users feeling confused or overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information. However, with an explainer video, you can distil the essence of your app into a visually captivating story that grabs attention and communicates key concepts with clarity and precision.

For Example:

A key example of this is the NHS ’s use of animated explainer videos during the pandemic to communicate vital information to people across the UK in a simple way that even people who don’t speak English could understand.

These adverts featured vibrant animations demonstrating how viruses spread and the effectiveness of preventive actions such as handwashing. The narration was kept clear and concise, ensuring viewers could easily grasp each step.

Through this approach, the NHS made vital pandemic guidance accessible to all, empowering both healthcare professionals and the general public to navigate these challenging times with confidence. In this case, cartoons were a real life saver!

How can cartoons tell your story?

As we celebrate the diverse ways in which cartoons have enriched our lives, it's essential to recognise their potential to tell a wide range of stories. Whether you're an individual, a business, or an organisation, cartoons offer a dynamic and engaging medium through which to convey your message.

Consider the following questions:

What story do you want to tell? Whether it's sharing your brand's origin tale, explaining a complex concept, or simply entertaining your audience, cartoons can bring your narrative to life in a memorable and captivating way.

Who is your target audience? Understanding your audience's preferences and interests is key to crafting an effective cartoon narrative. Are you aiming to appeal to children, adults, or a specific demographic? Tailoring your animation style and content to resonate with your audience will enhance its impact.

What emotions do you want to evoke? Cartoons have a remarkable ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from laughter and joy to empathy and inspiration. Consider how you want your audience to feel after watching your cartoon and how

you can use animation, storytelling, and character design to elicit those emotions.

What message do you want to convey? Whether you're raising awareness about a social issue, promoting a product or service, or simply entertaining your audience, having a clear message is essential. Cartoons offer a visually engaging platform to communicate complex ideas in a straightforward and accessible manner.

How can cartoons enhance your brand identity? Just as iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and Snoopy have become synonymous with their respective brands, cartoons can help strengthen your brand identity and foster a deeper connection with your audience. Consider how you can incorporate elements of your brand's personality and values into your cartoon storytelling.

Why Choose Squideo for Your Animation?

At Squideo, we create professional, goal-oriented and powerful interactive animation videos that educate your audience.

From lead generation and gathering feedback to immersive E-learning, we can help elevate your brand with intuitive interactive videos that will propel you above your competition.

We create animated promotional videos, corporate video productions, company explainers, customer service explainers, and graphic design videos and offer white-label services to save you money, time, and resources.

Our in-house team consists of video producers, account managers, marketing specialists, and directors. The Squid Squad is one big family, and we treat all our customers just the same. So, for us, you're not just an order number. We work with you to get the best result!

Ready to get started? Get in touch today to find out more and get a quick quote.

Why Animated Whiteboard Explainer Videos Might Not Be Your Best Bet in 2024

chloe@squideo.co.uk (Chloe Wong) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:56:03 GMT

In the past, we have had clients approach us asking if we create whiteboard style animated videos and the answer is, no, we don’t.

We’re not doing this to be mean or awkward, in fact, quite the opposite ! We only want the best for our clients, and we don’t believe that whiteboard videos are the best.

In this article, we will explore what whiteboard animations are and why we don’t like creating them for our clients.

What are whiteboard videos?

Whiteboard videos feature a blend of hand-drawn visuals, audio, and text displayed on a whiteboard background. Originally popularised for educational content, these videos have found a broader audience in the business world as a tool for promoting products and services.

Although these videos have been used for years, we believe that there are so many more effective ways to promote your business, service or product to clients.

The reasons we don't make whiteboard videos

Nostalgia Isn't Always a Winner

1. Sure, whiteboards have been a classroom staple since the 50s, but in today's fast-paced digital landscape, viewers crave content that's fresh and engaging. Animated explainer videos should captivate, not conjure memories of school days.

Vanilla Isn't Memorable

2. While simplicity can be powerful in design (just think of Apple), whiteboard animations often fall flat. The monotonous white background and black pen lack the vibrancy needed to make your brand stand out. Colourful backgrounds and elements, on the other hand, inject energy and visual appeal into your message.

Cookie-Cutter Creations

3. Whiteboard videos, by their nature, lack versatility. They all follow a standard format, making it difficult for your message to shine amidst the crowd. Bespoke animated videos, tailored to your brand, offer a unique identity that sets you apart from competitors.

Quality Matters

4. Creating a high-quality whiteboard video requires precision and attention to detail. Unfortunately, not all companies prioritise this, leading to sloppy results. Plus, there is only so much quality to get across with a whiteboard video, as there is a set style to adhere to.

The Superior Alternative: 2D Motion Graphics

Investing in a 2D motion graphics video ensures better quality, making it a worthwhile investment for your business.

At Squideo, we specialise in 2D motion graphics—a step up from traditional whiteboard animation. Our styles offer better quality, brand integration, and entertainment value. While whiteboard videos may seem cost-effective, investing in a 2D animated explainer video pays off in the long run, allowing you to convey emotions and enhance your brand identity effectively.

Ready to Elevate Your Message?

Take the first step towards creating a captivating video by filling out our Quick Quote form. With Squideo, your brand story comes to life in ways that resonate with your audience and drive results.

Impactful Storytelling: How Charity Marketing Videos Inspire

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:30:26 GMT

Storytelling is crucial for charity marketing, as a strong connection to your audience is a much-needed step. Charity marketing through videos can set the tone for communication that serves a purpose, creates connection, and teaches your audience.

How animation-based videos compel an audience

Compassion and Information

It’s crucial to be able to convey your charity-based message to your audience whilst also directing them to next-steps . Often, charity advertisement marketing can fall short where there is a missed opportunity for compassion and empathy. Tough topics require explanation, information and a structure on how to help.

To understand how to best create a video that touches on human connection whilst being informative enough to provide context to real issues, we must understand how animation-based storytelling allows us to feel inspired and hopeful, whilst also being a teachable moment for audiences unaware of the issue at hand.

Explainer videos allow an audience to have a simplified place of learning and act as a communication format that can convey the message of your charity, the aim of your charity, and visualise concepts that can be more difficult to explain in plain text. There is scope to introduce creativity and colour for a more engaging video, increasing shareability, and allowing the viewers to learn more about the charity and ways to support without compromising barriers that may otherwise be flagged on social media or other media outlets.

Understanding how to convey tough topics

Focusing on: Informing and gathering help

Spark the giving nature of people when you’re able to properly understand the target persona of your audience. The aim of your video should cater to this, whether it be outright to convert interest to donations or alter public perception of an issue.

Through spreading awareness , the right charity videos are the ones that provide an alternate outcome to shared stories within the video. Think about what moves your ideal audience, and where there is scope to showcase your organisation’s efforts. Highlighting how prior efforts by your charity have created change can ignite the momentum to continue this - thus, utilising empathy as a driving factor. When portraying deeper, tougher subject matters it is crucial to provide a ‘next step’ so as to inspire the public to assist in making change.

Focusing on: Brand Awareness

Like all forms of marketing, your media must stick with your branding efforts. This may mean following colour schemes native to your brand, identifiable logos or language that suits your tone-of-voice guidelines.

As the video gets shared, whether organically or boosted by advertising efforts, being able to pin the video back to the charity at hand will allow you to optimise your audience, spread the message and create further brand reliability. The recognition that can come from sensible and logical explanation-based videos can then be used in educational efforts to teach more audiences about such causes.

Curating unique ways to market the understanding of your business can include using an animation style appropriate to the charity and issue at hand.

The right way to utilise animation in charity marketing

Clickable Sections and Interactive Videos

When using visual aspects, the colours, sounds and speech all play a supporting role in the overall message. Thus, creating an animation marketing video that includes clickable features such as donation buttons, share buttons and more can allow for a personalised touch that reinforces the human aspect of charity.

Alongside a call-to-action, it could be useful to include quizzes in video formats that focus on teaching and spreading awareness. This data can then be used in further campaigns, allowing for your charity business to create more accurate efforts in the individual customer journey. By learning about your audience through the choices they make, quizzes can be used to understand how informative your videos are.

Consider using features like closed captions , which widen accessibility efforts and broaden overall reach. Though charity-based videos can seem tedious to watch-through, it is important to negate the downfalls of this by incorporating engaging and interactive features that remain with the audience long after watching the animation.

Emotion and Promotion

The aim of your video should be to prompt a response, and for this you will need to create engaging characters that narrate the storyline of your script whilst serving purpose. The script will need to include the issue at hand, provide further context for greater awareness and be followed by next steps that the audience can engage with.

Due to the sensitive nature of charitable causes, conveying the right emotion with appropriate music and language choices can initiate the desired response. Be sure to implement teachable moments and educational formatting, which is something that derives from your chosen script. If you’re unsure of your script, consider using Squideo’s script-writing to hit the mark - with free revisions included.

Educate your audience with charity-marketing videos

Consider Squideo for your animation marketing efforts, and watch how your charity can bloom in brand awareness, subject awareness and overall effectiveness in educating. Relying on a professional and valuable service for your video assets can help boost marketing efforts.

At Squideo, we also adapt to your level of expertise with step-by-step communication so you have the best end-result possible. Whether you’re brand new to using marketing videos for charity, or you have an endless portfolio of assets, we can create something impactful, educational and appealing including voiceovers and script-writing .

Health in Motion: Mastering Healthcare Animation Videos

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:24:20 GMT

The integration of animated videos and visual storytelling is a game-changer for how we can connect with patients, transforming communication and rewriting industry standards .

As a complex industry, healthcare businesses heavily rely on effective communication and educational resources to bridge the gap between patients/investors and healthcare providers.

Healthcare animated videos are not a trendy marketing medium, but a vital tool for achieving this and delivering effective communication, patient education, and brand building.

This guide explores how animation marketing can be a game-changer in your healthcare communication strategies.

Discover the various benefits that animation brings to the forefront, and how it is shaping a new era in effective and impactful healthcare communication.

The Power of Visual Storytelling in Healthcare

In the intricate healthcare landscape, where the exchange of complex information is a daily challenge, visual storytelling transforms traditional communication strategies, enhancing clarity and understanding.

Through animation, the narrative is not confined to words alone; it unfolds dynamically through a visually engaging medium that brings complicated medical concepts to life.

The BBC Example: Battling and Overcoming Anxiety

One of the formidable challenges lies in addressing the often invisible and sensitive battle faced by individuals struggling with mental health issues.

In a poignant example by the BBC, this animated video explores the impact of anxiety and how it can affect a person’s life. Accompanied by voiceover, it showcases diverse stories of young individuals dealing with anxiety and the complex ways anxiety can manifest into emotional and physical symptoms.

The strategic use of animation becomes the linchpin in conveying the deeply personal nature of these stories. Using powerful visual storytelling, it offers a profound glimpse into the subjective experience of anxiety, so viewers can see how anxiety can look and feel.

What are healthcare animated videos?

At their core, healthcare animated videos are visual narratives that utilise key animation techniques to convey medical information, procedures, or health-related concepts.

Crafted to simplify intricate topics, they captivate and educate audiences through a visually engaging, easy-to-understand, and entertaining visual narrative.

Benefits of Animation Marketing

Heightened Visual Appeal and Creativity

Healthcare animated videos leverage the power of visuals to captivate audiences. Through vibrant colours , dynamic characters , and engaging scenes , they transform complex information into a visually pleasing and memorable experience.

There is also a wide range of animation styles to choose from, so you can decide on the style that works

best for your brand and goals.

Enhanced Patient Engagement and Education

Beyond visuals, this medium prioritises accuracy and the primary goal is to captivate and educate audiences. By visualising medical concepts, you can actively improve patient engagement, simplifying important information and enhancing retention.

Wide Accessibility and Reach

Healthcare animated videos are highly adaptable and able to reach a broad audience. Whether shared on social media, embedded in educational modules, or featured on websites, these videos extend their impact across diverse platforms.

Improved Brand Building and Trust

By leveraging a powerful, dynamic visual aid in healthcare communication strategies, companies can improve audience reach and engagement with their brand.

This not only enhances their brand image but demonstrates a commitment to providing clear and accessible healthcare information and education - building trust among patients and stakeholders.

Strategies for Mastering Healthcare Communication through Animated Videos

As animated videos are a game-changing tool, it is important to understand the various types and uses so that you can incorporate them strategically and successfully into your marketing mix.

Storyboard with Precision

The backbone of any compelling animated video is a well-crafted storyboard and script . Understand how you want to break down the healthcare information into digestible segments, for a logical and captivating flow. Visualise how each scene contributes to the overall narrative to create a cohesive and engaging story.

Consistent Branding and Style

Establish consistent branding and style for your healthcare animated videos. This includes visual elements such as colour schemes, logos, and typography. Having consistency helps foster brand recognition, build trust, and create a cohesive visual identity across all communication materials.

Leverage Interactive Elements

Foster engagement by incorporating interactive elements within your animated video. This could include clickable sections, quizzes, or calls to action that encourage viewers to actively participate. Not only do interactive features enhance the viewer's connection with the content, but they also increase audience engagement and appeal.

Accessibility Features

By default, 85% of videos are watched with sound turned off. Make your animated videos accessible to a wider audience by incorporating features such as subtitles , translations, and compatibility with assistive technologies. Ensuring accessibility enhances the inclusivity of your healthcare communication efforts, as well as the reach of the material.

Get Started with Healthcare Animation Videos

At Squideo, our talented team produces professional, goal-oriented and valuable animation assets that inform and educate your audience.

Our healthcare video production delivers an impactful message that helps patients understand treatments and diagnoses. You can also utilise animation to demonstrate the value of new healthcare technology or underscore key processes for effective training.

Ready to get started? Get in touch today to find out more!

The Best Animated Christmas Adverts of All Time

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 08:30:00 GMT

We love a Christmas advert in Britain. Whenever the latest John Lewis or Marks & Spencer Christmas advert is released it makes news headlines . The public takes to the internet to compare it to adverts of past and rank which advert has been the best tear-jerker so far .

At Squideo, our favourite Christmas ads are the animated variety . We love to see what other animation companies are experimenting with, which pop culture characters are in the public consciousness, and what audiences are responding to. We’re ranking our ten favourite animated Christmas adverts (to date). Let us know if we missed your pick!

10 Best Animated Christmas Adverts

10. It’s a Wonderful Flight | Heathrow Airport 2017

Combining live-action and CGI, the iconic Heathrow Bears sold at Heathrow Airport take centre stage in this advert. On a series of Christmas Eve flights , a family of Heathrow Bears grows over the years in a video which promotes the staff of Heathrow Airport who work throughout the Christmas holiday as well as this classic souvenir .

09. Paddington & The Christmas Visitor | Marks and Spencer 2017

Released in the same year as Paddington 2 , Marks and Spencer took advantage of the film’s publicity by making this special bear the star of their Christmas advert. The video subtly places M&S products throughout, but it is Ben Whishaw who is the star of this advert along with Mark Benton and a cameo from Angela Ripon. M&S rarely hold back on the celebrity guest stars in their adverts, but it is the touching scene at the end of this advert that truly makes it memorable.

08. A Comfy Carol | DFS 2020

Wallace and Gromit have been popular characters since they first graced the screen in 1989, and DFS must have known they had a safe bet when they approached Aardman Animation to make their Christmas advert. The product placement – a warm and comfortable couch – only appears at the very end of the video, with much of the advert dedicated to Wallace’s typical eccentricities and Gromit’s usual exasperation .

07. Northern Lights | Coca Cola 1993

The Coca Cola polar bears have been a popular mascot used by the company since 1993 , often appearing in their advertising in the run up to Christmas. This simple advert departed from the brand’s usual live-action human-centric videos and used state-of-the-art computer animation . The ad was so popular that even Coca Cola’s competitors Pepsi got in on the action, eventually releasing their own polar bear advert. Who knew bears loved soft drinks so much?

06. Inner Child | McDonald’s 2020

Made in support of FareShare UK , this 3D animated McDonald’s advert doesn’t rely on characters from famous franchises. Instead it creates its own original characters, a mother and a son whose relationship is strengthened over a McDonald’s happy meal. Animation is cleverly used to show the son’s growing distance, contrasted with his inner child who longs to participate in all the Christmas traditions. Joining McDonald’s existing #ReindeerReady campaign , it ends with them setting out McDonald’s provided carrot sticks in wait of Santa’s arrival.

05. Get More Out Of Giving | Very 2019

Another yearly campaign, Very’s Get More Out Of Giving promotes community and kindness during the Christmas holidays. In 2019, Very used 3D animation to create a neighbourhood coming together to create a gift for one of the residents. Very has used the same street of houses in previous adverts and takes advantage of the existing character development to advance the story. Using Very branding in the form of a glowing pink present , it is a subtle advert without any product placement that effectively pulls on the heartstrings.

04. Father Christmas to the Rescue | Barbour 2020

Using the beloved animation of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas , this advert was inspired by a real incident which is credited at the end of the video. After the family dog rips an heirloom Barbour jacket , Father Christmas is called upon to mend it. The advert signposts the repair services Barbour offer, rather than promoting buying a new replacement. It’s a sweet story, but the best part is seeing Briggs’ characters brought to life again.

03. Mog’s Christmas Calamity | Sainsbury’s 2015

Prepare for the advert guaranteed to bring tears to Scrooge’s eyes. Narrated by author Judith Kerr , the original creator of Mog who also cameos in the video, this live-action and 3D animation advert was accompanied by a Sainsbury-exclusive book and plush toy with proceeds going to Save the Children . Mog gets up to his usual antics, and the Thomas’ home catches fire – destroying the downstairs living area in a moment which brings the fun calamity to a sobering moment . Quickly the neighbourhood rallies around the family, cleaning up the house and sharing their Christmas. It’s an emotional rollercoaster which instantly became a Christmas advert classic.

02. The Stepdad | Disney 2021

Part of Disney’s From Our Family to Yours campaign , the company continues its support of Make-A-Wish International through sales of the video’s original song performed by Gregory Porter. The second advert to follow this growing family, the titular stepdad struggles to find his place in the household but fortunately the love he and his step kids share for Disney comes to the rescue . From watching Disney films, reading Disney books and building a Disney-inspired gingerbread house, there’s no shortage of product placement in this advert. And yet, despite this, it keeps the characters central and creates a heartwarming story.

01. The Bear and the Hare | John Lewis 2013

Combining 2D and stop-motion animation, this was the video that started John Lewis’ reign as the Christmas advert titan . Using Lily Allen’s cover of Somewhere Only We Know, the single became a UK number one hit and the video has over 54 million views on YouTube . Every John Lewis advert since is compared to The Bear and the Hare . From its beautifully animated characters to the simplicity of the story, there was no other advert in the running for our number one spot.

Create Your Own Animated Video

Did your favourite animated Christmas advert make the list? Why not get started on an animated video of your own. Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Guide to Interactive Marketing Videos for Your Business

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 00:07:42 GMT

It is no secret that in the dynamic digital landscape of today, interactive video content is emerging as a winner when it comes to marketing videos for your business.

It takes a lot to make your business stand out from competitors. As more industries turn their focus to the digital marketing sphere, it’s important you seek out new and innovative ways to capture audience attention and drive engagement.

While standard marketing videos are a great choice, they do not always provide your audience with an immersive, memorable, experience. So how do you elevate your marketing content to the next level and ensure you are ahead of the game?

Enter interactive marketing videos !

In this guide, we take a closer look at interactive marketing videos, exploring how they can be an amazing tool for interactive storytelling, improve user experience, and be utilised across endless industries and business areas.

What is an interactive video?

Interactive marketing videos are not just your run-of-the-mill videos. They're dynamic and immersive, designed to captivate your audience's attention and encourage active participation.

Unlike traditional videos where viewers passively watch, interactive videos invite the audience to interact with the content, making it much more likely for them to retain your key messages. Research showed that 87.7% of people noted a growth in their online sales after incorporating interactive videos into their sales strategies.

Users can make choices that determine the video's direction, access additional information, or engage in various activities within the video itself, making them a dynamic tool for taking your audience on an engaging journey.

Interactive marketing videos can also come in a vast range of formats, including clickable hotspots, quizzes, surveys, and more. They are also able to be tailored to specific platforms, making them more appealing for mobile users versus desktop computer users, for example.

Benefits of Interactive Marketing Videos

Interactive videos offer a unique blend of storytelling, engagement, and personalisation, making them an invaluable asset for businesses across a wide range of industries. They can be used to enhance brand awareness, educate customers, generate leads, and ultimately drive conversions.

You can find a full rundown of the top benefits of interactive marketing videos in our recent blog , but some of the key benefits to note include:

✔️ Increased Engagement: Interactive videos invite your audience into a two-way conversation, allowing them to actively engage with your content, increasing their viewing times and engagement. The more invested your audience, the more likely they are to retain your key messages and take action.

✔️ Data Collection: Interactive videos can help collect valuable data and insights about your audience, tracking viewer choices and learning more about their preferences and interests.

✔️ Increased Conversion Rates: Interactive marketing videos can be a powerful tool for driving conversions. Whether you are promoting a product or service, or your brand, interactive marketing videos are perfect for guiding your audience down the sales funnel in a more engaging way.

✔️ Boosting Brand Loyalty: If customers have a positive and enjoyable interaction with your brand, they are much more likely to become repeat customers. Using interactive videos can help foster brand loyalty, giving your audience a more personable touchpoint with which to interact with your brand.

Interactive Videos across Industries

Interactive videos offer immense potential across a wide range of industries and can be used to effectively target audiences across both B2B and B2C sectors.

For instance:

Healthcare : Interactive marketing videos can effectively educate patients about medical conditions, treatments, local clinics or facilities, and healthy lifestyle choices.
Charity : Interactive videos can help to raise awareness around social issues or charitable causes, encouraging donations and inspiring people to volunteer.
Finance : It can also help to break down complex financial concepts, promote financial products, and provide personalised financial guidance that helps users find the right advisor to get in touch with.

A New Era of Storytelling

At the heart of any successful marketing video, interactive or not, is a compelling story. Interactive videos offer a unique opportunity to craft narratives that resonate with your audience, drawing viewers in and keeping them engaged throughout their journey.

Here are some of the key storytelling techniques that you can use in your next interactive marketing video campaign.

Branching Narratives

Branching narratives, or choose-your-own-adventure experiences, create a number of different storylines, allowing your audience to choose their own path and determine their own outcome. Not only does this help with engagement, it also allows your audience to feel like active participants within the story – who doesn’t love their own main character moment?

Gamification Elements

Bringing fun, playable elements into your interactive marketing videos are a great way to boost engagement. From quizzes and puzzles to minigames and more, games within your interactive videos tap into ‘game thinking’, and reward viewers for engaging with your content, while associating your messaging with something fun and a sense of achievement.

Showcase Realistic Scenarios

Audiences love to see the personality and the people behind a brand. Using real-life examples and success stories can help connect with your audience emotionally. Incorporating testimonials and user stories into your interactive videos work to build trust and credibility.

Problem-Solution Narratives

Everyone likes to feel understood, and interactive videos can help build that sense of empathy and rapport. Interactive videos can present a problem your target audience can relate to, and then guide them through a solution. This narrative structure is perfect for explainer videos and product demonstrations.

Interactive marketing video formats

Interactive videos come in various formats, each with its unique advantages. Sometimes, a combination of formats within a single video can also work wonders, so it’s important you choose the format that aligns best with your marketing goals and audience preferences.

Here are a few of the most popular formats to consider:

Choose-your-own-adventure

This format allows viewers to make choices that determine the video's progression. It's ideal for storytelling and guiding viewers through complex topics or decision-making processes.

Quizzes and polls

Quizzes and polls are excellent for engagement and collecting user data. They can be used for product recommendations, feedback gathering, or educational purposes.

360-degree videos

Take your audience on an immersive journey with 360-degree videos. Viewers can interact by changing their perspective within the video, making it great for virtual tours or product showcases.

Interactive hotspots

Hotspots within a video allow viewers to click on specific objects for more information. This format is effective for product presentations and instructional videos.

Clickable call to actions (CTA)

Add clickable CTAs to your videos to guide viewers to take specific actions, such as signing up for a newsletter, requesting more information, or making a purchase.

User Experience in Interactive Videos

User experience (UX) should be top of your list when it comes to creating your interactive marketing video. There are a few key areas to consider:

Intuitive Navigation

Your video’s navigation must be straightforward and easy to understand, so that viewers know how to interact and engage without any confusion. At Squideo, we create bespoke intuitive story mapping for each video, plotting out each potential narrative the viewer can follow. Each element is highly customisable, with a range of designs and characters to choose from.

Responsive Design

Interactive videos can be accessible on various devices, from desktops to smartphones and tablets. Responsive design guarantees a consistent experience, and ensuring that your videos are optimised for each platform is paramount.

Load Times

Slow loading speeds can frustrate your audience and cause them to click away. Ensure you use optimised video formats and hosting platforms to maintain fast load times and keep your audience hooked.

Accessibility

Consider making your interactive videos accessible to all by providing closed captions and transcripts. This ensures that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can engage with your content.

A positive user experience is not only more engaging but also ensures that your audience leaves with a favourable impression of your brand.

How to Maximise your Social Media Engagement

Interactive videos are a perfect fit for social media platforms. They encourage sharing and increase the time viewers spend on your content.

Here's how to maximise your social media engagement with interactive marketing videos:

Teasers and Previews

Create teaser videos or previews of your interactive content to generate interest. Share these on social media platforms to build anticipation.

Call to Action

Use social media as a channel to promote your interactive videos. Include clear and compelling calls to action in your posts, encouraging users to engage, find out more information, or share.

Shareability

Ensure your interactive videos are easy to share across various social media platforms. Implement social sharing buttons within the video player.

User-Generated Content

Encourage your audience to create their own content based on your interactive videos. Contests or challenges can help generate user-generated content and boost engagement.

Key Considerations for Businesses

There’s no doubt that incorporating interactive marketing videos into your business strategy can reshape your brand messaging and boost engagement and retention of your brand among audiences, but there are some key things to consider before you go ahead and start planning your content.

Goal Setting: Make sure you clearly define your goals for your interactive video, whether it is to generate leads, increase brand awareness, or enhance viewer’s knowledge.
Target Audience: Research and understand your target audience and their preferences, including which platform they primarily use so you can tailor your content to their interests and preferences.
Call to Action: Include a clear CTA that guides your audience towards the desired outcomes, such as visiting your website, signing up for a newsletter, or completing a purchase.

As professional interactive video creators, our talented team at Squideo will guide and support you through our simple interactive video process. We also offer 30 minute discovery meetings , so we can go through your ideas and objectives and discuss interactive videos in more detail.

Get Started with Your Interactive Video

Interactive marketing videos signal an exciting shift in the way businesses connect with their audiences. With the ability to captivate, educate and inspire, interactive videos are set to become an indispensable tool in the modern marketer's toolkit.

At Squideo, we create professional, goal-oriented and powerful interactive marketing videos that captivate and compel your audience.

From lead generation and gathering feedback to immersive E-learning , we can help elevate your brand with intuitive interactive videos that will propel you above your competition.

Ready to get started? Get in touch today to find out more!

Squideo’s Favourites: WALL·E

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:30:00 GMT

Released in 2008 as Pixar Animation Studio’s ninth feature film, its third since the company was purchased by the Walt Disney Company in 2006, WALL·E had been in the works since the nineties. Created by Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter, this fast classic has become one of Pixar’s standout films . So much so that Disney pushed for an Academy Award Best Picture nomination.

We’re diving into the production behind this animated film, exploring the style and techniques which came together to create this compelling story. In the meantime, if you have an idea for an animated video of your own get in touch with the Squideo team.

Creating a Story

When Andrew Stanton first came up with the idea for WALL·E , the premise was simple: “what if mankind left Earth and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off?” This was first pitched in 1994 when the young company was thinking about its future films, yet WALL·E wouldn’t start production until 2003 – eventually making it onto screens in 2008.

Stanton continued to develop the idea of a Robinson Crusoe robot with Pete Docter in the nineties, even as both went on to direct other Pixar projects – Finding Nemo (2003) and Monsters, Inc (2001) respectively. There was doubt, however, that this film could be pulled off. Pixar had created anthropomorphised robots before in its first animated short Luxo Jr. (1986). The lamp depicted in this short would become Pixar’s mascot , but was a feature film about a robot something that could be compellingly animated?

What helped to move WALL·E into production was the release of the massively successful Finding Nemo . Like robots, fish weren’t expressive. Like outer space, water was difficult to animate. And yet they pulled it off, releasing what became the highest-grossing animated feature film of all time up to that point and Pixar’s first Academy Award winner. Directed by Stanton, he now had the attention of the company who were eager to hear his next idea.

“ WALL-E was a very conscious dive into risk. I knew nobody really wanted to make it. But I also knew nobody could say no to me because Nemo was just so big … we’d been so successful at that point that we could afford the hiccup . If we called it wrong economically or critically, we’d survive it.” Andrew Stanton

The film centred on two robots who only spoke when communicating their names and directives. The majority of WALL·E’s first half is largely free of dialogue , with the exception of live-action recordings from Hello, Dolly! (1969) and Buy n Large’s owner. Many robot characters only converse with chirps and beeps, and the only robot with full lines of dialogue is 2001: A Space Odyssey -inspired villain Auto .

Key to getting WALL·E into production was the approval of Steve Jobs , who was Pixar’s primary investor and acted as their co-founder and chairman. Jobs split his time at Pixar with Apple where, in 2004, an exciting new product was announced to a select number of people: the development of the first iPhone . The developments at Apple ended up having a profound impact on WALL·E , with the team at Pixar receiving prototype phones before the general public. The film was punctuated throughout with Apple references , using the sound of the Mac boot-up chime when WALL·E finishes charging, and the iPod and iPhone inspiring EVE’s design.

The story is built on themes of environmentalism and global catastrophe , examining consumerism and complacency. One of Pixar and Disney’s most politically themed films, WALL·E attracted conservative criticism but that didn’t stop it from performing at the box office : grossing $532 million worldwide . Receiving widespread acclaim, WALL·E became the second Pixar feature film to be preserved by the National Film Registry and Library of Congress in 2021. In 2022, WALL·E also became Pixar’s first film selected by The Criterion Collection .

Animation Style

While other Pixar films typically generated between 50 and 75,000 storyboards for each production, WALL·E ended up with over 125,000 drawings and 96,000 storyboards . A lot of thought had to go into the character’s design, since their emotions would have to be conveyed physically rather than verbally.

“Robots are a huge challenge, because robots are function-based machines . When you’re drawing them, you can only make up so much stuff that doesn’t actually function, or the person looking at them, even if they’re not engineers themselves, they’re going to notice that that joint wouldn’t actually work. So it became important to look at actual robots . You can only make so much up out of your head.” Jason Dreamer

The team looked at a variety of robots, including those made for bomb disposal. For Jim Reardon, head of story for WALL•E , it was important that they didn’t “draw human-looking robots with arms, legs, heads and eyes, and have them talk. We wanted to take objects that you normally wouldn’t associate with having humanlike characteristics and see what we could get out of them through design and animation .”

To help, Stanton arranged film screenings of classic silent films from the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton to show how silent film actors told stories without reliance on dialogue.

To create the wasteland that WALL·E is left behind in, the animators looked at everything from local dumps to the abandoned city of Chernobyl. For the modern ship Axiom, they looked to Disneyland’s Tomorrowland and cruise ships. To design the human characters, they consulted with physiologist James Hicks to find out the effects of atrophy and prolonged weightlessness while living in space, proving that no detail was too small for the team behind WALL·E .

All of these considerations created a future that seems tangible , and helps to drive the importance of the film’s themes. WALL·E ends on an optimistic note, with Jim Capobianco’s end credits which show the evolution of humanity through different schools of art . For audiences facing the realities of climate change and environmental destruction, this confidence in the power of humanity to fix our world is the right ending . Perhaps explaining why it is one of the few Pixar films to receive no sequel or animated shorts. The story is perfect as it is.

Get Started With Your Video

Inspired to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Educational Animation: Bringing Lessons to Life

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 14:36:23 GMT

Technology is revolutionising traditional teaching methods, introducing new, innovative approaches to enhance the learning experience and deliver better results.

As those in the education sector look for ways to make learning more engaging and effective, the use of animation is becoming an increasingly popular trend.

Creating educational videos using animation to simplify complex information and make it interesting for learners is a great way to support teaching, especially for subjects such as maths and sciences.

And, as technology advances and becomes more accessible, animated educational videos have never looked so good.

What is educational animation?

Animation in education is a dynamic tool that utilises moving visuals to turn complex concepts into simple, easy-to-digest, ideas. Whatever the subject matter, animation can bring lessons to life as a valuable teaching tool to explain any concept.

Different styles of animation that are frequently used in education include:

What are interactive educational videos?

Interactive educational videos provide information in an animated format, but also incorporate elements that learners can interact with by clicking on the screen - either by clicking for more information about certain topics or navigating their way through the content.

Adding an interactive element means learners have to stay engaged and are more likely to retain key information and concepts, making it a useful tool for educating, training, and testing people’s knowledge.

The Benefits of Educational Animation

As one of the best types of learning facilitators, educational animation offers crucial benefits for companies.

Simplifies complex information

If a topic is too complex or uninteresting, learners can lose interest quickly and struggle to grasp and retain what is being taught to them.

By using animation as a learning tool, it is possible to simplify concepts and explain them in a way that is more interesting and, as a result, easier to understand and remember.

For instance, animated characters can guide learners through complex information, or engaging designs can be used to reinforce key messages and highlight important learnings.

Animation and interactive educational videos also allow any concept to be brought to life through bespoke scenarios that personalise the learning experience like never before.

Makes learning faster and easier

The brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text. This means that presenting information in a visual way can make it faster and generally easier to learn. Combining both visual and audio, animation is even more effective than stand-alone visuals.

This is particularly useful if information needs to be learnt quickly, under time pressure.

Improves retention

Animation can also help to improve the level of information retention among learners. When concepts are paired with meaningful, memorable images, they are much easier to understand and recall.

Engaging content

Presenting information in large blocks of text is uninteresting and uninspiring. Animation, on the other hand, is all about interactive learning - explaining complex information and processes in a way that learners can easily engage with. After all, studies show that 40% of people respond better to visual information than plain text.

Presenting concepts in a fun, interactive way, animation tends to receive a positive response from students, resulting in a higher level of participation.

Fuels Imagination

Educational animations can transport learners into different worlds, igniting their imaginations and giving them a glimpse of concepts that may otherwise be unimaginable.

Accessible

Allowing learners to learn in their own time, at their own pace, and on any device, educational animation is also an accessible learning technique. Videos can also be revisited as many times as necessary.

Versatile

We all learn in different ways. Some of us are visual learners, others are auditory learners. Animation is a versatile tool that can appeal to all different types of learners, offering a multi-sensory experience.

Cost-Effective

High-quality, interactive educational videos are more cost-effective and accessible than ever before. And, because the animations can often become evergreen content, they can be used for years to come without needing to be updated.

Why has Animation Gained Popularity in Education?

With a rise in online education and digital platforms, animated videos are ideally positioned to offer accessibility and scalability, delivering a wide range of content. The combination of audiovisual elements aids in breaking up traditional learning methods, enhancing each viewer's learning experience.

With the ability to enhance engagement, simplify complex concepts, cater to diverse learning styles, and provide a visually appealing and accessible means of delivering educational content - it is no small wonder why educational animation has become a popular tool for both businesses and educational institutes.

Why are Animated Videos so Effective for Education?

The use of animation helps organisations and institutions in the education sector to convey key information and messaging in a clear, concise, and engaging way. One report from 2023 revealed that viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading it in a text.

Animation offers an interactive visual approach, engaging in various learning styles all in one video, that can effectively demonstrate and convey key scenarios and concepts.

For learners, the visual cues and use of colour and motion can keep attention focused on the information being presented, keeping audiences more interested and engaged.

Get Started with Educational Animation

At Squideo, we create professional, goal-oriented and powerful interactive animation videos that educate your audience.

From lead generation and gathering feedback to immersive E-learning , we can help elevate your brand with intuitive interactive videos that will propel you above your competition.

Our education video production works for a variety of industries and is bespoke to each individual institute, creating an inspiring and engaging animated learning tool that will draw the audience’s attention.

Ready to get started? Get in touch today to find out more!

How to Choose the Right Animation Style for Your Industry

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:30:00 GMT

Squideo has worked with hundreds of companies across multiple industries. Our Creative Directors and Video Producers are on hand throughout the entire production process to give advice about the best way to proceed with your video. When Squideo takes on a new client, our team delves into your brand to identify existing styles and explore how a video can run alongside this.

Watch our own explainer video and see our unique video production process works , from start to finish. Then read on to find out how many styles of animation Squideo offer and what style is the best for your industry.

How Many Styles of Animation Are Available?

How long is a piece of string? There are more animation styles available than we could list but, to simplify the process for our clients, we’ve broken down our animation styles into six broad categories to make it easier to choose.

Character-Driven Animation. Squideo’s Video Producers expertly craft animated characters using our in-house cartoon animation software. Character design depends on the client’s preference.
Icon-Based Animation. If characters don’t feel right for your brand but you still want a visual representation of ideas or concepts, icon-based animation is a great alternative. The icons, like characters, can be designed in a range of styles to suit your brand.
Isometric Projection Animation. By adding the illusion of depth, perspective rendering and playing with dimensions, this animation style adds a three-dimensional quality to your video. Isometric projection lends itself nicely to videos for construction and design industries.
Line Animation. With the illusion of smooth motion and animation, you can better set the mood and create an engaging, powerful story that truly captures your audience by employing line animation in your video.
Screencast. A screencast is a video recording taken from a computer or mobile, overlayed with animation and audio. This is a great way to show off software and apps to potential users as it lets them explore with the narrator as their guide.
Stock-Footage Animation. With access to millions of commercially licensed clips, Squideo also produce videos that blend animation with stock footage, eliminating the need for filming. Alternatively, the client can send us specific footage.

Interactive Animation Videos

Any of these six styles can also be put into an interactive video. Interactive videos enables your viewer engagement like never before , helping you generate leads, gather feedback, and teach, train and test. These videos are a great choice for B2C industries .

Like any Squideo video, a storyboard is created to map the journey of the viewer. The only difference is this story branches out into lots of potential plots the viewer can follow , making it fun to revisit. Check out the image below to get an idea of how we break down the storyboard for an interactive video .

With your Squideo interactive video, you are guaranteed:

Your own interactive platform. Access your own interactive video library anytime and anywhere.
Seamless embedding. Our SCORM-compliant interactive videos are easily embedded into other websites and e-learning platforms.
Understanding of viewer interactions. Track interactions and see how each viewer navigates through each of your interactive videos.

What is the Right Animation Style for My Industry?

Any animation style can work for any industry, as long as the style harmonises with your brand . Company branding is the most important factor when choosing your video’s animation style. Look at your existing content: does it use characters? Or icons? Does it mix live-action footage with animation?

Choosing the right animation style for your video is important as, once it’s released, the video will become a part of your brand . Branding can be influenced by a company’s industry – for example, a financial company may prefer stock-footage animation while an educator might favour character-driven animation; but these are not set rules.

Squideo has worked with companies from dozens of industries. We’ve split these into eight categories to group our client examples : charities and non-profit ; commercial ; construction and engineering ; education ; finance ; healthcare ; technology , and; training . Visit our industry pages to see samples of the animation styles chosen by companies in these sectors and get inspired!

Get Started on Your Video

Ready to create a unique video of your own with a unique video production agency? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Still unsure what the right animation style is for your industry? Take advantage of Squideo’s free idea brief . We'll invest in YOU to formulate the right concept absolutely FREE, no obligation!

Squideo’s Favourites: The Jungle Book

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 08:30:00 GMT

The last animated film made under the creative directorship of Walt Disney before his untimely death in 1966, The Jungle Book (1967) marked the end of Disney’s Silver Age . It has become an interesting milestone in the company’s history; reflecting the studio of old while showing the first signs of the company it would become without Walt Disney at its helm.

The Jungle Book has also been resurrected by Disney’s live-action remake series, the first of its modern remakes to adapt a non-Disney Princess story. The 2016 live-action and CGI film made changes to the plot of the 1967 version to correct outdated cultural depictions, but neither can be called faithful adaptations of Rudyard Kipling’s book of the same name . Like the 1967 version, the 2016 remake shows the progression of the Walt Disney Animation Studios and how it continues to innovate while preserving its founding principles.

Creating a Story

The Jungle Book , by British author Rudyard Kipling , was published in 1894. This collection of stories were inspired by Indian folklore and Kipling’s experiences of living and working in India; but Disney’s adaptation of this popular children’s book reads very differently.

Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Walt Disney had drifted away from the animation department. He had been focused on Disneyland , the creation of WED Enterprises (later named Imagineering), live-action films and the development of Disney’s television programmes. The underwhelming performance of The Sword in the Stone (1963) compared to the success of One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), however, encouraged him to check in on the studio’s next animated feature film: The Jungle Book .

According to Brian Sibley , “what [Walt] found was that the team headed up by Bill Peet had come up with quite a sombre, dark, serious story – much more serious than any films they’d done in animation since the days of Pinocchio .” Peet and Walt Disney disagreed with the direction of the film, which ended in Peet leaving the company and Disney ordering work on The Jungle Book to be restarted.

Most of the original work was scrapped, with the exception of the song The Bare Necessities which was written by Terry Gilkyson (the song was nominated for an Academy Award). When Walt Disney assembled his new animation team, he asked if anyone had read Kipling’s book. They hadn’t, and Walt Disney said “the first thing I want you to do is not to read it."

He brought in the Sherman Brothers , who were enjoying newfound fame as a result of their work on Mary Poppins (1964). These songwriters were tasked with creating a lighter, family-friendly tone for the film. Meanwhile, the new animation team started production of The Jungle Book in 1965 .

Like Disney’s other 1960s features, animators used xerography on the film. Ub Iwerks had adapted the Xerox process , first introduced during WW2, to work on film. This copying technique allowed animator drawings to be printed directly onto cels, massively speeding up the production process . It was first trialled on Sleeping Beauty (1959), and was used by Disney throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The technique also let the studio recycle cels , repurposing them for other animated films. Several cels were repurposed from The Jungle Book for Robin Hood (1973) .

Animation Style

When character redesign started, animators wanted to base their characters – not on the descriptions provided by Kipling’s story – but on the voice actors. Similar to 1920s animation which used rotoscoping to trace motion picture footage of a human performer to create animated characters with life-like movement. The idea was to employ household names like Phil Harris (a bandleader and comedian) and Louis Prima (a jazz musician) and create characters which reflected their personalities . Additionally, while The Beatles ultimately didn’t appear in the film, the vulture characters were based on their mannerisms and the animators included their mop top hairstyles.

For one of the musical numbers, ‘I Wanna Be Like You’, animators used footage of Louis Prima and his band performing which they based the monkeys’ movements on. This song was later updated by Robert Sherman for the 2016 live-action adaptation, to address outdated cultural stereotypes and to incorporate plot changes. The 2016 version is much more sinister in comparison to the jazz-inspired 1967 song, reflecting an overall shift in the film’s visual style which aligns more closely with Bill Peet’s original idea .

While new animators had been hired to work on The Jungle Book in 1965, a lot of old hands remained. Most prominently were the members of Disney’s Nine Old Men . These animators were hired in the 1920s and 1930s, and all of them had worked on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) . They worked on every feature film until Peter Pan (1953), and six worked on The Jungle Book: Frank Thomas , Ollie Johnston , Milt Kahl, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery and Wollie Reitherman.

Both Thomas and Johnston – who acted as directing animators for the film’s main characters – went on to write Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life (1981) after their retirement from the company; which is still considered a key textbook for animators.

Despite the longevity of these animators, Walt Disney still told them when he thought a film was going wrong. Which included their work on The Sword in the Stone : “Walt was not a fan of the previous film in terms of styling. Walt thought there was too much colour in the backgrounds . He would even say in these notes [he wanted] a more monochromatic look for the backgrounds, a nice backdrop for the characters.”

This role of Walt Disney and his Nine Old Men kept a consistency in the company’s animated films for thirty years , and there are parallels to be made between their first film together – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – and their last : The Jungle Book .

By contrast, the live-action remake of The Jungle Book shows how vastly the company has changed since Walt Disney’s death in 1966 . The company made its last 2D animated feature film in 2011, and its biggest hits of the 21 ^st century – such as Frozen I and II – have been created with CGI . It also puts a lot more stock in film sequels , which Walt Disney resisted making. The Jungle Book didn’t get a sequel until 2003.

And yet the film also signalled what was to come. Employing well-known voice actors , including pop culture references , and releasing a soundtrack with several hits instead of one major song. The Jungle Book stands on the precipice of the Disney studio of old and Disney the multinational conglomerate.

“At the end of the movie Mowgli wakes from the dream of jungle boyhood and steps into the human world. This threshold moment is followed by the bittersweet departure of Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear back into the forest, a curtain call on the final film of Walt Disney himself and the achievements of 60 years of dedicated pencil animation.” David Surman

Get Started With Your Video

Inspired to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

What Makes Squideo's Animated Video Production Agency Unique?

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 08:30:00 GMT

Since 2015, Squideo’s in-house video production team have made over 5000 explainer videos for every industry imaginable; creating a lot of happy clients along the way. When you choose a quality video production agency like Squideo , you will receive a video that meets your project requirements and comes guaranteed with the following qualities:

Professional quality
Impactful and eye-catching
Time saving and cost-effective
A clear call-to-action (CTA)
Good return on investment (ROI)

Watch our own explainer video and see our unique video production process works, from start to finish. Then read on to find out what makes Squideo the right choice for you!

Free Idea Brief

Squideo offers free idea briefs to clients who need help developing an idea for their video . Our Creative Director Ben Underwood creates a brief with suggested visual styles and a concept for the video’s narrative. Receive an idea brief with no obligation to proceed into production.

Dedicated Production Manager

Our Production Manager, Callum Major, is your main point of contact throughout production . You can reach out any time with questions, concerns or requested changes. Initially, Callum will contact you for information to help us further understand the concept and goals for your video. He will also arrange your tailored production timeline , ensuring your video’s creation meets your deadlines.

Interactive Videos

From 2023, Squideo offers interactive videos. These videos boost your viewer engagement like never before, helping you generate leads , gather feedback, and teach, train and test. As professional interactive video creators, Squideo’s talented video production team will guide and support you through our simple process to make an interactive video your viewers can’t ignore.

Whitelabel Services

Our whitelabel services is a real time-saver , particularly if you’re short on staff or technology to carry out these tasks independently. From scriptwriting to subtitling, thumbnails to translations, Squideo provides the full package without the need to hire an extra third-party.

Music and Voiceover Included

Unlike other video production agencies, Squideo doesn’t charge extra fees for the most basic explainer video requirements . We have a range of voiceover accents available in our in-house selection, although we can source alternative talent if your project requires it. Squideo also has access to a library of licensed music where we’ll find the right track for your video.

Revisions

We offer a triple protection guarantee . With free revisions at the scripting stage, the storyboard stage and the first draft stage, so we rarely miss the mark! And if we do, Squideo also offers a guaranteed revision . If you have requested a revision and we haven’t made the change quite how you envisioned, we will re-revise the specified changes again, completely free of charge in an additional draft. This is our satisfaction guarantee.

Get Started on Your Video

Squideo’s Favourites: Entergalactic

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 08:30:00 GMT

This 2022 feature-length animation was released in parallel American rapper Kid Cudi’s album of the same name : Entergalactic . Produced by Netflix Animation and released on their streaming platform, this romantic-comedy musical was widely acclaimed for its story, music, and animation and visual style.

Originally planned as a television series, Entergalactic eventually became a television special made in partnership between Netflix Animation , DNEG Animation and Cudi’s production companies Mad Solar and Khalabo Ink Society. Founded in 2018 by Netflix – which had started making animated content five years earlier in cooperation with third-party studios – Netflix Animation now has a library of increasingly praised work . It secured its first Academy Award in 2023 for Guillermo del Torro’s Pinocchio (2022).

Creating a Story

Kid Cudi’s visual album, Entergalactic , was the rapper’s eighth studio release and was announced by Cudi in parallel with the animated feature in 2019. Visual albums have been credited to Beyoncé who popularised the format with her first virtual album in 2013. These albums are essentially long-form music videos . They usually feature multiple songs, and act as extended cinematic work or films based around music. They’ve been created by artists from Fall Out Boy to Janelle Monáe.

Arguably the first instance of this medium was Yellow Submarine (1968) , an animated feature that took its name from the album and song of the same name by The Beatles. Created by animators Robert Balser and Jack Stokes, the psychedelic style of the film reflects the dreamy nature of the album and the bright pop-art colours made a memorable splash. 2D animation is utilised to support the song’s narrative , as well as the film’s overall narrative of The Beatles travelling through an underwater paradise. Unlike modern visual albums, however, these could only be watched in cinemas and limited re-releases .

Musicians have used animation from the 1980s onward in the creation of their music videos . The artform is an excellent way to strengthen a song’s narrative, reflect the personality of the artists and capture their audiences’ attention. With the rise of YouTube and streaming platforms, musicians can now return to the feature-length medium of Yellow Submarine while keeping their work as accessible as a music video was on 1980s MTV.

Entergalactic was the collaborative product of four production companies – Kid Cudi’s Mad Solar and Khalabo Ink Society – Netflix Animation, and DNEG Animation London.

In the five years since Netflix Animation was created and Entergalactic’s debut, it had already released nineteen animated television shows and eight animated feature films including Klaus (2019), Over the Moon (2020), Arlo the Alligator Boy (2021) and American: The Motion Picture (2021). Early on, back in 2019, Netflix had also created an animated 40-minute special for another musician – the country singer Sturgill Simpson – called Sound & Fury . They had planned to make another animated feature in collaboration with the band Gorillaz, but this was cancelled in 2023.

Animation Style

Developed by Kid Cudi (who also voiced the main character) and Keyna Barris, and directed by Fletcher Moules, they tasked DNEG Animation with adapting their portfolio of concept art into a 3D animated production that looks like it’s 2D animated . According to the director:

“I looked at films like I Lost My Body , which is very similar in the fact that it’s a very adult story told through animation. I wanted to make something that felt handmade , that felt like an art film. When an artist releases an album, an artist is expressing themselves, they’re putting it out there, creating an emotional response ; love it or hate it like any piece of art. I felt like the visual component had to be the same.” Fletcher Moules

It wasn’t an easy feat. DNEG Animation’s Visual Effects Supervisor Archie Donato said : “When I first saw the artwork, I almost fell off my chair. I spent 17 years at DreamWorks, and while I loved working there, there was very little experimentation with the push look. I was genuinely craving not only the artistic freedom , but also the challenge of, ‘How the heck are we going to do this?’”

The joint Netflix-DNEG Animation production needed to create something that would showcase Cudi’s music and reflect his artistic brand, but also stand independently as a solid story with a captivating plot and realistic characters. Cudi developed Entergalactic as a story first and an album second. This enabled the love story to develop naturally , instead of being forced to weave through the album’s tracks.

Entergalactic has an eye-popping look, with strong character designs accented by striking colours and bold silhouettes . The concept portfolio shaped this, but it’s also something that can be seen in DNEG Animation’s other work including Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021) and Nimona (2023) . Nimona was released on Netflix but fully animated by DNEG Animation who took over from Blue Sky Production who was originally tasked with the project before their closure.

We’ll be diving into the creation of Nimona later in this series, which was picked by Video Producer Lesley Ovington as her favourite animated film.

Get Started With Your Video

Inspired to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

The Evolution of Animation: From Classic Cartoons to Modern CGI

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:30:01 GMT

It’s hard to pin the invention of animation on a single date. Film archivists have estimated that more than 90 percent of films made before 1929 are lost forever , which makes it almost impossible to say with any certainty which first can be credited to which film.

Multiple techniques, developments and technologies were instrumental in the creation of animation as we know it today. And this progression has continued, with more variations created every decade since the 1900s . Squideo is going to dive into the evolution of animation, from its murky beginnings to the multibillion dollar industry it has become.

The first animated film has been credited to multiple titles , including Pauvre Pierrot (1892), The Enchanted Drawing (1900), Fantasmagorie (1908) and Gertie the Dinosaur (1912). The names of other films have been listed in newspapers from the time, but since they’ve been lost these cannot be verified.

Like live-action films of the time, these early hand-drawn animation films were silent. They would be shown in cinemas or, as in the case of Winsor McCay’s Gertie the Dinosaur , at circuses and vaudeville acts. Animators of this age were working without the later constraints of studios or censorship , and had a lot of freedom to develop new animation styles and techniques.

The realism of early animation was greatly improved by the invention of rotoscoping , first showcased in 1912’s Koko the Clown by Max Fleischer . The rotoscope technique traced motion picture footage of a human performer, and is still used to this day albeit with the use of a computer rather than manually tracing film frames.

Animation improved rapidly within these twenty years, and this is perhaps best demonstrated with The Sinking of the Lusitania (1918) , by Winsor McCay . The detail from this film, which was the longest made at that time (12 minutes) and the first confirmed example of an animated documentary , was vastly improved from his first because of the introduction of cel animation . This is named after the celluloid sheets which replaced paper in the animation process, and saved animators the time of creating multiple drawings of backgrounds and stationary objects.

The realistic animation style of McCay’s film, which was widely praised, was quickly eclipsed however by a new style which swept across the American animation industry : rubber hose animation . This debuted in 1919 when Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer created Felix the Cat .

Felix the Cat was a huge draw for 1920 cinema goers , becoming a hugely popular character which featured in 89 animated cartoons between 1919 and 1925. However the creators’ reluctance to embrace sound film technology , which was debuted in 1923, saw the ultimate decline of Felix and paved the way for Disney’s eventual domination of the American animation industry.

Despite sound technology emerging early in the decade, it took time for animators to adapt it into their work. Some of the most notable animated works of the period are still silent, such as the first claymation film, Long Live the Bull (1926), and the first feature-length animated film: The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) . Created by Lottie Reiniger , this silhouette animated film famously introduced the multiplane camera which the Walt Disney Company would later reinvent and use for their first feature-length film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) . It was Disney which arguably popularised sound in animation, with their animated short Steamboat Willie (1928) .

Walt Disney was convinced that sound technology would change the future of film, and was the secret to making his new animated character – Mickey Mouse – a hit with audiences. He was right, which imbued the company with the confidence to use other animation technologies that emerged. Five years later, Disney became the first animation company to use Technicolor when it released Flowers and Trees (1932) .

Disney’s style began to dominate animation, especially in America. For the smaller studios that lacked their budget and workforce, there was a desire for a different animation style that could be made faster and cheaper . Limited animation was the solution, and it ushered in a new era.

Warner Brothers Animation launched in 1933. It would soon become notable for its Looney Tunes series, but it was Merrie Melodies that brought in limited animation . This technique reduced the number of drawings required for each frame, in turn reducing the work for animators and speeding up the production process. It was ideal for television, a burgeoning medium post-WW2 , which had smaller screens than cinemas. The Dover Boys at Pimento University (1942) was one of the first notable uses of the technique.

A lot of innovation during this next period occurred in television production, and it also saw the rise of amateur productions as filming equipment became more readily available to the public. Changing technology additionally created a divide between film and television animation which had differing styles and quality standards during these decades.

Disney was the first studio to use CinemaScope for its animated short Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Bloom (1953) . Created by 20 ^th Century Fox in that same year, it remained popular until its discontinue in 1967. This changed the aspect ratio of productions to accommodate wider, rectangular cinema screens. Television screens on the other hand were small and square. And at the start of the 1950s , many households still only had black and white televisions. This was perfect for limited animation , masking the reduction in animation quality. Television ownership grew rapidly through the decade, and producers started investing in cartoons.

The first animated TV series was Crusader Rabbit (1949), followed by shows more familiar to modern audiences like The Woody Woodpecker Show (1957), Captain Pugwash (1957), Yogi Bear (1958), and a reappearance from Felix the Cat (1958). The first animated show to make it to prime-time was The Flintstones , which ran from 1960 to 1966 . These shows were more specifically targeted at children: referred to as cartoons rather than animated television. Created by the most successful cartoon studio of the era – Hanna-Barbera (1957-2001) – The Flintstones was followed by hits like Top Cat (1961), Wacky Races (1968) and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? (1969) .

Animated films, however, were marketed as motion pictures. By the end of the decade, animation studios had started to use xerography animation – first trialled in Sleeping Beauty (1959), then fully used in One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) . Disney’s Ub Iwerks had adapted the Xerox process , first introduced during WW2, to work on film. This copying technique allowed animator drawings to be printed directly onto cels, massively speeding up the production process . This technique was used throughout the 1960s and 70s and other animation studios adopted the technology.

New technology also became available to the general public. The commercially successful Super 8 camera launched in 1965 , and amateur animators were able to record their own cartoons. This inspired new animation styles, such as brickfilming . Journey to the Moon (1973) was the first recorded of its kind, and paved the way for future animated films like The Lego Movie (2014).

At the start of the 1980s, ‘Saturday morning cartoons’ were flourishing while animated motion pictures were in decline. This was perhaps best exemplified by Disney, who launched Disney Television Animation (1984) , while the Walt Disney Animation Studios had its budget slashed . One of its most popular 1980s films, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) , was created by an animation department which had just been sent into exile from the main studio lot.

Likewise, the other Big Five production companies started focusing on television animation. Paramount Studios created Nickelodeon (1977) and Warner Brothers Cartoons shifted to create television content. This unit would later become Cartoon Network Studios (1994) . The biggest television cartoon to emerge from this period is The Simpsons , which first aired in 1987 on The Tracey Ullman Show , and is one of Fox Broadcasting Company’s biggest assets.

This did leave space for overseas animation companies, most notably the Japanese Studio Ghibli , to find the spotlight with English-speaking audiences. Castle in the Sky (1986) and My Neighbour Totoro (1988) were both critically acclaimed. Likewise, Aardman Animation – the British claymation studio – rose to prominence with its work on the Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer (1986) music video which paved the way for its Creature Comforts and Wallace and Gromit series in the 1990s. Universal Pictures also launched DreamWork Pictures in 1994, releasing its first film Antz in 1998, and would become a big player in the 2000s.

Arguably the most successful studio to emerge was a small computer division originally created by Lucasfilm in 1979. Pixar pioneered 3D computer animation which they first publicly debuted in The Adventures of André & Wally B (1984). They would go on to make the first 3D computer animation feature film, Toy Story (1995) , with Disney – although they were beaten in television by Canadian studio Mainframe Entertainment’s ReBoot (1994) .

Disney was already developing digital production techniques such as its Animation Photo Transfer (APT) process was first used in Black Cauldron (1985). Their partnership with Pixar, formalised in 1991, massively improved this digitalisation; most notably with CAPS . First used in The Rescuers Down Under (1990), the Computer Animation Production System provided a host of new digital tools to animators, and kickstarted the Disney Renaissance .

This produced massive hits , not just for Disney but also breaking global box office records. The success of their films, especially The Lion King (1994) prompted their rivals to revive their own animated feature film projects. Other animated feature hits of the 1990s included Space Jam (1996) , Anastasia (1997), Antz (1998), The Rugrats Movie (1998) and The Iron Giant (1999).

The highest-grossing hits of the 1990s belonged to Disney and Pixar with the top five films being The Lion King (1994), Aladdin (1992), Toy Story 2 (1999) , Tarzan (1999) and Beauty and the Beast (1991) . The latter film also became the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Alongside 3D computer animation, computer-generated imagery (CGI) was growing in popularity for live-action films. First appearing in Westworld (1973), it opened the door for creators. In 1999, the latest CGI trend – motion capture animation – was used to add the first fully animated character into a live-action picture. While Jar Jar Binks wasn’t the biggest hit, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999) proved to be a turning point for computer animation as the new century began.

CGI and 3D computer animation has permanently changed animation . Few films over the past twenty years were created using the traditional hand-drawn 2D animation process , although they still proved popular with audiences. This included the French film Les Triplettes de Bellville (2003), Spain’s Klaus (2019), Japan’s Ponyo (2008) and America’s The Simpsons Movie (2007). All of these films still use digital animation tools to streamline production and minimise costs.

What these changes mean, however, is that animation is no longer ruled by the largest corporations with the largest animation departments . Small teams of animators can create quality feature films using the available technology, and this has propelled the growth of small production studios. The introduction of streaming platforms has also widened the viewership for international animation.

Japanese animation, particularly in the anime style , has benefited from this. While Japanese studios gained a foothold with western audiences in the late 1980s, it has recently catapulted in popularity . Netflix reported that 50 percent more households around the world watched at least one anime title during the first nine months of 2020 compared to the whole of 2019. Studio Ghibli remains the most successful export , continuing its success with Spirited Away (2001) , Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013) to name a few. More studios are joining their ranks, such as the record-breaking MAPPA, WIT Studio , Madhouse and CoMix Wave Films.

Other non-American studios that are benefiting from the decentralisation of the animation industry include Aardman Animation, Les Armateurs , BreakThru Films, The SPA Studios and Cartoon Saloon. American animators have also broken away from the studio system. LAIKA was created following the success of A Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), this studio has since released Coraline (2009) which is America’s highest-grossing stop-motion film.

Many of these films are still distributed through large American companies or made in partnership with them. Illumination Studios , the makers of Despicable Me (2010) and The Grinch (2018), was incorporated into a Universal Pictures division almost as soon as it was founded. And Aardman Animation’s stop-motion feature film Chicken Run (2000) was made with DreamWorks Animation , a unit of Universal Pictures.

Since its first film in 1998, DreamWorks has gone on to create two of the most profitable animated franchises: Shrek and Madagascar . Shrek (2001) helped define the future of DreamWorks and its aim to become the antithesis of Disney – an interesting goal considering it was co-founded by a former Disney chairman, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Disney collaborator, Stephen Spielberg. Shrek modelled its characters after their celebrity voiceover artists ; it ditched original scoring for pop songs; and it leant into juvenile humour.

Disney – which purchased Pixar Animation Studios in 2006 – continued to make 2D style animation at the beginning of the 2000s. With the rising success of other 3D animation features like Toy Story and Shrek however, this was phased out. Disney’s last 2D animated feature film to date was Winnie-the-Pooh (2011) , and its last 2D Disney Princess was Tiana in Princess and the Frog (2009).

Disney hasn’t ruled out a return to 2D animated features and, for its 100 ^th anniversary celebrations, has created new 2D animated shorts which resurrect original characters like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit .

As one of the oldest animation studios in existence, it feels natural to look to Disney for an indication where the industry is heading in the 2020s. But as the past thirty years have proved, the industry has become a more even playing field where anyone can succeed .

Work With Us

Ready to create an animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Styles of Animation: Animated Videos for Business

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 13:18:17 GMT

In the modern business landscape, digital content is king. Businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to capture the attention of their target audience.

One method that has proven to be incredibly versatile and effective is the use of animated videos. From 2D corporate video animation to 3D animated videos for business promotions, these dynamic and engaging styles of animation have the power to entertain, inform, and persuade .

With a number of different animation styles to choose from, it’s important that companies utilise the right style for them to maximise their impact and reach , while also aligning with their current branding and visual style.

In this blog, we explore some of the versatile styles of animation that you can use across your business, from advertising and promotion to training and internal communications.

The Power of Animated Videos

Before we delve into the diverse styles of animation you can choose for your business, let's take a moment to understand why animated videos are such an important tool for businesses.

Eye-catching visuals

It’s true that as consumers, our attention spans are dwindling. It has become a never-ending battle to grab your audience’s attention from within a sea of businesses all vying for the top spot. Animated videos are the perfect opportunity to captivate your audience and hold their interest with vibrant colours, vivid motion, and imaginative storytelling.

Simplifying services

Complex ideas, products, or services can often be challenging to explain to your audience. Animated videos for business, however, offer an innovative solution by breaking down information into digestible, easy-to-understand visuals, making it accessible to a broader audience.

Brand personality

One of the key advantages of animated videos is their ability to reflect your brand's personality through brand storytelling . Whether your business is fun and quirky or serious and professional, there's an animation style that can perfectly convey your identity and humanise your brand.

What are the Different Styles of Animation?

Once you’ve decided you’d like to use animation for your business, how do you go about choosing the right style for you? To help you decide, here are some of the most popular animation styles to consider.

2D animation

2D animation is a classic style that has been used in animation for decades. It consists of flat, two-dimensional characters and backgrounds and is an ideal choice for businesses looking for a simple and cost-effective way to convey their message.

3D animation

3D animation brings depth and realism to animated videos. It's perfect for businesses in industries such as construction , and product design . This style allows you to showcase intricate details and provide a lifelike representation of your products or services.

Cartoon animation

If you want to incorporate humour and playfulness into your videos, cartoon animation is the way to go. This style is ideal for businesses in a variety of industries, including entertainment, food, and fashion. Storytelling is one of the most important parts of a cartoon video, and cartoon characters can create a strong emotional connection with your audience and make your brand memorable.

Whiteboard animation

Whiteboard animation, also known as doodle animation, is a style where illustrations and text are drawn on a white background. It's a useful choice for businesses aiming to educate and inform their audience. For example, educational institutions and healthcare organisations can use whiteboard animation to explain complex concepts or medical procedures.

Motion graphics

Motion graphics involve animating text and graphical elements. It's perfect for businesses that want to create sleek and professional videos for corporate presentations, advertisements, or training materials. Motion graphics can add a modern and dynamic touch to your content.

Stop-motion animation

Stop-motion animation involves photographing objects in incremental movements and then playing them in sequence to create the illusion of motion. While it's often associated with entertainment, businesses can use stop-motion animation to give their brand a unique and charming personality.

Benefits of Using Animation in Your Business

There are a variety of reasons why you might decide to choose to use animation for your business marketing needs .

Here are some of the top benefits to consider:

✔️ Customisation and creativity: It can bring any idea to life with endless customisation and creativity, without the need for large sets of elaborate effects.

✔️ Animation isn’t just for kids: it has universal appeal and is enjoyed by almost everyone in some format.

✔️ Clear and engaging visuals: It is an unrestricted way to convey abstract or complex topics that might be difficult to grasp when demonstrated in any other way.

✔️ Personable connection: It helps deliver emotion to your message, creating characters or visual prompts that will resonate with your audience on a more personal level.

✔️ Boost conversions: It helps boost conversions, with studies showing that videos used on landing pages can increase conversions by 86%.

✔️ Cost-effective: It’s a cost-effective medium with options to suit almost every budget.

✔️ Improve SEO rankings: It can help boost your website SEO so your business can rank higher in Google searches.

✔️ Increase your audience reach: It can help expand your reach and allow your business to stand out across a variety of channels.

The Bottom Line

Animated videos are a popular choice for businesses across the globe as we focus on a digital-first landscape. From 2D and 3D animation to motion graphics and cartoon animation, there's a style to suit every business's needs .

Whether you're promoting a product, educating your audience, or simply looking to make your brand more memorable, there are an impressive number of ways in which animated videos can benefit your business and bring your organisation to life.

Get Started with Your Video

At Squideo, we specialise in creating animated explainer videos for businesses of all sizes, all budgets and all industries.

We’re a small team with a whole bunch of creative flair and we pride ourselves on our innovative solutions and strategic thinking, keeping your goals front and centre when working on any project.

If you want to find out more about our services, or how we can help bring your business to life with animated videos, get in touch and speak with a member of our awesome team today!

Squideo’s Favourites: Toy Story

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Pixar Animation Studios arrived with a bang when its first feature-length film , Toy Story , was released in 1995 . What would follow was a franchise beloved by children, spawning multiple spin-offs, theme park rides, video games and merchandise. Nominated for 4 Academy Awards, Toy Story is now considered one of the best animated films of all time .

Toy Story is credited with opening up the world of 3D computer animated films , which still rules the industry to this day. With the sponsorship of Disney, Pixar used this technology to create a film that visually stood apart from everything else at the box office and helped complete Pixar’s journey from a small computer division at Lucasfilm to an award-winning studio that has produced some of the best animated films of the past thirty years.

Creating a Story

To any fan of animation, Buzz Lightyear and Woody are well-known characters. Yet without Tinny, who reached nowhere near as much fame, they may never have graced our screens.

Pixar Animation Studios had produced a number of animated shorts before it ventured into feature length production, starting with Luxo Jr. (which introduced Pixar’s mascot). Red’s Dream followed, but it was Tin Toy (1988) that caught Disney’s attention . Financed by Steve Jobs who bought Pixar in 1986, Tin Toy was a five-minute short created and directed by John Lasseter . Seen through the perspective of a toy running away from a destructive infant, Tin Toy laid down the groundwork for Toy Story – another Lasseter creation.

Disney had only recently allowed films to be made outside its own production company, starting with Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) .

In a 2011 interview with Entertainment Weekly, [John Lasseter] said: "Disney kept trying to hire me back after each of the short films I had made. I kept saying, 'Let me make a film for you up here' . ” They always said, 'No, a Disney animated film will always be made at Disney.' They had no interest in doing an outside project." Lasseter continued: "What changed their mind was Tim Burton. Tim and I went to college together, and he had developed a feature idea called 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.' He went on to become a successful live-action director and was trying to buy 'Nightmare' back from Disney. And they said, 'Why don’t you just make it for us?' That opened the door for Disney to think of these niche animated films that could be done. They said, 'Okay, we’re willing to talk with you. We’ve got puppet animation going [with Tim Burton] and now we’ll be willing to develop the computer animation .' They said to come back when we had an idea. So we started thinking…"

John Lasseter

3D computer animation developed alongside CGI in the 1970s, but a fully created computer animation television show or film didn’t debut until the 1990s. Yet animation companies, including Disney, had already played with the new technology before then. The Great Mouse Detective (1988) was the first Disney film to extensively use CGI: creating a two-minute sequence which was heavily promoted in the film’s marketing.

Their CGI was developed in cooperation with Pixar, the two companies coming together to make CAPS , the Computer Animation Production System which was relied upon heavily during the Disney Renaissance .

The technology was new, which put giant animation studios at a disadvantage. Their artists were trained in 2D animation techniques , leaving a void for computer companies who had the expertise to utilise this new technology.

Animation Style

The use of this new technology resulted in a film that looked vastly different from everything that predated it . Not only did 3D computer animation provide greater realism, but the independence of these early animators also meant they were not constrained by an existing “style” favoured by a company.

To this day, animated characters start life at Disney as 2D concept drawings which influences the style once it is converted to 3D. Pixar on the other hand is at home in that format, and their animators create greater complexities and detailed textures in their work.

“There are differences between Pixar and Disney. If you reduced Pixar to a phrase it would be: ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if?’ Like if a kid was looking at their toy: What if the toy could talk? All their films are like this. If you reduced the Disney films it would be: ‘Once upon a time…’ .”

Glen Keane

The filmmakers designed the minor characters using memories of their childhood toys, but the two leads were a different story. Woody and Buzz Lightyear went through several redesigns , along with the addition and removal of multiple human characters. Thankfully, Disney brought Joss Whedon onboard as a co-writer after reviewing the initial drafts. Now best known for directing and writing The Avengers (2012), Firefly (2002) and B uffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Toy Story was his first hit for which Whedon shared an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay .

Because 3D computer animation was so new, even the lead actors didn’t know what the film would look like. Tom Hanks , who voiced Woody, said : “The shading and the light and its starting to look crisp and clean it looks surreal and real , it had a really neat 3-D quality to it without that fuzzy eyeball stuff.”

While Tim Allen , who voiced Buzz Lightyear, said: “When I first saw it I thought, 'I don't know if kids are gonna buy this, adults especially not, it's too high tech, it looks too much like a video game. And they got the second generation, third generation, it started looking slicker and slicker and then they finally finished with a shot of the soldiers going 'one, two, three, let's go!' and they went down the rope, wow! What a view!”

Pixar’s software was key to the animation of Toy Story . From RenderMan to Menv , the latter of which has since been replaced at Pixar by Presto, it took over 400 computer models to make the film. And it was worth every second of development. Toy Story showed the world that – not only was Pixar the new kid on the animation block – but that they also held the key to the future of animated film .

Get Started With Your Video

Inspired to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

The Future of Animated Videos: Recent Trends in Animation

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:18:22 GMT

Animated marketing videos are a staple communications tool for businesses of all shapes and sizes, across countless sectors.

In recent years, animated marketing videos have become more than just cartoons for kids.

From advertising to training, animated videos provide us with an effective way to capture and captivate our target audiences, allowing us to communicate complex ideas and key messages in a clear, engaging and memorable way.

In this blog, we take a closer look at some of the recent trends in animation, and what the future holds as technology continues to advance at an astronomical rate.

Why Animation Matters in the Digital Age

It’s no secret that audience attention spans are waning. With an overload of content accessible to us at all times, on multiple devices, it’s becoming harder to captivate our audience's interest and more importantly, hold on to it so they retain the key messages we’re trying to portray.

Animated marketing videos are an exceptional way to combine visuals, sound and storytelling to cut through the digital noise and reach people on a more human and personal level.

Animation offers unparalleled flexibility and versatility. It can bring any concept to life, no matter how abstract or imaginative .

Whether you're promoting a product , explaining a complex process, or training your team, animation can simplify the most intricate ideas and make them accessible to a wide audience.

Animated videos transcend language barriers and can tap into a diverse range of demographics, giving your products or services universal appeal and helping to open up new markets or niches in specific sectors.

Recent Trends in Animation

Technology is allowing us to utilise animation in more ways than ever before, and it is causing a surge of new innovative trends within the animation sector. Here are some of the most recent trends in animation to look out for.

Interactive Videos

Interactive videos have gained immense popularity, allowing viewers to engage with content actively. Interactive elements such as clickable hotspots, quizzes, and decision points turn passive viewers into active participants. This not only enhances user engagement but also provides valuable data on viewer preferences and behaviours.

Kinetic Typography

Kinetic typography is a technique that effortlessly blends text and motion to create a powerful animated message . Even simple text when paired with the right colour scheme, pace and typography style can evoke powerful emotions and brand associations.

Animated Logos

One of the emerging frontrunners for animation trends is the use of animated logos . Often, a logo is the first thing a customer sees when they open your website. That first impression should be memorable and portray your brand personality in the quickest and most efficient way possible. Animated logos use a range of visual effects, from rotations and morphing logos to 3D animated logos.

Thin Lines

A popular trend we’ve seen re-emerge in recent years is the use of minimalistic thin lines in animation. If you’re looking for a simplistic way to portray your messaging, thin lines provide a clear and sophisticated way to mimic shapes and hand-drawn sketches without the need for intense colour or patterns.

Loading Animations

One of the most popular ways brands can experiment and show their personality is through loading animations. According to recent studies, 47% of users expect a webpage to load in 2 seconds or less. Any more, and you risk your audience getting frustrated or leaving the page.

Intriguing, entertaining, and engaging loading animations can help capture audience interest long enough to negate any negative impacts from longer loading times, keeping them on your page and even keen to see more so they can experience the loading animation again!

Vertical Animations

One of the most significant motion graphic trends in the past year is one that continues to grow daily. There are around 6 billion mobile users across the globe, so catering to changing consumer behaviours to fit this is crucial. With the rise of TikTok and other platforms that favour vertical video, we’ve seen an emergence of vertical video advertisements for Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook ads.

Trends that Will Shape the Future of Animation

There’s a bright future on the horizon for animated marketing videos, with new enhancements providing us with innovative ways to use animation in our communications. Here are some of the key areas likely to continue to shape the industry most dramatically in the coming years:

3D animation
Artificial Intelligence
Interactive and immersive experiences
Streaming services
Globalisation

Recent trends in animation, including the rise of 3D animation and interactive videos , offer exciting opportunities for businesses to connect with their audience in new and engaging ways.

Get Started with Animated Marketing Videos

If you’re looking for a trusted partner to deliver high-quality animated marketing videos, then look no further.

At Squideo, we don’t just create videos. We create experiences that entertain, engage, and leave a lasting impact on your audience. In a world where the competition for attention is fierce, animation is your secret weapon to stand out and Squideo is here to help you wield it effectively.

From corporate to cartoon and everything in between, we make it our mission to understand your business, your audience, and your messages and create effective animated solutions that represent your brand.

Get in touch today to find out more about the range of animated video styles we offer and discover how our team of experts can help bring your brand to life.

FAQ: How Can Animated Videos Help to Raise Awareness and Educate Audiences?

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 07:30:00 GMT

In Squideo’s most recent white paper , Creating Animation Videos for Social Impact: Amplifying Causes and Driving Change , we explored how videos can tackle social issues and raise awareness . Now we’re answering your questions about animation videos for social impact campaigns. Let’s dive in!

Q1. Are animated videos suitable if you’re targeting an older demographic?

Animation is entertaining for people of any age. In 2018, 60% of Cartoon Network’s audience was aged between 18 and 49 , proving the lasting appeal of cartoons. Given the unlimited creativity available through animation, audiences can experience alternative realities and possibilities – whether that’s jettisoning into space or living a better life thanks to your organisation.

Conduct market research to find out what animation styles your target audience may best respond to. There are more mature styles of animation than cartoons, such as icon-based and isometric projection animation which could be more appealing to an older audience.

Q2. Can animated videos be used in the classroom?

Absolutely. The examples we looked at were used in advertising, to promote an organisation, but they were also educational and would translate well in a classroom setting .

Videos can break up long lessons or lectures, helping students stay engaged in the subject matter. Because animated explainer videos can be bright and colourful with catchy music and an engaging voiceover, this is more entertaining than reading text from a board or listening to someone speak for long periods of time. In 2021, Insivia reported that viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading it in a text .

Below is a video created by Squideo's Creative Director Benjamin Underwood .

Q3. Do people respond better to realistic or abstract animation for social cause videos?

Choosing the right animation style for your video is important as, once it’s released, the video will become a part of your brand. It should integrate directly into your existing media. Look to your current content before deciding between realistic or abstract animation. What has your audience reacted most positively to in the past?

If you’re working with a blank slate, perhaps this is the first animated video you have made or commissioned, go back to your market research . Think about the audience – older audiences might prefer something abstract. Or think about the subject – is your examining something technical which needs to be reproduced in a realistic animated format?

Q4. What’s the best way to inspire action in viewers after they watch the video?

A powerful call to action (CTA) is the best way to tell the viewer what to do next . Is there a rally you want them to attend? A petition to sign? Volunteering opportunities? A donation drive? If you want them to learn more , tell them about any resources available or upcoming workshops.

The ideal social impact CTA should use action words and invoke a sense of urgency . The viewer is feeling empathetic to your cause after watching the video. Failing to include an effective CTA is a missed opportunity, so don’t hold back. A CTA will amplify your cause and drive real change.

Q5. Can I combine animation with live-action footage?

With access to millions of commercially licensed clips, Squideo also produce videos that blend animation with stock footage , eliminating the need for filming. Alternatively, if the client would like to use specific footage , this can be incorporated into the video to create a truly unique piece of content.

Get Started With Your Video

Ready to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

FAQ: What Are the Key Elements of a Successful Animated Video?

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Like making the perfect cake, a successful animated video requires all the right ingredients. That’s why Squideo is sharing the recipe. We’re looking at the five most important elements needed to create your perfect animated video . Read on to find out how or get in touch with our team .

01. Style

Squideo can create videos for you in a range of different styles, which can reflect the client’s branding and appeal to the target audience. We’ve broken down our animation styles into six broad categories for clients to choose from.

Character-Driven Animation. Squideo’s Video Producers expertly craft animated characters using our in-house cartoon animation software. Character design depends on the client’s preference.
Icon-Based Animation. If characters don’t feel right for your brand but you still want a visual representation of ideas or concepts, icon-based animation is a great alternative. The icons, like characters, can be designed in a range of styles to suit your brand.
Isometric Projection Animation. By adding the illusion of depth, perspective rendering and playing with dimensions, this animation style adds a three-dimensional quality to your video. Isometric projection lends itself nicely to videos for construction and design industries.
Line Animation. With the illusion of smooth motion and animation, you can better set the mood and create an engaging, powerful story that truly captures your audience by employing line animation in your video.
Screencast. A screencast is a video recording taken from a computer or mobile, overlayed with animation and audio. This is a great way to show off software and apps to potential users as it lets them explore with the narrator as their guide.
Stock-Footage Animation. With access to millions of commercially licensed clips, Squideo also produce videos that blend animation with stock footage, eliminating the need for filming. Alternatively, the client can send us specific footage.

02. Keep a Steady Pace

Who is your audience? How long will they watch a video? You can make a masterpiece but if your target audience prefers to watch 15 second reels, creating a 15 minute video is pointless. The total length is the first step to creating an ideal pace.

The second is to keep the video moving at an even speed . Avoid empty screens, don’t cram all the important information into the last 20 seconds… if your pace is too slow the audience gets bored; if it’s too fast they can be overwhelmed. A steady pace is vital to get your audience hooked , in turn increasing viewer watch time and the overall performance of your animated video.

03. Tone

Not all videos require a script , but when they do it’s important to hit a number of key points within the required timeframe whilst keeping your audience engaged. The script informs the storyboard and final visuals , so it’s important to perfect the script before moving onto the next production stage.

Your script should reflect your company branding so it can fit in seamlessly with your existing content, and it should be the right tone for your target audience . The tone of a video is the style of language it will use. That doesn’t only mean the dialect of English (British or American, for example), but also the presence you want your narrator to have . Friendly, corporate, energetic – these are all different types of tone.

04. Accessibility

An animated video has the advantage of conveying your message visually and audibly. The addition of a voiceover reinforces your chosen message , making it more memorable. Squideo recommends a 70 word script for every 30 seconds of video, creating plenty of opportunities to explain why your business is amazing and why the audience needs to know it.

If you do use a voiceover, add subtitles . It keeps your content accessible, and it can also boost your on-page SEO . If you are hosting the video on your own website, simply upload the SRT alongside your video and reap the benefits. If you are unable to host the video file, you can embed a video via third-party hosting (such as YouTube ) and include a written transcript within your web page copy.

05. Call to Action

Reflect on the aims of your video before releasing it into the wild. It should end on a call to action (CTA) which tells the viewer exactly what they should do after watching your video. Find the right message by asking yourself:

What do you want the viewer to do after watching your video? Should they visit your website, fill in a form – be sure to tell them.
How should they feel? Will your CTA tug on their heartstrings or inspire confidence?
What impression do you want them to have of your business after the video ends?

The best way to encourage them to do so, and in turn make your video a success , is to put that in your CTA! Watch our recent video for Prerender below for CTA inspiration.

Get Started With Your Video

Ready to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Squideo’s Favourites: Gertie the Dinosaur

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Released in 1914 , this short film was created by Winsor McCay – a vaudeville actor who started producing cartoons in 1911. As one of McCay’s best preserved works, Gertie the Dinosaur has gone down in animation history for its innovative techniques and for a time was counted as the earliest animated film until other records were found.

Despite its short running time of twelve minutes, the piece has inspired countless successive animators from Walt Disney to Max Fleischer. It was chosen for this series by Creative Director Hannah Bales who credits Gertie the Dinosaur with introducing animation techniques still used to this day.

Creating a Story

Winsor McCay started working as an artist before becoming an illustrator and cartoonist for numerous Chicagoan newspapers. In 1911, McCay came to work at the New York American , owned by the infamous William Randolph Hurst . That same year, McCay self-financed and released his first animated film Little Nemo in Slumberland .

It was released in cinemas and McCay used the piece in his vaudeville act – a profession he maintained alongside his newspaper career for several years until Hurst convinced him to prioritise his illustrations. Little Nemo in Slumberland used characters McCay had created for a comic strip at the New York Herald , his former employer, a series McCay used to develop his use of colour and fine hatching . Little Nemo was already popular with audiences, first debuting in 1905 and receiving a stage adaptation in 1907.

Audiences were entranced by the 1911 short film, which became popular enough for McCay to colourise the frames. Sadly, like many of McCay’s early works – including How a Mosquito Operates (1912), Flip’s Circus (1918) and The Centaurs (1921) – only fragments of the film have survived . Which led to the later Gertie the Dinosaur (1914) becoming McCay’s signature film.

As Gertie the Dinosaur was created for McCay’s vaudeville act , the film is timed to create the illusion that McCay – standing beside the screen – is controlling Gertie. To end the film, McCay walked toward the screen and was replaced with an animated equivalent that Gertie carried away. This use of animation showed audiences what potential this developing medium had , and inspired a wave of new animators to follow in McCay’s footsteps.

William Fox , founder of the Fox Film Corporation , paid McCay to extend the film to include a live-action introduction so Gertie the Dinosaur could be shown in cinemas without McCay’s presence. Despite this success, McCay’s own employer William Randolph Hurst banned their newspaper from mentioning Gertie the Dinosaur . Comic strips were very popular in newspapers and, as one of his most popular illustrators whom he had bought away from the New York Herald , Hurst wanted McCay’s attention at the New York American rather than his own side-projects.

McCay would make ten films in total , an impressive achievement considering he almost entirely worked alone. His post-war release, The Sinking of the Lusitania , in 1917 garnered him additional critical acclaim and cemented McCay as an animation pioneer .

“McCay distinguished his work from that of his contemporaries in the field by the sophistication of his elaborate graphics, the fluid movement of his characters, the attempts to inject personality traits into those characters, and the use of strong narrative continuity.” John Canemaker

In an episode of Walt Disney’s Disneyland in 1955, Disney paid homage to Winsor McCay and Gertie the Dinosaur – inviting McCay’s son Robert to act as a consultant. The influence of Gertie the Dinosaur still lives on at Disney, spanning from its first reference in 1940’s Fantasia , to their animatronic dinosaurs for New York’s World Fair in 1964, and now Gertie’s ice cream stand opened in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in 1989 .

Animation Style

Created from over 10,000 drawings , Gertie the Dinosaur was a tremendous undertaking almost entirely created by Winsor McCay with his neighbour John A. Fitzsimmons acting as an assistant. Since the film would form part of his vaudeville act, McCay needed a showstopper – and he wanted to indisputably show the world that his animation skills were unrivalled .

When his 1912 film, How a Mosquito Operates , had debuted some audience members thought the mosquito was operated on wires . That same year, McCay announced his intention to create a film about dinosaurs.

Despite the short time frame between both films, Gertie the Dinosaur shows significant progress which left audiences with no doubt that they were watching animation. More details were added to the characters and, importantly, backgrounds were added to the frames.

McCay used fine hatching to add shadows and depth to Gertie’s movement. He established the use of now standard animation techniques, including “key drawings, effective registration of images to prevent “jitters”, and the concept of “ cycling” action that reused drawings .”

Using a constructed dinosaur skeleton on display at the New York Museum of History for reference, McCay worked in painstaking detail to make Gertie as realistic as possible. It worked. According to McCay:

“When the great dinosaur first came into the picture, the audience said it was a papier-mâché animal with men inside of it and with a scenic background . As the production progressed they noticed that the leaves on the trees were blowing in the breeze, and that there were rippling waves on the surface of the water, and when the elephant was thrown into the lake the water was seen to splash. This convinced them that they were seeing something new - that the presentation was actually from a set of drawings.” Winsor McCay

McCay’s work continues to have an influence over modern animators, and since 1972 the Winsor McCay Award has been given in recognition of individuals whose work shows outstanding contributions to excellence in animation. Famous recipients include Bill Hanna , Joseph Barbera, Mel Blanc, Otto Messmer, Roy E. Disney, Tim Burton , John Lasseter, Nick Park , Brad Bird and Matt Groening .

Get Started With Your Video

Inspired to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Behind the Scenes: The Top Animated Video Production Fails and Bloopers

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Everyone makes mistakes, and for our small Squideo squad it’s reassuring to know they even happen at t he largest animation studios . From DreamWorks to Disney, we’re breaking down the ten most obvious on-screen fails and bloopers in animated films.

Read on to find out who made the cut and let us know if we’ve missed something! Inspired? Get started on your own animation project by getting in touch with Squideo.

01. The Lion King

The protagonist of this 1994 Walt Disney Studios classic , Simba, grows from a cub to an adult during the course of The Lion King . Changes to his appearance were expected, but there were some minor details that clearly slipped by the producers. Sometimes Simba has three whiskers on either side, sometimes four, occasionally five, and one time six.

The film has some other continuity errors , but this one is definitely the cutest to look at.

02. Shrek

The first film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Film , the Shrek franchise started in 2001 and helped DreamWorks Animation became a serious rival to Pixar and the Walt Disney Animation Studio. Spawning three sequels and two spin-off films , the most recent of which came out in 2022, there’s no sign of the Shrek franchise slowing down either.

Like all studios who have a vast body of work behind them, there’s bound to be the odd blooper and Shrek is no exception. In one scene, Shrek creates a warning sign on a piece of wood which the animators failed to flip when looking at it from behind.

03. Toy Story 2

The sequel to the wildly popular Toy Story came out in 1999 and created more heartbreak when it separated Woody from his beloved owner Andy. Taken in by a toy repairer who sees value in Woody, the name of his owner is erased from existence in a massively satisfying montage which has since been adopted by the ASMR community .

With a sweep of a brush, Andy’s name is painted over. Woody soon rubs away the paint, however the name is suddenly upside down with the A next to the heel instead of at the toe.

04. Beauty and the Beast

No one fights like Gaston, douses light like Gaston, or moves furniture as fast as Gaston. During this musical number in 1991’s Beauty and the Beast , a number of hunting trophies are littered about to show Gaston’s skill – and cruelty. The most prominent is a vast bear rug , which teleports from a cosy spot by the fire to the feet of Gaston’s throne in a matter of moments.

It's a pity Gaston fell to his death (in classic Disney villain fashion), the Prince could have hired him as a decorator.

05. Spirited Away

Studio Ghibli’s 2001 classic Spirited Away became the first hand-drawn and non-English speaking animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. This is a technically beautiful film and a Japanese classic, despite the occasional continuity error . When meeting No-Face, Chihiro is surrounded by ropes and brooms – some of which disappear only to reappear in a different frame.

It's such a beautiful sequence, however, that viewers are unlikely to catch that, or the colour-changing cushions , until they’re on their fifth or so rewatch.

06. Cinderella

While Disney’s second princess is most recognised in her ballgown, this 1950 adaptation of the fairy tale also includes a beautiful wedding dress. A beautiful wedding dress with long sleeves. A beautiful wedding dress without a choker necklace. The happy couple leave the chapel, with Cinderella losing one of her shoes in the process (typical).

A quick change must have happened, because only seconds after they board the carriage Cinderella is back in her ballgown – capped sleeves and choker necklace included – with only the veil and tiara remaining in place.

07. Sleeping Beauty

While we’re on Disney Princesses, Cinderella’s successor was Sleeping Beauty which came out in 1959. Influenced by European pre-Renaissance art, Disney wanted their newest fairy tale to look visually different from Cinderella. A lot of detail went into creating this film, which went into development in 1950 .

Unfortunately the detail on Aurora’s tiara varies, typically appearing as a plain gold band except in the moments after her collapse from the curse when it is suddenly adorned with gemstones.

08. Monsters, Inc.

If you don’t know what a Code 2319 is, you’ve clearly never seen Pixar’s 2001 masterpiece Monsters, Inc. . Professional scarer, George Sanderson visits an assignment and comes back with more than memories . Coming into contact with a child’s sock triggers a massive alert and protagonists Sulley and Mike Wazowki watch as he is decontaminated – and de-furred.

Considering their aversion to humans, it seems unlikely George would have touched the sock so it must have been an animating error that led to it pointing in opposite directions between shots.

09. The Lego Batman Movie

Running Wayne Manor must keep Alfred busy, but it seems unlikely he’s moving around the portraits every other second. Unless the culprit is the ghost of Batman’s parents, it seems likely then that this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it error was the fault of the animators working on The Lego Batman Movie . When talking to a portrait of his dead parents, the pictures surrounding it change.

It was still a touching scene, and the 2017 film has an impressive 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

10. Aladdin

The animated version of the classic tale Aladdin features Rajah, the devoted and protective pet tiger of Princess Jasmine. Jasmine rebuffs her father, the Sultan’s, attempts to arrange her marriage and it seems that Rajah is on her side. He attacks Prince Achmed, presenting Jasmine with a shred from his underwear as a well-received gift.

When Prince Achmed storms out of the palace however, his trousers are ripped but not his underwear. A funny scene, nevertheless, and suitable for a PG-rated film.

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Ready to create an animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Creating Animation Videos for Social Impact: Amplifying Causes and Driving Change

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:46:16 GMT

Audiences can be transported anywhere using the power of animation – including places it would be impossible, or at least uncomfortable, to show through live-action.

Difficult topics can be presented in a way that makes them friendlier for general audiences , without undermining the urgency of the cause. Animation can be used to explain complicated concepts or unfamiliar situations. Some of the most widely watched and discussed animated social impact videos in recent years cover topics from railway safety to deforestation.

Listen to Creating Videos for Social Impact below!

Dumb Ways to Die , released by Metro Trains in 2012, was only meant to serve the Melbourne area. Instead the animated video has over 283 million views on YouTube , spawned a series of follow-up videos, inspired numerous parodies and launched a video game. While the video was criticised by some to trivialise dangerous situations, Metro Trains claimed that it led to a 20% reduction in near-miss train incidents.

Videos tackling social issues can also provoke debate, which is an excellent way to raise awareness.

Rang-tan: The Story of Dirty Palm Oil was created by Greenpeace and aired by Iceland as its 2018 Christmas advert. Until it was rejected by Clearcast , the UK’s television advert moderator, because of Greenpeace’s “political aims.” In the golden age of social media, a video being pulled from the television no longer means it will never see the light of day again. The decision to take down the advert only drove interest in the story , helping the animated video reach more than 30 million online views .

Animation is a compelling medium which, when used effectively, can raise awareness, create empathy, and inspire action.

Why is Animation the Most Effective Option?

Sticking with Rang-tan: The Story of Dirty Palm Oil , ask yourselves: would Greenpeace have been able to create a live-action version of this video?

Would parents want their children watching a video containing footage of a dead mother orangutan? Could they film a baby orangutan playing in a child’s room? Alternatively, would Metro Train’s Dumb Ways to Die have become so popular if the deaths were portrayed by actors instead of animated blob characters?

Raise Awareness and Create Empathy

Animation offers any producer significant advantages over live-action but, when it comes to the depiction of social causes and calls for change, this medium becomes a real winner. Animation comes with suspension of disbelief , ultimate control over the actions of characters, and the ability to create emotionally difficult storylines without putting actors in potentially compromising situations.

Gaining the empathy of an audience is key to driving change. In 2012, Dr Brené Brown went viral for a TED talk which identified four attributes of empathy : perspective taking; staying out of judgment; recognising emotion in another person, and; communicating the understanding of another person’s emotions.

In Rang-tan: The Story of Dirty Palm Oil , the girl in the video acts as a catalyst for the audience’s empathy . She asks for the baby orangutan’s perspective, avoids making a decision or judgement until he finishes his story, recognises the pain he feels over losing his mother, and shows her support for saving his home.

The fact both characters are children adds an additional layer, as they both see the events from the black and white viewpoint of children : companies destroy forests for palm oil = companies selling palm oil products are bad.

Another important factor in this video’s success is the anthropomorphising of the orangutan. Historically , anthropomorphism was used to raise awareness for animal rights . For example, the 1877 novel Black Beauty was instrumental in improving working conditions for horses in Britain. By giving the orangutan human characteristics, most importantly the ability to speak our language, the audience is forced to appreciate the reality for these animals and question whether their consumer choices are worth the environmental cost.

This would be impossible to accomplish with live-action , which is why animation is so popular with animal rights and environmental groups. Live-action has to contend with the difficulties around animal performances, which includes the legal protections in place to prevent their exploitation.

The UK is rated highly for animal welfare protection , and complaints of breaking the Animal Welfare Act 2006 can lead to prosecution. The same considerations must be made for social causes tackling difficult topics like abuse, neglect, substance abuse – especially when the subjects are children.

In 2017, the National Society for the Protection and Care of Children ( NSPCC ) released the animated video Talk PANTS with Pantosaurus and his PANTS Song . The video informs children about inappropriate behaviour , consent and bodily autonomy. While the protagonist is a child, all the characters are designed to look like dinosaurs, cartoon-ified with pastel colours.

This design choice keeps the video appropriate for young children, but it doesn’t undermine the important message. As of 2023, the video has over 3.1 million views on YouTube proving that social issue videos don’t need to contain shocking footage to have an impact.

Inspire Action

Once awareness for an issue has been raised and an emotional connection made, it’s time to inspire the viewer to take action . A powerful call to action ( CTA ) will tell the viewer what to do next. Is there a rally you want them to attend? A petition to sign? Volunteering opportunities? A donation drive?

The ideal social impact CTA should use action words and invoke a sense of urgency . The viewer is still riding the emotional wave inspired by the video, empathising with your cause and understanding what your organisation needs. Failing to include an effective CTA is a missed opportunity, so don’t hold back . A concise yet mighty CTA will amplify your cause and drive real change.

One of the most memorable adverts in British history was the AIDS: Don’t Die of Ignorance public broadcast in 1987. Released by the UK government, the advert was accompanied by a leaflet sent to every British residence . The aim of the video was to ensure people read the leaflet and learnt how to protect themselves from the, at the time, poorly understood virus and combat rampant misinformation .

Spearheaded by Norman Fowler , the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Security, he went against the advice of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to create a hauntingly unforgettable video.

The short video, narrated by actor John Hurt, ends on a haunting CTA : “So protect yourself and read this leaflet when it arrives. If you ignore AIDS, it could be the death of you.”

Created by TBWA , the advert combined live-action and animation. The designer, Malcolm Gaskin, purposefully used modern typography to demonstrate this was a modern disease . Gaskin retained one of the prop tombstones, saying in 2017 : “I had to get it out the other day because it’s being exhibited, so it was in the garden when my builder arrived. He jumped back and shuddered when he saw it – so it can definitely still scare people.”

Squideo’s Leading Social Impact Videos

Squideo has worked with some amazing groups over the years, who are working hard to make a social impact. We’ll break down three of our latest and most popular videos created for non-profit and charity clients. Discover how animation was used to make a difference , and get inspired by their call to actions.

Crohn’s & Colitis UK | 2022

This charity is near and dear to Squideo’s heart, as it has supported one of our own, which is why we were thrilled to get this project. Designed to signpost the support available for people living with this disease, Crohn’s & Colitis UK wanted an eye-catching animation.

Animation could provide scenes for this client that live-action couldn’t, for example in 2023 we did another video for this client detailing the surgical treatment options available. Animation gave the in-depth descriptions of the procedures that live-action simply couldn’t: it would be too graphic to show.

Animation also makes the process friendlier. Crohn’s & Colitis UK supports people with this long-term health condition, including people who have recently been diagnosed. The bright colours and reassuring voiceover provide a steady presence throughout, with softly rounded characters present for the viewer to project onto.

Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust | 2023

The Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust, which rehomes retired racing greyhounds, had never considered making an animated video. That was until a beneficiary bequeathed them a sum of money with the stipulation that they spend it on something “unusual.”

They wanted something that would put the spotlight on this lovely breed and help the Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust rehome more dogs. After some discussion, the board got in touch with Squideo.

The client wanted a childish character animation style to emphasise the friendliness of the greyhound breed and encourage more people to consider them as pets rather than racing dogs. Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust knew the common stereotypes about greyhounds and guided our scriptwriter in creating a narrative which would counteract this.

Sense | 2022

This charity has been around for 65 years, which meant they came to us with a strong set of brand guidelines and a good sense of the style they wanted their video to follow. Sense supports everyone who is deafblind or has complex disabilities. Their beneficiaries need different levels of support, although the demand for Sense’s services can swell during periods of economic difficulty.

In 2022, between the energy and cost of living crisis , Sense found that its beneficiaries were being disproportionately affected. They wanted a video to highlight how rising bills were effecting the deafblind and those with complex disabilities, bringing awareness to the general public and growing support for their campaign to call on the UK government for more financial aid.

Characters were used to build empathy, while kinetic text was interspersed to impart a sense of urgency. Their call to action inspires action , telling viewers exactly what to do next in order to create social impact.

Summary

Animation has significant advantages over live-action when it comes to social impact videos. Animation gives producers the opportunity to show scenes it would otherwise be unable to – either due to the difficulties of filming or potentially graphic nature reducing the video’s visibility – and use characters to build empathy .

Building empathy is one of the three key steps in creating a video which will amplify causes and drive change . These are:

Raise Awareness
Create Empathy
Inspire Action

In 2023, Squideo created a new video for our portfolio. Featuring the fictional charity, Turtle Blue , it was intended to show off our latest character designs to our clients. To reflect the industry, the video follows these three steps .

First, the narration sets out the background of water pollution – explaining the importance of our oceans and how human activity is putting marine life at risk. This raises awareness .

Second, characters are introduced to create empathy for these animals. A fish and turtle are anthropomorphised through the addition of facial expressions to invoke sympathy from the audience, who watch as litter and overfishing destroy their ecosystem.

Finally, the narration ends on a strong CTA : “join Turtle Blue and let’s clean up for the next generation.” Since Turtle Blue is not a real company, no onscreen details are given but this would be included in a broadcast video. A website address would be key to taking the motivated audience and converting them into charity members – therefore, inspiring action .

Conclusion

Squideo creates professional, goal-orientated and powerful animated videos that entertain, educate, and engage your target audience. We take key information, then support and guide you through a unique creative process , resulting in a professional quality explainer video that looks great and sends exactly the right message.

Ready to create an animated video for your company? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

The Coolest Animated Characters of All Time: Icons That Stole Our Hearts

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Animation offers a vast variety of options for character design, each created to attract a particular demographic. Not every character becomes an icon, however, which is why Squideo is breaking down the animation character designs of ten of the coolest animated characters of all time.

Read on to find out who made the cut and let us know if we’ve missed anyone out! Inspired? Get started on your own animation project by getting in touch with Squideo.

01. Mickey Mouse

The icon of the Walt Disney Company, Mickey Mouse is arguably the most recognisable character in the world. Created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1928, Mickey Mouse is one of the oldest entries on this list (but not the record holder) and helped make Disney the company it is today. As is often the case for successful creations, there is some dispute how Mickey was created; but we’re glad to have him.

Mickey Mouse set the style for all future Disney animation designs. The rounded character, use of bold colours and a distinctive colour palette for each character; it all started with Mickey. Disney has its own unique animation style, crafted over its 100 year lifespan . The animation style has changed over the years with the incorporation of new technology, especially 3D computer animation , but remains distinguishable from other animation companies.

02. Winnie-the-Pooh

First featured on screen in 1966, the character of Winnie-the-Pooh was created in 1925 by British author A. A. Milne and illustrated by E. H. Shepard. The rights are held by Disney, yet other adaptations have been made. Perhaps the antithesis to the Disney version is the Soviet Union’s version of the famous bear, released in 1969 and followed by two additional films, which removes Christopher Robin but adds a narrator.

With the exception of the 1925 and 1969 versions of Winnie-the-Pooh, the character design remained consistent in the Disney productions which helped this Winnie-the-Pooh become the most identifiable version of the character . In that classic Disney style, Winnie-the-Pooh is soft and cuddly, and easily spotted with his amber and red colour palette.

03. The Simpsons

Sticking with yellow-hued characters, it’s time to look at one of Earth’s most popular families . First appearing in 1987 as a short in The Tracey Ullman Show , The Simpsons went on to get their own franchise in 1989 that is running to this day. It’s the longest-running American sitcom and animated series with 34 seasons and 750 episodes (as of August 2023).

Beyond the prominence of the colour yellow, The Simpsons are recognisable for their geometric appearance. Bart, Lisa and Maggie’s spiky hair, Homer’s chevron hairline and Marge’s rectangular dress. The design is easy to reproduce and remains recognisable even if the style changes. The Simpsons have hosted many guest artists for the couch gag , from Guillermo del Torro to Sylvain Chomet, yet no one would mistake what they were watching for any other animated show.

04. Bibendum

Bibendum , known as the Michelin Tyre Man in the English-speaking world, is the oldest entry on the list. First created for this French company in 1894, this character has become an icon the world over and remains one of the oldest trademarks still in use . Its popularity has been referenced in books, film, television and songs. The character even starred in a 2009 animated short film, Logorama .

The character has changed over the years to reflect the times, but every version remains identifiable as the Michelin Tyre Man. Despite tyres turning black in the 1910s, the character has retained the whiteness of the earliest tyres in production. After 120 years , it would be hard to change the essential makeup of this character without destroying the Michelin brand.

05. Mulan

The eighth addition to the Disney Princess line-up, and the first who was not a real princess, Mulan hit the screens in 1998 . This animated character reinvented the formula of a Disney Princess film, by making Mulan into a hero who saves herself, her family and her country. The romance is relegated to a subplot, and the film doesn’t end with a wedding.

Despite Mulan only having two feature films to her name (1998, 2004), the character has appeared in multiple Disney shows and videos games, most famously appearing in 2016 Wreck It Ralph with the other Disney Princesses. Her tenure as a Disney Princess hasn’t gone without controversy , however. A redesign in 2013 prompted a public backlash as the character’s skin was lightened, causing a swift reversal by Disney.

06. Scooby-Doo

These mystery solvers have been on television since 1969 , branching out into films (animated and live-action), video games and comics. The core gang have stayed in place with the titular Scooby-Doo joined by his friends Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred . Some additions have been made to the original Hanna Barbara line-up, such as the divisive Scrappy-Doo .

Like the other oldies on the list, the Scooby-Doo characters have seen significant redesign over the years . From making them children in A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988) to giving the human characters tiny eyes in Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010), but the biggest change came with Velma (2023) which sought to diversify the originally all-white cast.

07. Totoro

Despite being the subject of only one feature-length film , the character Totoro from My Neighbour Totoro (1988) has become a cultural icon in Japan . Brought back in ani-manga books, a novel and – most recently – a stage adaptation, Totoro has fame outside of Japan too. In fact, its popularity led to a cameo of Totoro in Toy Story 3 (2010).

Created by Studio Ghibli , Totoro has been adapted as the production company’s mascot much like Mickey Mouse has been at Disney. Using hand drawn animation, bright colours and individually coloured frames, the rich visual style is a sharp contrast to the Western examples featured in this list.

08. Tom and Jerry

Created by the renowned William Hanna and Joseph Barbara duo 17 years before they formed their own company, Tom (originally called Jasper) and Jerry were originally the product of MGM when these characters first debuted in 1940 . The journey has continued in the hands of numerous producers and three studios, making fans with their slapstick comedy for over 80 years.

Tom’s angular ears and fur are set against Jerry’s rounded character, making them opposites in both personality and appearance . While the animation style has shifted slightly over various incarnations , the original 1940 characters are still identifiable in 2021’s Tom and Jerry in New York. The only real difference is the lightening of both characters’ fur and the addition of Tom’s sinisterly evil eyebrows

09. Betty Boop

Made by Fleischer Studios in 1930 , Betty Boop’s appearances in television and film hasn’t increased much since the decade of her creation. In spite of her limited filmography , Betty Boop has become one of the most iconic animated characters of all time – replicated in merchandise , comic book films and two films in the 1980s.

Betty Boop is a personification of the 1920s and flapper style. At first, the character was meant to be an anthropomorphic French poodle but Betty Boop was soon modelled after singer Helen Kane instead from who the classic catchphrase came: “Boop Oop a Doop.” Heavily censored by the Hays Code in 1934 , Beety Boop’s appearance drastically changed – but it was that early incarnation that has lasted into modern times.

10. The Smurfs

Created by the Belgian comic artist Peyo in 1958 under the name Les Schtroumpfs , The Smurfs is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time . Popularised with English-speaking audiences when The Smurfs ’ TV series launched in 1981, these iconic blue characters with their distinctive white hats (called ‘Phrygian caps’) quickly entered the mainstream.

These characters are so popular in Belgium that in 2005, UNICEF used The Smurfs to create an advert for their fundraising campaign for Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – both former Belgian colonies. They’ve since been reimagined in the 2010s using 3D computer animation , bringing The Smurfs to another generation of viewers.

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Ready to create a cool animated character of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Squideo’s Favourites: Belleville Rendez-Vous

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Written and directed by Sylvain Chomet, a French comic book writer, animator and director, Les Triplettes de Bellville (translation: The Triplets of Bellville ) was released in 2003 to tremendous acclaim. Nominated for two Academy Awards, this film was renamed Belleville Rendez-Vous for the UK and Irish market.

Featuring exquisite hand-drawn and 2D digital animation , the film bucked the trend of 3D computer animation which still dominates the genre. For context, Finding Nemo (Pixar Animation Studio) and Brother Bear (Walt Disney Studios) were the other Oscar nominees for Best Animated Film beside Belleville Rendez-Vous . Despite losing out to the wildly popular Finding Nemo , Belleville Rendez-Vous has became a cult-favourite and was picked for this series by Squideo’s Director Ben Underwood.

Creating a Story

The first feature film for this Parisian animator , Sylvain Chomet had already created a critically praised animated short called The Old Lady and the Pigeons in 1997. It won a BAFTA and was nominated for an Academy Award , which created the opportunity for Chomet to create a full-length feature film. Production on Belleville Rendez-Vous lasted five years from conception to completion , with a team of sixty animators working full-time.

The same production company was behind both of Chomet’s projects: Les Armateurs . Like Chomet, Les Armateurs championed an anti-Hollywood art style. This modern film production company, founded in 1994, rejected the growing hyperrealism of 3D computer animation used in films like Beauty and the Beast (Walt Disney Studios: 1992), Toy Story (Pixar Animation Studios: 1995) and Shrek (DreamWorks Animation: 2001).

Belleville Rendez-Vous combined hand-drawn animation with 2D computer animation to produce a style influenced by older animated films – from the pioneering work of Winsor McCay to early Disney work like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937) and One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961). According to Chomet , [computer animation] “was mainly to get rid of all the boring stuff. We used CGI for the cars, the bicycles, the boats and the trains, and it meant the animators had more time for enjoyable elements like the character acting.” Chomet also cited Nick Parks work Creature Comforts as a source of inspiration.

Before becoming a director, Chomet had worked as a comic book creator and animator: which included a stint at the famous Walt Disney Studios . While he had great respect for the early works produced under Walt Disney, when he worked at the studios in the 1980s Chomet said:

“I learned an awful lot from them – how not to do it. The artists have no say any more. The suits decide everything now, and there are so many of them. It is like the dinosaurs, it has got too big and the brain is too small. With us, every cent we spend goes on the screen.”

Sylvain Chomet, The Guardian

The story of Belleville Rendez-Vous was greatly inspired by the acting work of the French mime and actor Jacques Tati and features parodies of actors and singers including Fred Astaire and Josephine Baker, and fictional characters like Betty Boop. Tati’s influence over Chomet, who would eventually animate an unfinished project of Tati’s called The Illusionist in 2010 , is the reason for Belleville Rendez-Vous’ limited dialogue.

The film tells the story of Madame Souza, who needs to rescue her grandson Champion – a Tour de France cyclist – who has been abducted by the French mafia . Champion is taken to Belleville, which represents large cities like Paris, New York City and Montreal, where he is forced to cycle for gambling purposes. Madame Souza tracks him down with Champion’s loyal dog Bruno and is joined by the Triplets of Belleville, music hall singers from the 1930s .

Animation Style

Belleville Rendez-Vous was Sylvain Chomet’s first animated film which incorporates CGI into the production process , yet it retains a hand-drawn animation style. The film uses traditional production techniques, which harkens back to common animation styles of the pre-1960s with rotoscoping and a xerographic process. The colour palette is watered down, with bright colours used in small doses, and features segments in black and white.

The characters are designed in an overly caricaturist fashion , from the overdeveloped leg muscles of cyclist Champion to the exaggerated obese residents of Belleville; putting more distance between Belleville Rendez-Vous and the hyperrealism 3D animations of Hollywood film production companies like Pixar Animation Studios and DreamWorks Animation.

“What makes a master animator? I think it is where an eye for tiny details meets a mind wide open to the surreal . The hand-drawn animation of Belleville Rendez-Vous isn’t only a homage to the France of the 1950s, but also the films and music-hall culture of the 1920s: Django Reinhardt pops up, smoking a cigarette while playing the guitar with a seemingly elastic foot, and a dapper Fred Astaire dances until his tap shoes sprout teeth and drag him off stage. There is almost no dialogue: the film doesn’t need it .” JENNY MCCARTNEY, THE SPECTATOR

Jenny McCartney, The Spectator

Like animated features in the early days of sound films, image is considered king over dialogue in Belleville Rendez-Vous . Character’s expressions impart emotion rather than long-winded speech, time passes to show the encroachment of modern city life on the family’s country home, and music is there to tug on the heartstrings .

Yet, despite the acclaim the film garnered, Chomet doesn’t think the animation style used in the film will see a resurgence in Hollywood : “there are not enough permanent studios, there are too many structures created just for the one production. That was what happened with Belleville Rendez-Vous : the Belgian and Canadian studios that worked on it have since closed down ; the people involved have gone their different ways.” With a history in animation before turning his hand to directing, Chomet adds that many animators cannot find work or are under-employed because of the scarcity of projects.

Chomet’s career continues, however, with another animated feature film in development . He even created a couch gag for the long-running sitcom The Simpsons in 2014.

Get Started With Your Video

Inspired to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Why Should We Be Cautious About AI-Generated Videos?

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:30:00 GMT

We love new technology, but tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI) seem to create more questions than answer problems . While AI isn’t completely new, the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 has reignited public interest in the tool which is currently undergoing a rapid improvement in quality.

Silicon Valley leaders started warning about an existential risk to humanity posed by AI, and the possibility that it could become sentient – like the robots in Terminator or Westworld. Soon people were talking about the risk to their jobs, and where humans would be left in an increasingly automated world. Both concerns make the news headlines, but one of the biggest stories is the legal ramifications connected to using AI.

In this article, Squideo is going to break down why we should be cautious about AI-generated videos and how the law around AI is swiftly shifting.

This Just In

Since we first started looking at artificial intelligence (AI) in June, a lot has changed! At the time of writing in August 2023, here is an overview of the leading artificial intelligence headlines:

An American court has ruled that AI-generated art cannot be copyrighted, stating “human authorship is an essential part of a valid copyright claim.” A related case is currently being processed by the UK Supreme Court.
Artists have accused Adobe Stock of AI ‘copyright infringement’ as the AI art appears to mimic the style of the artist, at least partially.
AI could revolutionise the mining industry , threaten the jobs of programmers, or possibly create the best racing game ever.
A study by the United Nations (UN) has found that women face a disproportionate risk of losing their jobs to AI. This is because of their over-representation in clerical jobs, especially in the most economically developed countries.
Governments around the world are racing to understand this new technology and regulate AI tools.

These headlines suggest there is a need for caution when using AI-generators, but why is this new tool causing so many legal headaches?

The Risks of Artificial Intelligence

In the Compliance & Risk journal published by Osborne Clarke this month, it broke down the main legal risks businesses face when they use AI. This could be to produce written and visual content, and definitely applies if you’re using AI to generate a video .

01. Bias and Discrimination

A piece of work is only as good as its creator , and the same applies to AI. AI-generators are created by programmers who input data to train the AI. Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen plenty of times programmers have missed the mark . For example, in 2014 Amazon’s recruitment software was found to discriminate against female candidates applying for technical roles.

Programmers (or coders) can have unconscious bias or discriminatory attitudes. AI can also misinterpret data. Regulation of AI can help to identify this bias, yet that also comes with its own challenges.

02. Government Involvement and AI Audits

Do we need government policies for how we use artificial intelligence? Is it up to the individual business to audit their AI, to understand potential risks and create risk mitigation strategies? Is it the responsibility of the AI creator ? These are questions the world is grappling with, and the current laws surrounding AI could change significantly within the next 5 to 10 years.

Different countries are taking different approaches, much like they did during the evolution of data protection laws . For international companies, this means there could be many standards to take into account. Think of how the European Union’s introduction of GDPR changed the way websites around the world secure consent for data processing. Where AI saves time, it could also create more work for your company .

03. Intellectual Property and Copyright Infringement

Whether you’re training AI or using AI-generated content, there is a legal risk in using third-party intellectual property rights without securing permission or a licence. AI creators are facing private litigation , from individuals and businesses, to protect their intellectual property from unauthorised use.

This month, it’s individual artists against Adobe Stock. In July it was Getty images against Stability AI. While text and data mining without permission is allowable in the UK, it does not allow data scraping for commercial purposes . How individuals and businesses will progress in these lawsuits is still to be decided, as a lot of cases remain in court .

As for work created by an AI-generator, it may not be copyrightable at all. In our headlines, there was an American court which ruled AI-generated art cannot be copyrighted since human authorship is essential for a copyright claim . AI can be used as a tool, but people must contribute to the creative process. For example, Squideo’s video producers could use an AI tool to alter images and the client would still have copyright over the video. Whereas if a client used an AI-generator to create an entire video, there would be no claim for legal ownership of the product.

04. Data Protection and Confidentiality

AI needs to be trained and, as discussed above, programmers often accomplish this with data scraping with information often sourced from the internet. What companies need to be wary of, especially if they are working within the UK or EU, is that data protection laws are not violated.

“While information about, or images of, real people might be lawfully used to train AI in some jurisdictions, the practice faces challenges in the EU or UK , where data protection rules tend to be stronger than elsewhere.” Osborne Clarke, August 2023.

An AI-generated video might use the image of a person who has not given their consent to have this photograph shared, opening up the possibility of litigation.

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Video production companies like Squideo create your animated video from scratch , ensuring complete one-of-a-kindness. Ready to create a unique video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

The Role of Animation in Brand Storytelling

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 11:00:00 GMT

Branding is the image your business projects . It starts from the company’s name, builds with a logo and develops into a full set of branding guidelines which will influence your website, company documents and advertising. The public will recognise you through your brand, and you can engage them with storytelling.

Brand storytelling focuses on the use of narratives to guide your customers through the history, development and values of your business. By adding brand storytelling to your marketing campaign, you can improve customer loyalty and humanise your brand .

Once you identify your story, you have something that is unique . No other brand can copy you, which makes your brand stand out. In 2018, Quantified determined that marketing campaigns which use stories are 22 times more memorable than campaigns which focus solely on facts.

Animate Your Brand’s Story

Animation is perfect for brand storytelling. Animated characters can also do things that would be impossible in live-action, making it a powerful storytelling medium . If your business’ logo is a character, animation can bring them to life in a way live-action couldn’t. Animation offers a vast variety of styles and techniques , which means these videos can be tailored to perfectly reflect your brand.

Consumers are also less interested in listening to ordinary promotional messages and prefer to watch videos that tell compelling personal or brand stories . The ideal way to do that is with an animated video. Animated videos allow you to experiment with various styles and effects and puts no limitations on your imagination.

How do you work out what story is the right one for you to tell?

The first place to look is your brand guidelines . Identify the core themes, particularly what your businesses’ values and aims are. Does your company prioritise customer satisfaction? Environmental sustainability? Quality production? Whatever the answer, it will affect the story you’re about to tell.

Brand storytelling isn’t limited to one piece of marketing content, like a poster or advertising video, so it’s important to be confident in your choice. The story will become part of your public persona , and that is hard to change further down the line. It’s also hard to fake, so ensure your story is true!

According to Brené Brown , only ten percent of organisations have operationalised their values into action which means they’re not real values. In the digital age , it’s hard to profess a commitment to something and not follow through without it quickly becoming apparent to your customers – which can turn them off your brand.

Brand storytelling should humanise your brand, demonstrating to your customers and the public that your business is deserving of their support and their money.

Finding Your Story

Businesses, big and small, have a lot of milestones and accomplishments behind them. So, what story should your animated video focus on?

01. Company History

An animated video can quickly encapsulate a company’s history , tracking every step from its foundation to its present activity. Showcasing your longevity will demonstrate to an audience that your company is here to stay; and highlighting your accomplishments will establish you as a forerunner in your field.

02. Major Rebrand

Major overhaul? A change in directors, logo, name or branding? Transition your customers and clients through this rebrand with an animated video. Create a narrative which explains the reasoning for these changes and makes your audience excited to become a part of your company’s future .

03. Making a Commitment

As public scrutiny on businesses grows, some companies have taken the opportunity to refocus their story to put them in a more favourable light. This could be environmental sustainability , providing a living wage, a commitment to health and safety standards, or aligning with social movements .

04. Mergers and Acquisitions

The world’s largest companies only continue to grow as they merge with competitors or acquire new up-and-coming talent. Announce these changes with an animated video, telling the story of your company’s expansion and showing customers how their experience with you might change.

05. Product Launch

Take viewers to the latest chapter of your story with an animated video explaining your newest product or service. Explain how this was a natural evolution for your company, building upon your experience and the talent of your team. Get your audience excited about this new release and eager to buy in.

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Ready to create your brand’s story? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

The Power of an Interactive Video and How You Can Use It

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 13:51:43 GMT

Interactive videos enables your viewer engagement like never before, helping you generate leads , gather feedback , and teach, train and test .

As professional interactive video creators, Squideo’s talented video production team will guide and support you through our simple process to make an interactive video your viewers can’t ignore. Working with us is easy, all you need is an idea and we will work with you to build something great.

Alternatively, listen to The Power of an Interactive Video below!

The Benefits of Interactive Video

01. Generate Leads

With a variety of interactive options teamed with the power of an animated explainer video , interactive videos are your new secret weapon in your digital marketing toolkit, unlocking a whole new content stream to help maximise your sales.

Use interactive videos to gather contact information, understand the specific needs of your customers , and respond to enquiries and requests. All while keeping your audience entertained, which makes viewers more likely to delve into the rest of your content. Improve website traffic, click through rates (CTR) and social media engagement with interactive videos and generate leads for your business!

02. Gather Feedback with Engaging Video Surveys and Forms

Let's be honest, nobody likes completing traditional surveys or forms; they’re lengthy, time-consuming and unstimulating. With interactive video, however, you can turn this once laborious task into a hyper-engaging experience . Guide viewers through each question like never before, increasing form completions and ultimately gathering more of the data you need. This innovative design will drive user engagement and help build interest in your brand.

There are plenty of design options available , from multiple choice questions to long text submission. Access insights to see detailed viewer responses and get all the data you need from your audience.

03. Teach, Train & Test with Immersive E-Learning

Deliver revolutionary corporate training with interactive video. Showcase scenarios, ask questions and personalise the learning experience like never before. Interactive training videos really speak for themselves.

E-learning becomes easier, intuitive and enjoyable for learners of all ages.
Ask questions and easily get answers from every participant.
Interact with anything on screen.
Personalise each learning experience to suit the education level, age range and background of your class.

Whether your interactive videos are deployed in remote training or in-person lecturers, seminars and lessons, it’s guaranteed to provide an impressive experience for anyone in attendance and reinforce the information you’re presenting in their memory.

Intuitive Story Mapping for Each Video

Like any Squideo video, a storyboard is created to map the journey of the viewer. The only difference is this story branches out into lots of potential plots the viewer can follow, making it fun to revisit. Check out the image below to get an idea of how we break down the storyboard for an interactive video.

With your Squideo interactive video, you are guaranteed:

Your own interactive platform. Access your own interactive video library anytime and anywhere.
Seamless embedding. Our SCORM-compliant interactive videos are easily embedded into other websites and e-learning platforms.
Understanding of viewer interactions. Track interactions and see how each viewer navigates through each of your interactive videos.

Get Started with Your Interactive Video

Ready to create a unique interactive video ? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: Supernatural Skittles

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 11:00:01 GMT

In this series, Squideo has examined the best ways to turn advertising content into gold. Now that we’ve broken down the eight key ingredients, it’s time to dive deep into some examples of stellar advertising . This week, the advert in question was picked by Squideo’s Marketing Executive, Emily Woodcock.

When asked why this Skittles advert has become her favourite, Emily said: “I saw it on television while I was on holiday. Maybe that's why it stuck in my mind. The dark humour certainly caught my attention and I loved the reference to Midas (of Greek mythology). Despite the video's resolution quality, I also think it's aged really well.”

Skittles Dance

This is the second appearance of the Mars Inc. company in our Advert Alchemy series. We’ve dived into the background of this American business, so let’s focus on Skittles. The history of its creation is a bit murky, but it’s widely accepted that a small British manufacturer first launched Skittles in the mid-1970s. They were soon bought by Wrigley , which is also owned by Mars Inc., who took over distribution and brought the sweets to an international market in 1979.

Greatly resembling another Mars Inc. product, M&Ms, Skittles are distinguished by a small letter ‘S’ on their shell. The range of flavours has changed several times over the decades like many other Mars products, and variation flavours have also been sold such as Tropical and Wild Berry. Unlike other products under Mars Inc., there hasn’t been any major rebrands attached to Skittles. The name has never been changed and the branding remains recognisable decades apart.

The product was marketed a very specific way from the start, and was so successful it stuck. A rumour spread about the origins of the sweet that it was invented by a British confectioner who looked up at a rainbow and wondered how it would taste . The slogan – “Taste the rainbow” – wouldn’t be introduced until 1994, but the sweet has always had this colourful association which Wrigley’s marketers have loved to centre their campaigns around.

Somewhere Over the Skittles

Launched in 2007, Skittles’ advert was created by TBWA, Chiat and Day . The brand had already run a series of successful adverts, in terms of viewership and commercial impact, and audiences started to have high expectations from the brand.

According to the Art Director Craig Allen , “We wrote a lot of scripts [and] thought it would be funny to do a slightly sad spot for a candy brand .” Former GCD Ian Reichenthal said, “We had a lot of conversations with the guys in advance about trying out new voices, but still keeping it Skittles.” The brand guidelines were firmly in place for the creative team, unlike previous entries in the Advert Alchemy series who were looking to shake things up.

Skittles adverts often feature technically challenging shoot s, such as the one centred around a Skittles tree growing out of a human being. Recreating the powers of Midas also proved to be difficult :

“The effects in the spot had never been done before so we had a lot of technical problems, which made for a very long shoot day. So long in fact that the police came to try and shut us down during the last hours of shooting. Luckily, Tom (Kuntz) is a very smooth gentleman and persuaded them to let us finish.”

Their hard work paid off, and the Midas Touch advert was ranked as Creativity Online's most watched spot of 2007. But why was Skittles’ Midas Touch such a big hit?

Skittles Connection

Mesmerizing Mythology

Named for the myth that inspired the advert’s plot, the Midas Touch gives the main character Tim a superpower: everything he touches turns into Skittles . Yummy. On the other, everything he touches turns into Skittles. Yikes. This is a spin on the Greek myth of King Midas , who wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. Unfortunately, he didn’t think his wish through and Midas soon found he can’t eat. And when he tried to hug his daughter, he turned her into a gold statue.

This Greek myth remains popular in modern storytelling , which is why this fun spin on a well-known story worked so well. It also fits into the wider Skittles marketing strategy, which often uses the sweets in bizarre ways. In one advert, Bleachers , there is an outbreak which makes people break out in Skittles.

Snappy Slogan

“Taste the rainbow” was introduced as the Skittles slogan in 1994, but the marketing team have always kept this slogan adaptable and flexible . Usually it is accompanied with a tagline which can change to reflect the nature of the advert. In Midas Touch it’s “touch the rainbow, taste the rainbow” in reference to Tim’s superpower. In an advert featuring a tree which grows Skittles, the slogan is changed to “harvest the rainbow, taste the rainbow.”

The taglines use of verbs also reinforce that Skittles is an experience that the audience needs to actively participate in. Skittles isn’t just a snack, like the sweets aren’t just multicoloured. It’s a taste of the rainbow. And in the case of Midas, it’s as good as gold.

Cackling Comedy

Tim can’t hold his infant child, he can’t dress himself, or feed himself… then he tells the story of turning a man into Skittles that very day when they shook hands. Is that murder or manslaughter? Either way, Skittles’ Midas Touch is definitely running with dark comedy which helps make the advert even more memorable. Yet the plot is kept just light enough to avoid crossing into the macabre, by showing Tim’s power only used on inanimate objects.

Comedy is a staple of the Skittles brand , ranging from the bizarre to the grisly. They carry this over in all of their marketing, from adverts to their website. Customers now expect it of the brand, which has let the marketing team get ideas from well outside the box.

Content Worth Gold

What do you think? What made Skittles’ Midas Touch advert so successful? Watch the full advert below and let us know in the comments.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics and much more!

How Can You Tell if a Video is AI-Generated?

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 10:33:36 GMT

If you haven’t been duped by an AI video, you soon might be. The technology is rapidly improving , becoming more realistic by the day, and previous blunders – like Marvel’s AI-generated title sequence for Secret Invasion – might become long-forgotten history.

Pledges have been made to watermark content produced by AI, most recently by a coalition of big tech companies including Google, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon. And government bodies have suggested other measures might be taken in an effort to crack down on deepfakes and copyright infringement .

In the meantime, is there any way to detect if a video is AI-generated? Squideo have put a few tips together to help you out. In the meantime, if you want to support humans in this battle with AI – get in touch with Squideo today and we’ll make a video that’s perfect for you!

I Spy With My Robot Eye…

Like discerning fake news from genuine headlines, spotting AI-generated content takes concentration . There are a few things to look out for, but if you don’t look closely enough you could be fooled.

1. Painting with Watermarks

Some AI-generators already add watermarks to their content, such as DALL-E2 which places five coloured squares on every image downloaded from its website. Users of this site, and others like it, can get around this function however and the website doesn’t prohibit using their generated content without the watermark. They merely ask users to credit AI in their posts – of course there’s no way to verify if people do.

Other platforms, like Midjourney, don’t use watermarks at all.

2. Is That an Accurate Description?

Without a watermark, platforms like DALL-E2 are asking their users to be upfront and credit their technology. If you come across a video or image on social media, check the caption and comments . Users might tag the platform they used or use AI-themed hashtags. Or another user might recognise it’s AI-generated content and say so in the comments.

There are already accounts specialising in AI-generated content , so be sure to check out their profile too.

3. Living in the Uncanny Valley

Termed by a Japanese roboticist, Masahiro Mori, the uncanny valley is described as :

When the human likeness increases in an object’s design, so does a person’s affinity for the object – but only to a point. When the likeness nears total accuracy , affinity drops dramatically and it replaced by a feeling of eeriness or uncanniness .

Basically a cute toy robot designed for children seems cute. A human being is cute too. But a robot designed to look almost exactly like a human? It’s creepy. And that i nnate sense that something is wrong with the image you’re looking at is an ability that can help you detect AI-generated content. Some key things to look out for?

Objects, like glasses, blending into the skin
Faint background text that is indistinguishable
Mismatched objects
A blurred background that looks more like a texture
Asymmetry in the face of characters, like different sized eyes or off-centre mouths

4. Have We Met?

We’ve talked already about the lack of uniqueness amongst AI-generated content, with artists criticising the input of their artwork into these generators without their prior consent. Some companies are already facing copyright claims in court , the outcomes of which will help set a legal precedent for this emerging tool.

Because AI-generated images are never 100% unique, it’s possible to work out their origin by checking to see if they already exist elsewhere . How? Head over to Google Images or another search engine and type in a rough description of the content you saw – you might find similar pieces credited to AI or from an infringed artist. You can also click on a result and use the “find image source” button to trace its origins.

5. Call In the Pros

The last resort? Use a GAN detector . AI generators use Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN). Plugins, websites and apps are already in development to create GAN detectors which can identify GAN content. Their accuracy isn’t perfect , so it should be used in combination with other tips on this list, but like AI it’s quickly improving.

“As [AI] progressively goes out into the world, I think the most important thing is being able to detect what’s real and what’s not. Not so much by the human eye, but by services.” Ari Melenciano, 2023

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Ready to create a unique video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Case Study: Fourmost

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Fourmost is an accounting, marketing, legal and HR service, which provides businesses with the essential tools for growth and success. This new company was preparing for their official launch when they approached Squideo to make an introductory video about their services.

Read the case study below then check out their video at the end of the article!

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your project.

I’m Rick Gaskell, a joint partner of a new business start-up called Fourmost. We offer professional services that covers all the key areas that a business will require to succeed today. Our services are Accountancy, Marketing, Legal and Human Resources (HR).

New Paragraph

To successfully engage online customers it requires striking and easy to understand messages – business owners don’t want to have to scroll through paragraph after paragraph of text to understand what you’re offering. They want concise messages with a clear point of contact or call to action, which is why a video is perfect.

New Paragraph

We looked around at various companies that offered a similar service as Squideo. But after meeting Callum and his team, and looking at their previous work examples, Squideo came across as being very professional and approachable. After an initial chat, both my business partner and I felt that Squideo would be the team best placed to deliver for us – both creatively and on budget.

How did you find Squideo’s communication throughout the process?

Squideo were exceptional. The team were very accommodating and nothing was too much trouble for them.

Did you get the video you envisioned?

Yes, without question. We had an initial briefing session where we talked through all our requirements. An initial sequence was built very quickly. The Squideo team were very obliging with the changes that were made, and nothing seemed to be too much trouble – a real pleasure to work with.

What feedback have you received for the video?

We are just about to launch – so I’m hoping we’ll receive a great response!

A big thank you to Rick Gaskell at Fourmost for taking the time to answer our questions.

Get Started With Your Animated Video

Ready to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: Peugeot’s Potion

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:30:02 GMT

In this series, Squideo has examined the best ways to turn advertising content into gold. Now that we’ve broken down the eight key ingredients, it’s time to dive deep into some examples of stellar advertising . This week, the advert in question was picked by Squideo’s Account Director, Adam Shelton.

When asked why this Peugeot advert had become his favourite, Adam said: “It accomplished everything an advert is meant to. It’s memorable, it’s unique and it keeps the product front and centre. Plus the bit with the elephant is hilarious .”

The Peugeot Roars

You don’t need to be a driver to have heard of Peugeot. You’ll have encountered this French brand from buying your first bicycle to equipping your kitchen. Peugeot was founded in 1810 – over 200 years’ ago – by the Peugeot family who retained majority shares in the automotive company until 2014. Peugeot manufactured a vast variety of products in its early years, from hand-held saws to pepper grinders.

Eventually they branched out into bicycle production , car manufacturing and motorcycle making. Amazingly, they still continue to make kitchen tools under Peugeot Saveurs . Cycles Peugeot and Peugeot Motorcycles are also still on the go, and they make vehicles for motor racing events under Peugeot Sport . Up until 1986, they even had their own cycling team which won ten titles at the Tour de France .

Like many car manufacturers, Peugeot have acquired other brands and ownership of this company has changed hands repeatedly. In the 20 ^th century, Peugeot took over Hotchkiss , Chenard-Walcker , Citroën and Chrysler Europe . As of 2021, Peugeot is owned by Stellantis – a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation which was created after the merger of major American, French and Italian manufacturers. A member of the Peugeot family is part of Stellantis’ senior management, demonstrating the power and influence Peugeot has built and maintained since 1810.

2 Fast 2 Peugeot

Created by Euro RSCG of Milan-Italy , The Sculptor was released in 2003 to critical acclaim – winning numerous international awards. The car promoted in the advert, the Peugeot 206, was released in 1998 as a replacement of the 205 model. Within ten years , the 206 had become Peugeot’s best-selling car .

The advert was so popular that fifteen years later the BBC show Top Gear recreated it in celebration of the Peugeot 206’s anniversary. On its twentieth anniversary, Peugeot also released a recreation of the advert with the Peugeot 208 replacing the 206. To accomplish this, several months were spent at Ajeenkya D Y Patil University in 2002 where engineers painstakingly converted the Hindustan Ambassador.

In the advert, a motorist turns his Ambassador – an iconic Indian car that started life as a Morris Oxford – into a Peugeot 206. Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., who has since gone on to become the director of Netflix’s first Dutch film, The Sculptor is considered one of the best car adverts of all time .

According to the award-winning Creative Director Adrian Holmes:

“A film I’ve always loved is a commercial for the Peugeot 206 called ‘The Sculptor’, made by Euro RSCG Milan in 2002. You must know the one – the young Indian guy who gets an elephant to sit on his old jalopy (amongst other methods) so that it ends up looking like the car of his dreams. Everything about it – the story, the editing, the music, the casting – is simply frame perfect . Apart from anything else, it stands as a monument to the brave and imaginative client who said ‘yes’ to such a wonderful and daring piece of work.”

Peugeot Rides Again

The 206 went on to be Peugeot’s best-selling model of all time, and one of the most popular cars ever made. Like the product, the advert selling it also swept the award boards in 2003: winning at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity .

From the car’s release in 1998 to 2003 , the year of The Sculptor’s release, sales of the Peugeot 206 increased by 146 percent. But why was The Sculptor such a big hit?

Real Renovations

The protagonist of the advert starts out with a Hindustan Ambassador and ends up with a Peugeot 206: the car of his dreams . The audience's expectation, after seeing the Ambassador destroyed, is that a pristine Peugeot 206 would be rolled out at the end. But that doesn’t happen. This car is dented, pummelled, bashed… there’s nothing pristine about it. Yet the protagonist still gets the attention of everyone who sees his new (old) car.

The fact that this advert really turned a Hindustan Ambassador into a Peugeot 206 is part of the reason this advert became so memorable . If they’d used CGI or switched out the car, the advert would have been like any other that uses a product swap.

International Intrigue

The name Peugeot forms an instant connection to its heritage: the brand is undeniably French . Setting the advert in French countryside or on Parisian streets would be predictable. Instead, The Sculptor is set in an Indian city. Why? To show that the car belongs anyway. Can be desired by anyone. It has international appeal .

The setting is also the home of the Hindustan Ambassador, India’s most popular car which was manufactured from 1957 to 2014 and called the “King of Indian Roads.” Once it fell out of production, the car became wildly collectable – but eleven years earlier in 2003 they were still easy to come by. A popular everyday car ; much like the Peugeot 206. Stylistically, however, they’re worlds apart which is what made this a great before and after choice. The 206 was meant to be a new design for a new millennium, leaving behind the boxy style of the 20 ^th century.

Mood Music

The advert plays to the song Heaven Is A Place On Earth by Raja Mushtaq, later remixed as Husan by Bhangra Knights. This bhangra dance song ended up charting , made it on Now That’s What I Call Music! 55 , and sold over 20 million copies. Bhangra dance music is a non-traditional Punjabi music originating in British-Asian communities. It first emerged in the 1970s, seeing a resurgence in the 2000s that Peugeot got ahead of with its music choice.

This upbeat song only briefly appears after the protagonist successfully converts his Hindustan Ambassador into the Peugeot 206 and the non-traditional bhangra music symbolises the successful alteration of the vehicle.

Content Worth Gold

What do you think? What made Peugeot’s The Sculptor advert so successful? Watch the full advert below and let us know in the comments.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

FAQ: How to Choose the Right Animation Style for Your Video

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Animation provides an overwhelming horizon of possibilities, which is why it’s beloved by producers. Anything can happen in an animated video , and it can look however you want it to.

In the face of unlimited style choices, it can be hard to know what’s right for you which is why Squideo is breaking down our five most frequently asked questions about animation styles to help you make this tricky choice. Let’s dive in!

01. Is Animation Right for My Industry?

Animation can work for anyone, so long as you choose the right style for your brand . Company branding is the most important factor when choosing your video’s animation style. Look at your existing content : does it use characters? Or icons? Does it mix live-action footage with animation?

02. Do Adults Want to Watch an Animated Video?

Animation is entertaining for people of all ages and is excellent at capturing audience attention and conveying your message. Memory is improved by 92% when watching an animated video when compared to a talking head video, which is brilliant when you want your video to explain complex concepts. Additionally, many adults like animation . In 2018, Cartoon Network reported that 60% of its audience was aged between 18 and 49.

Animation remains a favoured tool by marketers, companies and educators alike. However, there is a difference between animation and cartoons . There are more mature styles of animation, such as icon-based and isometric projection animation, which could be more appealing to an older audience .

03. What Animation Styles Can Squideo Produce?

Character-Driven Animation. Squideo’s Video Producers expertly craft animated characters using our in-house cartoon animation software. Character design depends on the client’s preference.
Icon-Based Animation. If characters don’t feel right for your brand but you still want a visual representation of ideas or concepts, icon-based animation is a great alternative. The icons, like characters, can be designed in a range of styles to suit your brand.
Isometric Projection Animation. By adding the illusion of depth, perspective rendering and playing with dimensions, this animation style adds a three-dimensional quality to your video. Isometric projection lends itself nicely to videos for construction and design industries.
Line Animation. With the illusion of smooth motion and animation, you can better set the mood and create an engaging, powerful story that truly captures your audience by employing line animation in your video.
Screencast. A screencast is a video recording taken from a computer or mobile, overlayed with animation and audio. This is a great way to show off software and apps to potential users as it lets them explore with the narrator as their guide.
Stock-Footage Animation. With access to millions of commercially licensed clips, Squideo also produce videos that blend animation with stock footage, eliminating the need for filming. Alternatively, the client can send us specific footage.

04. Does the Animation Style Affect How Long My Video Can Be?

Your video, your choice! Squideo has produced videos from ten seconds to over one hour . It can be as long as you want, however, if you want to keep the project affordable it may be worth considering screencast and stock-footage animation to drive down the cost of producing a fully-animated video. A typical Squideo project is five minutes or less , which is created within 4-8 weeks, so if you’re planning something longer you may need to factor in a longer production period.

05. How Large Are Animated Video Files?

Typically, animated video files are larger than recorded video. But the final size of your video file will depend on a few factors:

Video length
Resolution (i.e., SD, HD, 4K)
Compression tool
Frames per second (FPS)

The number of animation layers is another consideration. A video with animated backgrounds, multiple characters and scenery overlaid will come to a larger file size than a static background with animated text. Squideo can compress your video files if requested and we transfer the final files via WeTransfer to get around the support limitations of most email providers.

When it comes to uploading your video, the majority of sites will support it. On YouTube, the maximum file size is 256GB or twelve hours , whichever is less. Some social media channels will not accept videos over a certain file size or length – for example, Twitter only supports videos up to two hours long, and that is only accessible to paid users. For the rest of us, the limit is 140 seconds.

Get Started With Your Video

Ready to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

The Power of Animation: How Animated Videos Can Boost Your Brand's Marketing Strategy

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Businesses, from small start-ups to mass conglomerates, use animated videos. These can be deployed in a variety of ways, but they are perhaps most successfully employed in marketing campaigns.

There is a long history of animation in advertising, in fact the first animated advert can be traced back to 1914 (although some people argue this advert could be dated back to as early as 1899). While the early animation style of Matches: An Appeal is rudimentary and stilted by twenty-first century standards, it is telling that advertisers knew so early in the media marketing game how effective animation could be .

2023 is on track to be a difficult year for businesses, as the UK is expected to see the biggest fall in spending power for 70 years due to rising energy bills and growing cost of living expenses ( BBC, 2023 ). Deloitte Insights, which annually surveys over 1,000 of the world’s leading brands, reported that many companies are looking for ways to reduce marketing budgets , whilst employing innovative digital technologies and platforms to remain on trend in a rapidly changing online world.

Video has continued to grow in popularity throughout the years, especially since the adoption of social media by half of the world’s population . Currently, 91% of businesses use video as a marketing tool – and 55% have created or commissioned animated videos ( Wyzowl, 2023 ). Animation, especially 2D animation, is a fantastic money saver – which is cheaper to produce compared to 3D animation and live-action. Could 2023 see a trend for animated marketing content?

Alternatively, listen to or watch The Power of Animation below!

To Cut Marketing or Not To Cut Marketing: That Is Not The Question

During economic hardship, businesses have to assess where to spend and where to save money. The marketing department is often at risk – as businesses weigh up whether to increase spend to gain customers or decrease the budget to mitigate profit loss.

B2B companies typically spend between 2-5% of their revenue on marketing, while B2C invest a higher proportion – between 5-10%. The economic climate has already had an impact on revenue, particularly for small businesses. Four in five small business owners in the UK reported that they are worried about how the cost of living crisis is affecting them . A drop in revenue means it may still be necessary to trim the marketing budget – but don’t slash it to ribbons!

A large short-term reduction in your marketing strategy can have long-term impacts. If your content on social media dries up and adverts stop running, not only will your conversions drop, but it will be harder to bounce back once the economy improves and your business is ready to reinvest in its marketing strategies. It’s important to maintain your strategy, however this looks for a business of your size. Keep posting on social media, run adverts , and share videos.

Since Wyzowl began its data collection in 2016, 2023 has seen the highest response for businesses using video as a marketing tool (91%) , and rating video as an ‘important part’ of their marketing strategy (96%).

At a time when marketing budgets may be reduced, the cost of producing video may cause a shift in these statistics as the year progresses. Currently, 42% of video marketers spend on average less than $500 on the production of a video . The more a video costs, the less businesses invest in this resource.

Fortunately there is another option: animation .

Animated characters can also do things that would be impossible in live-action, making it a powerful storytelling medium . If your business’ logo is a character, animation can bring them to life in a way live-action couldn’t. Animation offers a vast variety of styles and techniques , which means these videos can be tailored to reflect your brand.

Blast Off Your Brand With an Animated Lift-Off

In a 2022 survey of clients who had commissioned an animated video, Sparkol reported 89% thought animated videos were worth the investment in time and money and 90% said they were highly effective in their work. This is because animated videos are excellent at capturing the audience’s attention and create a long-lasting impression : memory is improved by 92% from an animated video when compared to a talking head video.

The most commonly requested animated video remains the whiteboard style, however, as previously inaccessible animation styles become less expensive – such as 3D animation – there is greater diversity in the styles chosen. With the advent of AI generated content , this accessibility could become even greater.

AI is already deployed by high-end and free video editing apps, however, complete AI video creation is currently unavailable. Apps like Synthesia can only make AI-driven changes to existing footage, but the next step could come soon. Considering the current debate on copyright infringements , however, only time will tell how this pans out and how economically accessible these tools will be.

There are plenty of tools on the market to make your own animated video, although a video production company creates higher quality animation and, in the long run, it usually works out cheaper .

There are three key reasons why animation resonates with its audience , which is why you should consider adding animated video to your marketing strategy:

Squideo has touched on the art of brand storytelling before and animated videos are fantastic at amplifying the power of your brand . Animation, unlike live-action, is easy to customise which means the entire video can be reflective of your company branding such as the inclusion of your logo and colour palette. Consistency should be maintained between each video you create , so viewers of the video can immediately connect it to your brand.

The beauty of animated videos is, as long as the customisable files are maintained, it’s easy to change. If your company rebrands five years down the line, old content can easily be modified to match your new look. Try doing that with live-action videos!

Animated videos create faster and stronger connections between brands and their target audiences than static images. It leaves less to the imagination, shares your message , captivates viewers, and tells your story more effectively.

Year by year, more marketing strategies deploy videos . This trend is tied to the growth of video views. In 2022, the average person watched nineteen hours’ worth of videos per week . This has fallen slightly in 2023 to seventeen hours, although this was anticipated post-lockdowns.

According to Wyzowl (2023), 95% of marketers said that video marketing helped them increase brand awareness . It also generates leads (90%), increases traffic (91%), and boosts sales conversion (87%).

Once your animated video is created, it can be shared far and wide from mass to direct marketing:

Adverts. Whether it’s going on TV, a billboard, social media platform, or website banner, animated videos are great eye-catchers .
Emails. Embed your video directly into an email . Your mailing list doesn’t even have to leave their inbox to watch it.
GIFs. Choose a snippet of the video to create your own GIF . These can be added to sites like GIPHY and used by your customers.
Social Media Posts. Remember to customise the dimensions of your video to suit landscape and reel formatting.
Onboarding for employees and customers. Introduce people to your brand with a video. It’s more engaging than a handbook!

Whoomp! (That’s Your Video)

To create the right video for your marketing strategy, it’s important to align your initial project plan to your marketing goals . Who is your audience? What do you want them to do after watching your video? How should the video make them feel?

Identify your S.M.A.R.T goals early on. This will help track the success of your animated video once it has been released onto your chosen platform.

S pecific,

M easurable,

A chievable,

R elevant, and

T ime-Bound.

Video marketers often use several other KPIs to track the success of their video. These include click-through rates (CTR), subscriber and follower numbers, social shares and bounces. An important KPI to look at, especially before creating new content, is the video watch time .

45% of people who watch the first three seconds of a video will keep watching for at least thirty seconds – which is the minority of viewers. If your watch time is below this average, there’s something about your video that’s failing to catch the audiences’ attention during this critical three second window. Within a few seconds, your audience should ideally know who made the video (that’s where your branding comes in) and what the video is about (so they know if it’s relevant to them).

By breaking down two of Squideo’s latest videos, we’ll explore some of the key intentions behind these animation campaigns and gain insight into the marketing strategy of these companies.

Inntravel | The Slow Holiday People

The team at Inntravel specialise in self-guided cycling and walking holiday packages, however sales was not the main focus of their video . Instead, they needed an explainer video . Through discussions with their sales team and existing customers, Inntravel found a lot of its target demographic audience did not understand what a self-guided holiday was.

Before they could sell their package holidays, Inntravel needed a video which explained what a self-guided holiday is and what its benefits are. Their production brief asked for a video that could be shared by their sales and customer service teams, and uploaded to their social media accounts.

Bleach Cyber | Cybersecurity… simply!

Compared to Inntravel, this video for Bleach Cyber is all about the sale. This new software company , founded in 2022, wanted to build brand and product awareness fast – which is why their production brief specified the need for a bold, branding-heavy video. They needed to get their mission and values across, establishing their brand for a successful future.

Bleach Cyber is all about innovation, but, since their company is new, animation worked better for them than live-action . Features that may change in design could be demonstrated through simplified animation, and their concept was conveyed through icons rather than footage of their growing team or offices.

Key Insights Into Animated Video Marketing in 2023

Marketing strategies could look different in 2023, as the UK economy continues to struggle with the cost of living crisis and high energy prices.

The UK is expected to see the biggest fall in spending power for 70 years in 2023 ( BBC, 2023 ).
Four in five British small business owners are worried about the cost of living crisis ( Simply Business, 2023 ).
B2B companies typically spend between 2-5% of their revenue on marketing, while B2C invest between 5-10% ( BDC, 2019 ).

Companies tend to cut marketing budgets during a recession, but firms that maintain their marketing spend typically fare better ( Harvard Business Review, 2020 ).

While video continues to be a central tenant to the majority of business marketing strategies , as companies look for ways to save money, animation could start becoming more popular than live-action in 2023.

In 2023, 91% of businesses plan to use video as a marketing tool and 96% rate video as an ‘important part’ of their marketing strategy ( Wyzowl, 2023 ).
66% of videos created by businesses are live-action ( Wyzowl, 2023 ).
In 2022, 89% of surveyed clients thought animated videos were worth the investment in time and money, and 90% said they were highly effective in their work ( Sparkol, 2022 ).

Not only is animation, on average, cheaper than creating a live-action video, but animated videos are also excellent at capturing audience attention and creating a long-lasting impression.

Memory is improved by 92% when watching an animated video when compared to a talking head video ( Richard Lowe, 2004 ).
60% of Cartoon Network’s audience was aged between 18 and 49 ( Statista, 2018 ).
In 2023, the average person watches seventeen hours of video per week, down from nineteen hours in 2022 ( Wyzowl, 2023 ).
45% of people who watch the first three seconds of a video will keep watching for at least thirty seconds (HubSpot, 2022).

Identify your S.M.A.R.T goals , then it’s time to get started.

Conclusion

Squideo creates professional, goal-orientated and powerful animated videos that entertain, educate and engage your target audience.

We're an independent, UK-based animated video production company. Since 2015, our in-house creative team have produced over 5000 explainer videos for every industry imaginable ; everything from shiny ultra-corporate pitches, to cartoons and everything in between!

We take key information, then support and guide you through a unique creative process , resulting in a professional quality explainer video that looks great and sends exactly the right message.

Squideo carefully crafts each video to be unique to your goals without the hefty price tag, and supports you through the process to help you generate the best possible ROI . That’s why Squideo is trusted by leading brands across the world.

Ready to create an animated video for your company? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Sources

Allie Decker, HubSpot . ‘What is Branding? Understanding its Importance in 2023’ [June 2023]. Link .
Anon, insivia . ‘2023 Report: Most Important Marketing Stats in the Software & SaaS Industry’ [May 2023]. Link .
Anon, Sparkol . ‘The State of Animation: 2022 Report’ [February 2022]. Link .
Anon, Wyzowl . ‘Video Marketing Statistics 2023’ [May 2023]. Link .
Dave Chaffey, SmartInsights . ‘Global social media statistics research summary 2023’ [May 2023]. Link .
George T. Doran, Management Review . ‘There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives’ [November 1981].
Katie Denlinger et al, DeLoitte Insights . ‘Global Marketing Trends 2023: Resilient seeds for growth’ [January 2023]. Link .
Kristen McCormick, WordStream . ’75 Staggering Video Marketing Statistics’ [April 2022]. Link .
Nirmalya Kumar & Koen Pauwels, Harvard Business Review . ‘Don’t Cut Your Marketing Budget in a Recession’ [August 2020]. Link .

5 Essential Tips for Creating Engaging Animated Videos

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:30:00 GMT

You need a video that wows your audience, something that captures their attention from the get-go and holds it throughout, leaving them with a memorable impression of your business.

Squideo has broken down our strategy for creating the perfect animated video, ensuring your content hits all the right notes, and we’re sharing our secret to success . Read on for our five essential tips, or get your free quote from Squideo and our Production Manager will guide you through our production process which ensures you get the perfect animated video .

01. Conduct Market Research

Whether we’re giving advice about animation, adverts or corporate videos, this Squideo tip will always come first. Know your audience . Who are they? What’s their demographic (e.g., age, ethnicity, buying power)? Why do they need your service or product? Where will they see your video?

Market research needs to start early in the video production process, it cannot be an afterthought. It will inform the style, messaging, and distribution of your video. Consider who, where, what, why and how . If you have created videos before, assess what failed and what succeeded. Talk to your customers to discover what they want to know. Compare your business to its main competitors; what kind of videos are they creating?

02. A Simple Message

Too many cooks ruin the broth, and too many messages overwhelms the average viewer. When only 45% of people who watch the first three seconds of a video will keep watching the next thirty seconds, you’re fighting an uphill battle for their attention. It’s a doom scroll world, and your message is just one amongst millions.

To choose the right message for your video , think about your ideal outcomes. This will inform the message of your video. And remember, if you’re producing a short video – say thirty seconds – you should try to stick to one clear message instead of cramming in several. Find the right message by asking yourself:

What do you want the viewer to do after watching your video?
How should they feel?
What impression do you want them to have of your business?

03. Voiceover and Subtitles

If you do use a voiceover, add subtitles . It keeps your content accessible, and it can also boost your on-page SEO. If you are hosting the video on your own website, simply upload the SRT alongside your video and reap the benefits. If you are unable to host the video file, you can embed a video via third-party hosting (such as YouTube ) and include a written transcript within your web page copy.

04. Keep in Time

At this point in the process, you should know what the purpose of your video is. This will help you decide how long it should be. Vidyard reports that 68% of people would watch a video in full as long as it lasts a minute or less . This figure drops by 18% if a video is 61 to 120 seconds long. If you think a longer video is needed, be sure your audience feels the same way. There’s little point investing the time and money in producing an animated video if it’s never watched.

For a general audience, it’s best to keep videos under 2 minutes in length . If you’re targeting a more specific group, however, a longer video may work better. For example, viewers are more likely to watch a long explainer or educational video than a long product advert. To help retain audience attention, add interactive elements to your videos such as a short quiz or question prompt.

05. The Right Animation

The final essential step in creating your engaging animated video, is to produce something that is visually stimulating . This is closely connected to our first tip: conducting market research. You need to understand your audience before you can choose the right visual style for them . There are more animation styles available than we could list but, broadly, Squideo breaks down animation into six categories to simplify the process for our clients.

Character-driven animation
Icon-based animation
Isometric projection animation
Line animation
Screencast
Stock-footage animation

A quality video producer will guide your animation choices, explaining which styles appeal to different video genres and audience demographics.

Get Started With Your Animated Video

Ready to create a unique animated video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Will AI Replace Video Production Companies?

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 14:22:50 GMT

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the hot topic in every industry, as experts and commentators speculate how this rapidly evolving technology will change the future of work ; and humanity.

However the water cooler exists at your job – maybe you’re playing it retro and still have an actual water cooler in your physical office – people are gathering around it to ask if you’ve tried ChatGPT yet, if AI will result in a shorter work week, or if the robots are coming for us Skynet-style. While there is nothing to suggest artificial intelligence has become sentient, the line between reality and science fiction is blurring .

Where does this leave people working in industries like video production? Will AI replace us, or will it become another tool in our utility belts?

This Just In

News headlines surrounding artificial intelligence are constantly fluctuating, and the biggest topics of conversation can be forgotten only a week later once something new eclipses it.

AI is progressing so rapidly , it’s hard for experts to say with any degree of certainty where it may take us, but that doesn’t stop everyone having an opinion on what will happen next. At the time of writing in June 2023, here is an overview of the leading artificial intelligence headlines:

Sam Altman, creator of ChatGPT, says AI poses an “existential risk” to humanity.
The United Kingdom will host the first global summit on artificial intelligence safety (date TBA).
The Beatles are back, as AI creates brand new songs from the Fab Four.
The European Union (EU) asks social media companies, including Google and Facebook, to label AI-generated content.
The latest AI trend is to expand famous paintings, creating more content but no art.

Read this article again in July and half of this will be old news. Or a reunited Beatles, half of whom are back from the grave, will become an acceptable reality. Really, it’s anyone’s guess.

Are You Sure That’s Legal?

Artificial intelligence is not entirely new in video production. AI has been used already for image manipulation and content editing. As the power of AI grows, however, it comes with the potential to create imagery from vast datasets . Seemingly making something from scratch, like a human would.

In May 2023, Adobe added an AI-powered image generator called Adobe Firefly to Photoshop. The software is promised to turn your wildest dream into an amazing image in seconds, but how is this image made? Rival software, such as Stability AI , have already faced legal action over the creation of their images. Groups like Getty Images claim Stability’s artificial intelligence generates content using existing images, or combining multiple images from the dataset its creator uploaded, which infringes their copyright .

Individuals using AI for personal use have a lot more legal freedoms than companies using AI to create images and videos for commercial use. Companies have to consider the copyright of the matter, and this is a huge ongoing debate that could take years to resolve.

As noted in the Berne Convention , an international treaty on copyright, copyright protection operates “for the benefit of the author and [their] successors in title” – the assumption being that there is a human creator. This has been affirmed in the US in the now famous “monkey selfie” dispute, during which both the Copyright Office and the courts found that animals could not hold copyright.

The absence of a human creator in respect of AI-generated content therefore presents obstacles to the subsistence of copyright in the output that is generated.

INFORMATION AGE, JUNE 2023

If a company uses AI to create a video, do they have ownership of it? Could the company face legal penalties if the AI is found to have used existing images and the artists’ sue, or is that a risk for the AI creator? Will users want to watch AI created content when there is such a big debate surrounding art and humanity; remember, the EU is campaigning for social media channels to put a label on AI content.

The simple answer is, we don’t know .

That’s a lot of potential legal issues and, because AI is evolving rapidly, there’s no clear answers. The earliest cases of these disputes are still ongoing, which means there’s little legal precedent to inform companies who are assessing how AI can help them with content creation.

Working with a video production company removes the uncertainty . Video production companies, like Squideo, give clients full ownership of the video once it’s created – meaning the video can be shared as widely as the company wants and, if it is replicated, the company can claim copyright.

Judgement Day?

In 2023 , 91% of businesses plan to use video as a marketing tool and 96% rate video as an ‘important part’ of their marketing strategy. There is growing demand for short videos, perfect for sharing to reels and stories on social media. Implementing AI in the video production process can speed things up and lower the cost.

ChatGPT can accelerate the scriptwriting process by providing a foundation to build upon – though it’s best not to rely entirely on AI writing generators just yet, as it’s still making a variety of mistakes . Voiceovers can be supplied by AI instead of recording artists too, as the technology has made artificial voices significantly more life-like. Although they’re less directable than voiceover artist , and not necessarily cheaper.

Video production companies like Squideo create your animated video from scratch , ensuring complete one-of-a-kindness. That doesn’t mean we can’t benefit from AI tools – but we’re not about to become obsolete either.

Ready to create a unique video of your own? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Behind the Scenes: The Animation Process from Concept to Final Product

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:30:00 GMT

You can be as hands on as you want when creating an animated video with Squideo. All you need to get started is an idea , and our team will turn this into something ink-redible!

Our unique nine-step video production process offers free revisions at every stage , giving you as much or as little creative input as you want. Once the video is complete, you own the full commercial rights to the final video; but let’s rewind. Where does this nine-step process start?

Visit our ‘Quick Quote’ form and give us a basic overview of your project and video requirements. The form asks for key project information, which means we can send an ultra-competitive quote as soon as possible.

You can also upload a brief or script if you already have one. If you don’t, don’t worry about it. Squideo offers a variety of additional add-on services for a video project, which includes scriptwriting, subtitles and thumbnail creation. Use the ‘Quick Quote’ form to identify what you’re project needs, what it has, and what it’s missing.

Once Squideo has received your form, our Account Director Adam Shelton will be in touch. Adam creates a tailored quote breakdown , ensuring a competitive price for an amazing video; guaranteed to meet your requirements. As your first point of contact , Adam is also there to offer advice and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Happy with your quote? If you’re ready to get started, choose one of our flexible payment options . Adam will then brief our Production Manager, Callum Major, about your project.

Callum is your main point of contact throughout production and will initially send over voiceover samples and a request for any supporting information to help the team understand the concept and goals for your video. He will schedule a kick-off meeting between your team and Squideo to discuss the production timeline. One of our Creative Directors will attend, either Ben or Hannah, as well as our Copywriter if you require professional scriptwriting services .

If you have any questions, concerns or amends, you can get in touch with Callum at any point during the animation process.

Our professional scriptwriting services are optional, so you may choose to skip this step . Squideo’s experienced Copywriter not only creates unique scripts for her clients however, but Emily also revises existing copy to ensure it fits the word count for your video length.

It’s important to get the message of your video right, so there’s no limit to the amount of revisions you get during the scriptwriting stage. Emily will work with you to make sure it’s a true reflection of your creative vision.

The Creative Director who attended the kick-off meeting will take responsibility for storyboarding your video once the script has been completed. Feel free to give as much input for the visual direction that you want . Squideo is completely flexible; we can fill in the gaps or take the creative reigns entirely if you would prefer.

The script is broken down into scenes, and the Creative Director will add detailed animation notes alongside each section. Like the script, you have unlimited revisions at this stage of the process.

Once the storyboard has been signed off, our brilliant Producers take over. They’ll create a visual concept for you to review, which shows the style of the video. A frame for each scene in the storyboard will be created, giving you an idea of the visual flow the video will take.

If you don't like our first attempt, don’t worry. We offer 100% free revisions to the first draft of your visualisation , so send us as many changes as you require and we will make these for you. If any of the specified changes we made are not quite what you envisioned, we’ll revise these changes again – free of charge.

Our talented team of Producers will then get to work creating your video. They'll keep in mind your goals and target audience to create an engaging video.

Like the visualisation stage, you’ll get another free set of unlimited visual revisions for the first draft. If they’re not quite what you envisioned, we’ll re-revise the specified changes again in the second draft. Extra revisions may incur additional fees, which will be explained by the Production Manager .

Once you approve your video, Callum will send your media pack . This includes your HD MP4 video and any extras or alternate versions you requested – such as subtitled versions or different dimension sizes for social media channels.

You’ll own the final version of your video , you’ll have commercial rights and you can distribute this wherever you like, for as long as you want. Squideo shares client examples on our YouTube channel and website , however, Callum will always seek your permission beforehand.

Come back any time for updates to your video. We store your editable files on our system for up to 24 months . If your video needs updating or you need any different versions of your video we're at your service!

Future content is generally more efficient to produce once we have an established style for your brand too, which means a faster turnaround.

Create a Video With Squideo

Ready to create a subtitled marketing video for your brand? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: Thinkbox's Trick

Mon, 29 May 2023 07:30:00 GMT

In this series, Squideo has examined the best ways to turn advertising content into gold. Now that we’ve broken down the eight key ingredients, it’s time to dive deep into some examples of stellar advertising . This week, the advert in question was picked by Squideo’s Video Producer, Lesley Ovington.

When asked why this Thinkbox advert had become her favourite, Lesley said: “I love the entire series with Harvey because it’s so funny. I also had a Jack Russell Terrier growing up, and these adverts always reminded me of him. The entire series is great but the first one, Every Home Needs a Harvey , remains the best .”

101 Thinkbox

Thinkbox is unlike other companies analysed in this series, as it’s a marketing body for commercial television in the United Kingdom. Since 2005, Thinkbox has existed to manage the advertising for British TV channels and help businesses marketing on these networks meet their marketing objectives .

It’s shareholders are four major UK television networks : Channel 4 , ITV , Sky Media and UKTV . As the trade body for these hugely popular networks, Thinkbox has needed to think outside the box when enticing businesses to advertise . All of these channels have hugely successful shows linked to them, and the advertising produced by Thinkbox had to match the creative energy of its shareholders.

Raining Cats and Thinkbox

Made with Red Brick Road , the advertising agency behind the iconic ‘Every Little Helps’ Tesco slogan, Thinkbox aired its Every Home Needs a Harvey advert in 2010 – five years after the trade body was created and was still relatively unknown to the general public. Every Home Needs a Harvey was only their second television advert ever; the first also made by Red Brick Road . According to the agency , the brief from Thinkbox was to educate media planners and marketing directors about the power of TV advertising .

“‘Harvey’ was born – a resourceful, talented dog, who uses TV to tell stories and to persuade. His first TV outing, created by us in 2010, was voted Ad of the Year by ITV1 viewers . TV ad revenues reached a record £5bn in 2014 , continuing 5 years of successive growth.”

Television has seen a lot of competition in recent years as an advertising destination, especially as more viewers move away from television to advert-free streaming platforms . Comparatively cheaper adverts can also be run on social media , with algorithms used to ensure it ends up in front of the ideal demographic for your product. As Red Brick Road proves, however, revenue can still be generated from television adverts. Businesses invested £1.2 billion GBP in television advertising in 2021, a 42% increase in spending compared to 2020. With the cost-of-living crisis forcing consumers to unsubscribe from costly streaming services, this revenue may grow further as viewers return to public networks like Channel 4 and ITV.

Thinkbox & Me

ITV1 viewers named Every Home Needs a Harvey Ad of the Year in 2010, and Red Brick Road went on to produce two additional Harvey adverts for Thinkbox between 2010 and 2014 . The advert was clearly popular when it aired, but that was thirteen years ago . What was it about this advert that stuck in the memories of so many people?

Super Sell

Show don’t tell. That’s what Thinkbox accomplished by running Every Home Needs a Harvey . What better way to demonstrate the power of advertising than to create an advert about advertising . In the advert, Harvey presents a video to his potential adopters which sells the idea of choosing him amongst the line up of rescue dogs. The other dogs look cute, but the video shows everything else Harvey can offer.

To marketers watching the advert, it also showed what television marketing still had to offer . Times have changed, and mass public adverts are no longer constrained to intermission breaks, newspapers and billboards. As we explored in Advert Alchemy: The Location , modern marketers have an overwhelming choice of advertising destinations from social media to video games to eggs (that’s not a typo, CBS put adverts on eggs in 2006, go read the blog if you haven’t already). But television adverts haven’t been chased off the stage, advertisers just need to be more creative to attract attention away from phone screens.

Heavenly Harvey

The star of the advert, Harvey, was played by Sykes , a dog actor who appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl , Young Victoria and Doctor Who , as well as other notable films and television shows. In the year of his debut advert, he also acted in a John Smith’s Brewery advert alongside Peter Kay.

In the wake of the advert , Sykes’ Facebook page had 11,600 friends and he was getting offers to open pet shops around the country. Not bad for a rescue dog. He eventually retired in 2016 after going deaf, ending Thinkbox’s Harvey adverts in the process. Because who could follow such a good boy ?

Monumental Music

Set to the 1974 song You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet by Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the audience – like Harvey’s potential adopters – are quickly hooked into watching the advert. Like Cadbury’s Gorilla advert , the choice of such a popular song cannot be underestimated in the success of this advert.

The song peaked at number 2 in the UK singles charts the year of its release, beaten to the top by a Christmas song ( Lonely This Christmas , Mud), which surprised the band who had been reluctant to release the song . You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet was introduced to a new generation in the mid-2000s thanks to one of Thinkbox’s shareholders: ITV . The network used the song for several years during its coverage of Formula One grand prix races , which reignited sales of this insanely catchy single thirty years after its release.

Content Worth Gold

What do you think? What made Thinkbox’s Every Home Needs a Harvey advert so successful? Watch the full advert below and let us know in the comments.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

Advert Alchemy: Sorcerer Scrub Daddy

Mon, 22 May 2023 07:30:00 GMT

In this series, Squideo has examined the best ways to turn advertising content into gold. Now that we’ve broken down the eight key ingredients, it’s time to dive deep into some examples of stellar advertising . This week, the advert in question was picked by Squideo’s Video Producer, Adam Leveson.

Released in February 2023, this is the most modern advert picked for the series so far. When asked why he picked this particular advert, Adam said: “I find Scrub Daddy’s adverts fascinating, as they’re specifically made for a Gen Z audience. They’re high energy with a chaotic nature, the ads even include memes. I think it’s the perfect way to capture people’s attention, but it also shows how much advertising has changed over the years.”

Good Rockin’ Scrub Daddy

A modern company for a modern advert. Scrub Daddy entered the market in 2012 after an appearance by its founder, Aaron Krause, on the American business reality TV programme Shark Tank . The episode in question, which sparked a bidding war between the Sharks, has over 12 million views on the official Shark Tank Global YouTube page since it was uploaded in 2022. That’s a lot of interest shown for a cleaning product.

Scrub Daddy became one of the top grossing products to ever feature on the show and now sells internationally. Its marketing strategy played a massive part in this accomplishment, capitalising on the fun and brightly coloured branding to create an advertising campaign which would appeal to Gen Z.

While the younger members of Gen Z may not be high income earners – yet – since they’re still in school, the influence of Gen Z on household shopping cannot be underestimated . 80% of parents say Gen Z influences their buying decisions and, since the number of people living with their parents into their twenties continues to grow, that has a significant long-term impact.

There is also a growing interest amongst Gen Z and millennials in environmental sustainability – 64% reported they would pay more for a sustainable product – which benefits brands like Scrub Daddy which are designed to be reusable. 85% rely on social media to learn about new products. And where does Scrub Daddy focus most of its marketing campaigns, I hear you ask? On social media .

Scrub Daddy Cool

If you’ve been on TikTok, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered at least one video created by or targeted at ‘cleantokers.’ The accompanying hashtag has been used over 2.7 million times on TikTok , and has racked up even more views on the platform. This content combines formats already popular on social media, including how-to and ASMR videos.

The winners for this trend are household-themed influences and, you guessed it, cleaning companies.

Scrub Daddy has numerous social media accounts , predominantly active on TikTok and Instagram, and additional accounts for its international branches like Scrub Daddy UK and Scrub Daddy Mexico.

Unlike the other guests on Advert Alchemy, all of Scrub Daddy’s advertising is created in-house instead of outsourcing to an agency . Their advertising campaign isn’t as grandiose as Disney’s or haunting like Crusha’s , in fact Scrub Daddy adverts have an obvious home-made feel. Rapid shots are overlaid with animated text and symbols, a voiceover or music, and interjected with memes.

My Heart Belongs to Scrub Daddy

The Damp Duster advert went viral on TikTok, and this Scrub Daddy product sold out numerous times . It was further promoted by influencers and content creators who were already in the ‘cleantokers’ crowd. But what made the advert – and therefore product sales – so successful?

Hijinx Humour

From the title of the Damp Duster advert – “WTF IS A DAMP DUSTER?!?” – and the reputation of the brand, fun was to be expected from the outset. No wonder the video has over 1 million views on YouTube . Creating a funny advert is a delicate balancing act. According to Ipsos , 81% of consumers like it when brands use humour, but only 28% report brands connecting with their comedic sensibilities.

By staying active on social media, Scrub Daddy has been able to track what comedy styles resonate with their chosen audience and what current popular culture they can replicate to their benefit. The Damp Duster uses texting slang, attention-grabbing voiceovers, sparing sound effects, and avoids the use of technical language to keep the video accessible for people beyond the ‘cleantoking’ world. Not to mention the effective use of…

Meme Madness

There has been a rapid growth in the use of memes in advertising over the past five years. Easy to create, highly engageable, and very funny – memes can be great. Provided you choose the right one. Like all trends, some remain classics, while others fall in and out of fashion. Take the Bernie Saunders mittens meme of 2021. It was timely, related to a presidential election, and was utilised to great success throughout that year. By 2023, however, the reference has become dated .

In the Damp Duster advert, the Rock eyebrow meme briefly appears. Given the superstar status of Dwayne Johnson, it was always going to be a safe choice . It adds humour to the product demonstration, a video topic that can easily become dry (even when it’s pre-dampened like the Damp Duster is).

Product Performance

The central feature of this advert is the demonstration of its starring product . The Damp Duster is part of Scrub Daddy’s twenty strong range, and the advert perfectly sets out the unique selling points of this newest member of the family. From unboxing to use, the narrator and footage provides a clear how-to-guide for customers who pick up the product.

Here the lack of special effects in filming pays off, as none of this looks staged. Companies have been criticised in the past for depicting products in more flattering lights than reality would produce. Instead, Scrub Daddy’s advert builds consumer trust and interest in the product . Their depiction is also verified by the numerous ‘cleantokers’ who filmed their own product demos.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

10 Ways to Use Video Animation

Thu, 18 May 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Will you look at that Squideo video you’ve got there. Wow! What a thing of beauty. Something that inkredible deserves to be shown off , but how?

Read on for Squideo’s top ten ways to use video animation to benefit your business . Alternatively, get in touch with our team and our marketing specialist can give you advice on how to optimise your video’s results.

01. Website

Whether it’s on your landing page or serving another function on your website, such as an FAQ answer, a video is a great way to capture the attention of visitors to your site. Statistics indicate that embedding videos on landing pages can increase conversion rates by up to 80% . Your animated video could be the difference between a missed opportunity and a converted customer.

02. Presentations

We’ve all heard of death by PowerPoint. In these situations, videos become extremely helpful – show, don't tell . Spice up your presentation by embedding your animated video into the slides, or replace the PowerPoint entirely with a video. Videos are great for explaining a difficult concept . They can also be embedded into digital documents and blogs for the same purpose.

03. Emails

Send your animated video straight to your mailing list by embedding it in an email. Emails with embedded videos can dramatically increase click-through rate (CTR), from 65% with existing customers to 96% for new customers receiving a welcome email. This is compared to the average CTR for emails: 2.7%. That’s a significant jump which can have a real impact on your customer retention.

04. Sales Pitches

Animated videos can make great client pitch videos. These condensed presentations explain the nature and benefits of your business in a short video, ideally no longer than three minutes. According to Wyzowl, 69% of potential customers prefer video over text when learning about a product or service. That makes a pitch video more likely to attract potential clients than a text presentation or report.

05. Social Media

Videos are shared online 12 times more often than text and images combined . Sharing animated videos on social media enables brands to engage with their followers in a fun and compelling way. Consider boosting the post as an advert to get the video in front of more eyes. And don’t forget the Story function. This may require alteration to the dimension size of the marketing video since stories host portrait style videos (9:16) instead of landscape (16:9). Squideo can create this for you, or you can use crop tools to accomplish the look.

06. Expos and Conferences

Many Squideo clients use their animated videos to show off at expos and conferences. Videos can draw people to your stall or presentation and entertain them into staying! Consider whether the organisation allows sound to be played with videos, if not you will want to add subtitles to ensure maximum understanding!

07. Onboarding

Use your video to onboard new customers, clients and staff by introducing them to your business, explaining what they can expect and how your business will support them. An entertaining animated video can maintain their interest and condense a lot of information into a few minutes, compared to reading through bulky manuals.

08. Headquarter Videos

Everyone has ended up in a building at some point with televisions in the lobby to stare at until someone calls your name. For companies with large enough headquarters, consider having your animated videos in communal areas where staff and visitors alike can see this content. After all, if you’ve got it: flaunt it!

09. Adverts

Whether it’s run on television, social media, YouTube or on a digital billboard , animated videos are fantastic at getting people to stop and watch; especially if your advert is unskippable! Make sure your advert includes the unique selling points behind your product or service, and a full list of contact information if there isn’t a link to your website directly embedded within the advert.

10. Motion Graphics

Use screenshots of your videos as images to promote your services or products online or in print. Squideo can provide freezeframes of specific points within the video on request, that can be used in promotional materials , company documents, even billboards.

Create an Animated Video With Squideo

Ready to create an animated video for your company? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: Snickers’ Spell

Mon, 15 May 2023 07:30:00 GMT

In this series, Squideo has examined the best ways to turn advertising content into gold. Now that we’ve broken down the eight key ingredients, it’s time to dive deep into some examples of stellar advertising . This week, the advert in question was picked by Squideo’s Video Producer, Sarah Irwin.

When asked why this particular advert had become her favourite of all time, Sarah said: “ It's relatable! I get hangry, and I know other people do too. It just makes me laugh how a Snickers fixes the moodiness, plus it's Mr Bean and that brings the nostalgia factor .”

Enter the Snickers

The Snickers bar was created in 1930 by Mars Inc. , an American brand founded in 1911 that is behind many well-known sweet treats like M&M’s , Twix and Skittles . They also produce non-confectionary treats like Dolmio , Wrigley , Whiskas and Ben’s Original . Allegedly, Snickers was named after the Mars family’s favourite horse – what a life.

Until 1990, Snickers was sold in the United Kingdom and Ireland under the name Marathon . The name was eventually changed to standardise the product in a global market and to reduce confusion, as an American candy bar named Marathon had been produced during the 1970s; some people thought the bar was being sold exclusively in the UK when the two were in fact entirely different. Similarly, another Mars Inc. product – Starburst – had been named Opal Fruits in the United Kingdom until the 1990s.

Not long after the rebrand, Snickers went through a publicity nightmare when it was targeted in 2000 by a series of threatening letters claiming to have poisoned thousands of Snicker bars in Australia. One of the letters contained a Snickers bar contaminated with rat poison. This lead to a massive recall. The culprit was never found, and thankfully no one was hurt.

Snickers Man

Created by AMV BBDO , the British branch of the BBDO advertising agency, the Mr Bean advert came under the larger ‘You’re Not You When You’re Hungry’ campaign that Mars had run since 2010. A rafter of well-known stars had appeared in these Snickers adverts since then, including Betty White, Robin Williams, Aretha Franklin and Liza Minelli.

It took four years for the UK adverts to catch up, still using the slogan ‘Snickers: Get Some Nuts’ from the former Mr T series until 2014. These adverts had been hugely popular, with the exception of one advert which was pulled after accusations of homophobia by a US pressure group . Yes, a British advert was pulled because of complaints by an American group – welcome to the gilded age of the internet.

Like Mr T, Mr Bean worked on an international level despite being a British creation – given the popularity of the Mr Bean films overseas. The Rowan Atkinson character had been absent for two years, since his cameo in the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony . Before that, his last appearance was in the 2007 film Mr Bean’s Holiday . In October 2014, he returned to the screen in the Daniel Kleinman directed Snickers advert.

Fist of Snickers

The production cost for this advert must have been high, but at least the return on investment (ROI) was significant . The video has over 18 million views on YouTube. Factoring in YouTube adverts, the overall campaign reached over 20 million people on the platform.

It’s been nine years since the Mr Bean Snickers advert aired, so what made its legacy so long-lasting?

Nice Nostalgia

A generation of children grew up with Mr Bean , when the eponymous television show was first broadcast in 1990. This later progressed into an animated series, and two feature-length films that aired globally. By 2014, this generation of children were now adults with spending power which made a comeback of this character a profitable marketing tool .

Fortunately for Mars Inc. , Rowan Atkinson was going through costly divorce proceedings in 2014 and 2015 and agreed to appear in multiple adverts for an undisclosed figure – his first advertising appearance in eighteen years . Due to his lack of appearances as Mr Bean in recent years, the advert garnered a lot of attention .

High Humour

The advert features classic Mr Bean humour , with plenty of slapstick action and mumbled lines that are indecipherable to the human ear. From the offset, the background completely contrasts the character : a British caricature inside a martial arts film. Mr Bean fumbles after three men, all trained in martial arts, failing to keep up until someone finally throws him a Snickers bar. After taking a bite, Mr Bean is replaced by a character more suited for the setting and escapes the mess Mr Bean had ended up in.

The slogan used here is slightly different from the American version : “You lose your focus when you’re hungry, have a Snickers” instead of “You’re not you when you’re hungry.” This slogan merges the American slogan with the Mr T line that had been used since 2006: “Snickers: Get Some Nuts.”

Successful Series

The Mr Bean advert could easily have been a standalone success, but AMV BBDO saw the marketing potential and produced five adverts with Rowan Atkinson . In an early edition of Advert Alchemy , the potential of the marketing series was examined and found that these series have a strong return potential; as people want to see what happens next. This also followed a trend in the British Snickers adverts. While the American adverts often have a roster of famous celebrities, the British versions have stuck with the same actor for several adverts.

Previously, this had been the legendary Mr T . In the campaign, which ran from 2006 to 2008, Mr T randomly appeared in a tank – or helicopter – to pelt Snickers bars at men he thinks need to toughen up. B edecked in Snickers-themed jewellery , sporting his signature mohawk, and wearing a vest made of Snickers bars, it’s a call-back to Mr T’s role as B.A. (Bad Attitude) Baracus in The A-Team and it quickly became a classic.

Content Worth Gold

What do you think? What made Snickers’ Mr Bean advert so successful? Watch the full advert below and let us know in the comments.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics and much more!

Squideo’s Favourites: The Best Animation Techniques

Thu, 11 May 2023 07:45:00 GMT

There are hundreds of animation techniques out there, which the producers at Squideo have had plenty of opportunities to play and experiment with when creating videos for our clients. Now we’re asking them to pick the best of these animation techniques , giving us a rundown of their tried-and-true favourites.

Read on for Squideo’s top six favourite animation techniques and remember, if you’ve got a video project, get in touch .

01. Squash and Stretch

Starting with a classic, Creative Director Hannah Bales chose the ‘Squash and Stretch’ technique – which is featured in the 12 Principles of Animation , used by the Walt Disney Studios since the 1930s. These twelve principles were introduced at the company to make animated characters look more realistic.

‘Squash and Stretch’ is used to give a sense of weight or flexibility to objects and people. Think about a bouncing ball: to animate its landing, when the ball hits the floor the ball should squash flat and stretch wide, replicating the impact.

02. Parallax Scrolling

Video Producer Adam Leveson chose ‘Parallax Scrolling’, an interesting animation technique that is used in videos and web and game design. This technique c reates the illusion of depth in a two-dimensional image . In ‘Parallax Scrolling’ background images move past the camera more slowly than foreground images, from the perspective of an observer.

The video game Moon Patrol (1982) by Takashi Nishiyama is often credited with the creation of this animation technique, but really it dates back to the 1930s – much like ‘Squash and Stretch’ – with the multiplane camera .

03. Continuous Scenes

Our second Creative Director, Ben Underwood, choose a technique we recently used in videos for Turtle Blue and Inntravel: ‘Continuous Scenes.’ Like ‘Parallax Scrolling’, this technique adds depth and creates an immersive animated scene .

Instead of transitioning from scene to scene to scene, like a PowerPoint jumping from one slide to the next, ‘Continuous Scenes’ pan across one long animated background to simulate movement. Watch Turtle Blue to see how it’s done!

04. Frames per Second

Adjusting the ‘Frames per Second’ (FPS) of a video can completely alter the style and feel of the animation , which is why this was Sarah Irwin’s pick, another one of Squideo’s fantastic Video Producers. The more frames per second, the smoother the animation. Going back to the 12 Principles of Animation from the section on ‘Squash and Stretch’, this higher FPS factors into the principle of ‘Spacing and Timing.’

While a high FPS is common – 60FPS is the most commonly used in Squideo videos – sometimes, a slower FPS can be used to create a truly unique style. 10 to 15FPS was used in the videos Squideo created for Soirée and Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

05. Scene Transitions

Production Manager Callum Major, a former Squideo Video Producer, chose the opposite of Ben’s ‘Continuous Scenes’ with his pick: ‘Scene Transitions.’ There are a lot of transitions available to take the viewer from one scene to the next , from sudden cuts to a line wipe. The right transition can add depth, colour and uniqueness.

In recent Squideo videos, we have used brand colours and scene elements such as icons to achieve a ‘Scene Transition’ – like in our video for Hubb Pro. Inntravel featured a unique transition through the use of environment , switching into a new scene by zooming into a poster or panning to a window.

06. Kinetic Typography

Video Producer Lesley Ovington picked a classic to end on: ‘Kinetic Typography.’ This is the creation of moving text , which is a popular motion graphic design. With ‘Kinetic Typography’, letters can expand, shrink, fly… the only limit is an animator’s imagination. This technique can be used on one or two key words or used to create elaborate animated sequences with longer bodies of text.

This technique elevates static text, encouraging viewers to read and remember the message you want your video to impart. Squideo recently used ‘Kinetic Typography’ in our video for Bleach Cyber.

Create a Video With Squideo

Ready to create a video full of creative animation techniques? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: Cosmic Crusha

Mon, 08 May 2023 07:45:00 GMT

In this series, Squideo has examined the best ways to turn advertising content into gold. Now that we’ve broken down the eight key ingredients, it’s time to dive deep into some examples of stellar advertising . This week, the advert in question was picked by Squideo’s Production Manager Callum Major.

When asked why this particular advert had become his favourite of all time, Callum said: “I remember the advert from when I was younger, when I’d see it on TV all the time. It’s so whacky and bizarre ! It's so bad it's good !”

The Artistocrusha

Crusha is a brand of milkshake mix, which recently started selling desserts as part of its range. It may be a surprise that Crusha dates back to 1955 , when it was managed by British Sugar . The branding that you may associate with Crusha didn’t come about, however, until late 2001 when it came under the control of a British Sugar subsidiary: Silver Spoon . British Sugar , which has been owned by Associated British Foods since 1991, effectively owns all the sugar produced in the United Kingdom.

Over the next two years, Silver Spoon worked to redevelop the Crusha brand in order to appeal to a new audience. This included a new logo and the adoption of cats as the brand mascot, despite most adult cats being lactose intolerant.

Crusha in Boots

In 2003, the first advert for the revitalised Crusha was released. The mastermind behind this eye-catching advert was Joel Veitch of RealGood , a web animator and singer-song writer, who has been responsible for several high-profile pieces of work including the 2012 animated television special Uncle Wormsley’s Christmas .

The advert is a story of mixed success. Later in 2003, the same year the advert was released, Crusha became involved in a scandal when it’s owners discovered that a batch of faulty Crusha milkshakes had gone out to retailers. Instead of notifying the retailer, Tesco , British Sugar decided to send workers into the store and buy as many of the 580 affected bottles as they could. Tesco realised what was happening and removed the stock, creating a negative press story that undid some of the advert’s impact.

To add insult to injury, the advert was eventually banned from British television by Ofcom in 2004 after several people attempted to recreate the advert with real cats. One man was ultimately arrested for the mistreatment of animals. That didn’t stop Crusha putting out an additional advert by Veitch in 2008, this time with the cats in a gym . Eventually the brand moved away from the visual style of Veitch’s work, but the cat has remained a feature in all their adverts; fully animated since 2014.

Veitch’s animations were so popular in the 2000s, that after Coca Cola recreated aspects of his work – for a 2007 advert that ran in Argentina – he launched a lawsuit against the company. They eventually reached a settlement . Coca Cola had used his band’s song Ninja in a video full of kittens. Not exactly a subtle rip-off.

The Crusha King

Compared to the technical complexities that went into creating Cadbury’s Gorilla advert, which we explored earlier in this series, the process for making the Crusha Kittens advert was relatively straightforward . After all, no one had to travel across the world to find the right gorilla costume. Crusha Kittens wasn’t a major production , so why does it have such a lasting legacy ? The advert regularly makes the lists of iconic British adverts and the song lives in the memories of many early noughties children.

Mental Music

The last two adverts broken down in the Advert Alchemy series, Gorilla and The Little Duckling , used existing music in their videos. Crusha Kittens , however, features an original song . It’s a short song, only four lines total, yet it has the overwhelming power of an earworm – guaranteed to make you sing “I want some Crusha” for days on end.

Since the video opens with several cats holding instruments, including an accordion, music was essential to the plot. Since the advert is aimed at children – who will convince their parents to buy the product – the song also had to be simple enough for them to memorise and Veitch definitely delivered when he composed this doozy.

Cute Cat

Even if you’re too young to remember the early days of the internet, scrolling through any social media platform in this day and age will prove this to be true: kittens are always cute . The Crusha Kittens advert predates the cat memes that society has grown to love in the 2020s, but even in 2003 it was well known that children like animals , and cats are a type of animal.

While none of the animals in the video are emphasised for cuteness (in fact some people state the cows gave them nightmares), by adding anthropomorphic features like holding instruments and wearing hats, and singing in an unexpectedly deep voice, the creators of this advert definitely understood the audience they were targeting: kids.

Ancient Animation

In a world of apps that deliver top-quality and relatively inexpensive video production tools, the Crusha Kittens advert may seem terribly outdated. Like something that was mocked up on Photoshop and Microsoft Paint . But to audiences in 2003, that was the beauty of the advert.

Crusha Kittens ran during the 4pm to 6pm timeslot, most popular with advertisers targeting a child audience. In 2003, Crusha Kittens was typically airing between Capri Sun and Nickelodeon adverts. Their competitors were producing live-action or 2D animated videos. Crusha Kittens stood out because it didn’t use this format, and it made something that could be recreated by people at home.

Content Worth Gold

What do you think? What made Crusha Kittens so successful? Watch the full advert below and let us know in the comments.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

The Power of the Thumbnail and Why You Need One

Thu, 04 May 2023 13:10:07 GMT

Deciding the concept and style of your video is important, but an often overlooked feature is the thumbnail of your video. An interesting and engaging thumbnail is what entices your users to click the play button in the first place, so if you don’t have a great thumbnail, your video won’t get seen.

Squideo offers thumbnails as an add-on for all video projects, to ensure you get the most engagement for your video and get optimum results . Interested in learning more? Get in touch .

When creating a thumbnail, Squideo focuses on three main features to ensure the image captures maximum attention and encourages a high click through rate (CTR).

01. Choose the Right Image

The purpose of a thumbnail is to show your audience, at a glance, what the video is about . Ideally your thumbnail should incorporate a still image from that video, to ensure style consistency. Watch the video and identify what part of the video would be the most interesting to your audience? Is it an example of how to use your product? A bold title card? Footage of clients looking happy?

The thumbnail below was created by Squideo for our monthly client showcase. The client, Skamper , developed a fitness app for runners. The video showed off the main functions of the app and how it benefits runners, but from a glance this thumbnail targets a specific audience . Not app lovers, not fitness buffs – it shows people running because the product is for runners.

To decide which image is right for your thumbnail, think about your branding and target audience. Which brings us on to…

02. Remember Your Branding

Another factor to consider is whether you have multiple videos that will sit beside each other. There needs to be consistency , and the source of that consistency is your branding. There should be a strong use of company colours and associated imagery . If your branding is clean and minimal, your thumbnail should be too. If it is bold and modern, you guessed it, so should your thumbnail.

The next thumbnail was created by Squideo for Squideo , to sit with a new homepage video . Squideo blue and white is consistently used, with repeated use of the play button icon that frequently features in Squideo’s branding.

03. Add Your Logo

The last factor to add is your logo. This should go into the thumbnail last to ensure it is at the foremost . If the image chosen for the thumbnail risks drowning out your logo, adjust the transparency of the image to tone down the brightness. In this thumbnail, created for Pagabo , the logo features at the top of the page in a white box to made it stand out from the rest of the blue coloured scene.

Create a Video With Squideo

Ready to create a video for your brand, thumbnail and all? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: Dazzling Disney

Mon, 01 May 2023 07:30:00 GMT

In this series, Squideo has examined the best ways to turn advertising content into gold. Now that we’ve broken down the eight key ingredients, it’s time to dive deep into some examples of stellar advertising . This week, the advert in question was picked by Squideo’s Creative Director Hannah Bales.

When asked why this particular advert had become her favourite of all time, Hannah said: “I feel that all Disney Park ads are really impactful and meaningful. When I was growing up I remember the advert were the kid loses a balloon and chases it all over the park until he finds Mickey Mouse holding it. The duckling one is the same, it really gives me goosebumps. It’s just so cute!”

Disnetasia 1992

Disney hardly needs an introduction but let’s look into the history of Disneyland Paris. When The Little Duck was released in 2018, the amusement park had just celebrated its 25 ^th anniversary. The European version of Disneyland had its ups and downs since it opened in 1992, with speculation in the early 2000s that it would go bankrupt. By 2022, its 30 ^th anniversary, Disneyland Paris was the most-visited theme park in Europe – yet it has still faced financial uncertainty . In 2014, the Walt Disney Company had to issue a €1 billion bailout as the park faced mounting debts . The park needs at least 15 million visitors every year to make it sustainable, yet in some years it fell short of this goal and in others it barely scraped by.

Part of the park’s initial failure was its uncertain branding . Was it an American theme park in Europe? Would it emulate European or French culture? Before it opened, a notable theatre director, Ariane Mnouchkine , warned that EuroDisney would be akin to a “cultural Chernobyl” and the official opening was marred by protests. In the first nine weeks, almost 10 percent of staff quit . In its first year, the park recorded a $300 million loss and a $920 million loss in 1993. It didn’t turn a profit, small as it was, until 1995. To some, the park seemed doomed.

The Wise Little Disney

From this rocky start, the situation slowly improved for Disneyland Paris but its branding remained an issue. Within the first seventeen years of operation, the park changed its name five times ; originally it was called the Euro Disney Resort.

Every expectation the Walt Disney Company had for the park was proved wrong , from the demand for hotel rooms, European cuisine and alcohol, to the duration of guests’ stay at the park. The name was another example of this. For American customers, Euro sounded exotic but in Europe the word was associated with currency and business.

Attendance increased after changing the park’s name and altering some aspects of the experience, but its finances remained shaky . It wasn’t until 2019, that Disneyland Paris recorded its first annual profit in eleven years. Incidentally, the year before, it ran a new advert promoting the park.

Produced by BETC , The Little Duck notably launched a new slogan for the park: Where Magic Gets Real. Described as a short film rather than an advert its accompanying press release stated:

" This film represents an evolution of the brand's communication , moving towards the sort of universal storytelling that the Disney brand embodies. The epic saga, blending together love, humour and courage , is aimed at all of those—big and small—who grew up with a Disney idol whom they still wish to meet one day. Because at Disneyland Paris, magic is for real."

Duck, Duck, Disney, Goosebumps

The Little Duck received over 4.1 million views on YouTube and was broadcast across Europe in 2018. The following year was the first that Disneyland Paris turned a profit in eleven years. 2018 was also the first year Disneyland Paris exceeded 15 million visitors in several years, although this boom was inspired by 25 ^th Anniversary celebrations.

The impact of The Little Duck cannot be understated however, and greatly contributed to the park’s present branding. But why did The Little Duck become such a big hit?

Natural Nostalgia

The advert’s main character bears striking resemblance to The Ugly Duckling , which Disney had adapted as a short, animated film in 1939 for its Silly Symphonies series ( The Ugly Duckling was the last in the series). The duckling in The Little Duck is white, unlike the typical pale yellow of a real duckling – just like the character in The Ugly Duckling . Even for audiences unfamiliar with the Disney adaptation, the fairy-tale is well known in European culture as it was originally created by Hans Christian Anderson .

Included in the video is the character mascot of Donald Duck from the park, which visitors to any Walt Disney theme park will be familiar with hugging, as well as several pages from Walt Disney's Comics and Stories . The magazine ran from 1940 and had a significant readership as one of the best-selling comic books of all time.

Nostalgia might seem like an odd trait to factor into a theme park advert, since the primary demographic targeted is children. However, when you consider the age of their parents these nostalgic tributes are a perfect way to tap into their childhood memories and encourage a trip to the place that made them: a Disney theme park.

Colourful Character

Mickey Mouse, as the principal Disney character, usually takes the lead in Disney adverts. The Little Duck , however, keeps the spotlight on another classic Disney character: Donald Duck . By breaking away from the expectation that Mickey Mouse will appear in the advert, The Little Duck became more memorable.

It also creates a distinction between the Mickey Mouse adverts that promote the American Disney theme parks, and this advert for Disneyland Paris. One of the park’s biggest issues in its early branding was how the European version differed from its American counterparts. The park replicated many successful aspects of Disneyland California and Disneyworld Florida , but failed to carve out a European image for itself. Common practices in America, like prohibiting the sale of alcohol within the park, proved unpopular in Europe. The food options were primarily American, which meant non-European visitors couldn’t sample different cuisine styles.

The brand needed to put a border between itself and American Disney; ideas could be exchanged but they should have a separate identity. Something The Little Duck accomplished when it chose Donald Duck over Mickey Mouse .

Enduring Emotion

Like Donald Duck, the duckling in the advert is anthropomorphised to create an emotional connection between the character and audience. While the duckling doesn’t talk (barring the odd quack and chirp) or wear clothes like Donald Duck, music and expressions are used to convey its hope, its sadness and its joy. The lack of a talking character or narration, of course, also makes it easier for the advert to be shown across multiple European countries ; the continent was the focus for this marketing campaign despite the popularity of the park amongst North American and Asian tourists.

Before the advert was released, the character was promoted on Disneyland Paris’ Twitter account through a series of missing-style posters. That got people keeping an eye out for their adorable main character even before it graced TV screens.

Content Worth Gold

What do you think? What made The Little Duck so successful? Watch the full advert below and let us know in the comments.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

Should Your Marketing Video Have Subtitles?

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Many people now watch videos without sound – in fact, according to DigiDay , when silent autoplay is on default nearly 85% of videos are watched with the sound turned off . If you want your audience to watch your marketing video to the end, it needs to be optimised for silent viewing . Which is why subtitles are perfect for marketing videos posted on social media.

Subtitling your marketing video helps achieve the highest engagement levels possible from silent viewers and can increase comprehension of your key messages for those listening with audio. It also keeps your video accessible to a wide audience , including people who are hearing impaired, deaf or whose first language is not English. Subtitles can also be produced in an unlimited number of languages to expand your potential viewership from regional to international.

Squideo offers subtitles as an add-on for all video projects, to ensure you get the most engagement for your video and get optimum results. Interested in learning more? Get in touch .

Boost Your SEO With Subtitles

If you’re planning to upload your video to your website, having subtitles can positively affect your on-page SEO in many ways.

Depending on where the video is hosted and the video’s purpose, there are different solutions to improve your keyword rankings . Google can’t see keywords in videos, but instead refers to a hidden subtitle text file (SRT), allowing you to rank for targeted keywords which have been included in the subtitled content.

If you are hosting the video on your own website , simply upload the SRT alongside your video and reap the benefits. If you are unable to host the video file, you can embed a video via third-party hosting (such as YouTube ) and include a written transcript within your web page copy.

Third-party hosting means the video adds SEO value to your website, but – by having a video on your website – the user’s actions also become an additional SEO tool . A video encourages visitors to stay on the website longer and reduces the bounce rate. Along with good content and high site speed, this will make Google favour your website over your competitors; as it shows you have relevant and user-friendly content on your site that should be promoted.

Create Your Marketing Video With Squideo

Advert Alchemy: Conjuring Cadbury

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 07:30:00 GMT

In this series, Squideo has examined the best ways to turn advertising content into gold. Now that we’ve broken down the eight key ingredients, it’s time to dive deep into some examples of stellar advertising . This week, the advert in question was picked by Squideo’s Creative Director Ben Underwood.

When asked why this particular advert had become his favourite of all time, Ben said: “there’s a gorilla playing the drums, how can it not be?”

Cadbury in the Mist

Cadbury is no stranger to advertising success , from its iconic Smash Martians in 1974 to the captivating Flake Girl in 1985. These adverts have frequently featured in polls asking the British public about their favourite television ads . The only thing missing from this trifecta of marketing sensations is 2007’s Gorilla .

The advert was released at a difficult time for this beloved British institution, which was founded in 1824. In 2006, several batches of chocolate were contaminated with salmonella which led to a £20 million GBP recall and £1 million fine in 2007 from the Crown Court for its failure to notify the Food Standards Agency.

This was followed in rapid succession by more PR nightmares . A failure to highlight allergy risks in its Easter Eggs, the hiatus of its sponsorship of British soap opera Coronation Street , large staff cuts to its British workforce, a huge marketing disaster with its newly acquired Trident Chewing Gum , and a badly planned treasure hunt shutting down a cemetery. Cadbury was starting to look bad and needed a change in fortunes fast to reverse its declining sales .

King Cadbury

Fallon approached Cadbury in 2006, with plans to lure the confectionary giant away from its existing advertising agency. Gorilla formed part of its major pitch, aiming to move Cadbury away from its middle-aged and middle-class marketing . Fallon wanted to revitalise the brand and inject much needed whimsy to attract a younger audience. Considering Cadbury was the brand that inspired Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , it shouldn’t have been hard to do.

According to Phil Rumbol , director of marketing at Cadbury’s:

“The whole business had become quite earnest and serious, when in fact it’s chocolate and should be more about things such as Willy Wonka… The brief I gave the agency was: Eating Cadbury’s chocolate makes you feel good.”

The idea for the Gorilla advert, by director Juan Cabral , didn’t start with Cadbury and it was proving a hard sell. “Random advertising,” with no clear theme, plot or reason, is a lot more common in the 2020s than it was in 2007. Clients didn’t see the point in a drum-playing Gorilla; until Cadbury .

Even then, Rumbol faced opposition within the company and it took four months from the adverts creation until he was able to air it on Channel 4 in August 2007.

Planet of the Dairy Milks

Airing during the ad breaks for Channel 4’s eighth season of the monumental hit Big Brother , the initial airing was always certain to get plenty of views – 14% of all British viewers were watching the channel at the time it aired. What wasn’t assured was the advert becoming a viral hit; but Gorilla managed it.

Watched by millions on YouTube, the advert also quickly inspired several parodies including those on The Mighty Boosh and BBC Children in Need . Cadbury saw a 10% rise in profits following the release of the advert, finally convincing everyone of Gorilla’s potential. Cadbury eventually paid to film additional footage for the advert, broadcasting the lengthened version during the 2007 Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa.

But why did Gorilla become such a big hit?

Magnificent Music

Cadbury’s use of Phil Collins In The Air Tonight put the song back in the charts 25 years after its initial release in 1981 , which proves how instrumental the song was in the popularity of the advert. After all, the plot centres around it as the gorilla sits at the drums waiting for its opportunity to play the iconic drum fill. The line “I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life” perfectly builds up to the gorilla’s star moment as it begins the solo.

Like the full version of the song, there is a build up in the advert before the solo. Out of its total length, 90 seconds, the audience spends 60 seconds waiting . The camera focuses on the gorilla’s preparation, with only Collin’s lyrics to entertain in the meantime.

Beautiful Branding

Panatone 2685C (HEX#330072). Otherwise known as Cadbury Purple . For much of the advert, this purple patch behind the character is the only indication given that this is a Cadbury advert. For many companies, this would be insufficient branding for a marketing advert – but not for Cadbury.

The colour purple was chosen for the brand in 1905, supposedly because it was the late Queen Victoria’s favourite colour . It features on every Cadbury product, and in 1995 became the subject of a trademark dispute . Cadbury successfully trademarked the colour, however this has been contested by major rival Nestlé ever since.

The gold accents throughout the advert, including the band on the wall behind the drumkit and the gorilla’s gold teeth, complete the branding and the advert is bookended by Cadbury logos.

Going Gorilla

Director Juan Cabral went to great lengths to make the gorilla character as realistic as possible. In 2007, CGI isn’t what it is today which didn’t make it an option considering the ‘documentary feel’ Cabral wanted. They eventually found a gorilla costume at Stan Winston Studio in Hollywood that had been produced for the 1995 film Congo .

The actor who wore the suit, Garon Michael , was in the same film. Animatronics controlled the facial expression of the gorilla, and some customisations were made to the costume like adding the gold teeth. Michael repeatedly practiced the drum solo while wearing the costume in order to emulate Phil Collins, to such a success that initially people thought it was Collins dressed as the gorilla .

According to Cabal, the aim was to make it look like t he gorilla had been waiting for this drum solo all its life – just as the lyrics to In The Air Tonight suggest during the lead in. Without the successful use of animatronics to create facial expressions and Michael’s dedicated performance, this aim could have been lost and with it the song would have had less impact.

Content Worth Gold

What do you think? What made Gorilla such a successful advert with a long legacy in British advertising history? Watch the full advert below and let us know in the comments.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics and much more!

10 Ways to Repurpose Your Marketing Video Content

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 07:30:00 GMT

A video isn’t a single-use then dispose product, in fact marketing videos offer great reusability. While they were designed for a specific job, marketing videos can be repurposed repeatedly – ensuring you get your money’s worth out of the original product.

Ready for some inspiration? Squideo has compiled ten ideas on how to repurpose your marketing video content. Alternatively, if you want to save yourself a job, get in touch with the Squideo team today and we’ll take care of it for you!

01. Social Media

One of the main goals of content in marketing is building brand awareness, and videos are perfect for that. According to statistics, videos are shared online 12 times more often than text and images combined . Repurposing your marketing video on social media enables brands to engage with their followers in a fun and compelling way. Want it to go further than your existing customers? Consider boosting the post as an advert to get the video in front of more eyes.

02. Website

The impact of visual content on conversion rates is not a myth. Statistics indicate that embedding videos on landing pages can i ncrease conversion rates by up to 80% . The addition of a video to a landing page will extend visitors' stay on your website. If you can capture their attention with entertaining content, they'll be more motivated to explore the rest of your website.

03. Blogs

Consider the last time you attempted to explain a difficult concept to someone. It may not be sufficient to use words alone. Imagine searching for information on how to change a flat tyre on Google. The term "lug wrench" may not be familiar to you unless you have extensive knowledge of automobiles. In these situations, videos become extremely helpful – show, don't tell .

04. Onboarding New Clients

Introduce new customers and users to your services with an onboarding video. This explains what they can expect throughout the journey and how your business will support them . Have a look at Squideo’s process video which is sent to new customers who sign up to have a video made by us.

05. How-To Video

A marketing video sells the product, but it can also explain how to use it . Perfect for customer after-care, product instruction videos can be sent after a purchase or uploaded to an FAQ or product page. By providing these instructions, you can cut down demand for customer services by confused clients.

06. Client Pitches

Perfect for B2Bs or B2Cs looking to expand, marketing videos make great client pitch videos. These condensed sales presentations explain the nature and benefits of your business in a short video, ideally no longer than three minutes. According to Wyzowl, 69% of potential customers prefer video over text when learning about a product or service . That makes a pitch video more likely to attract potential clients than a text presentation or report.

07. Employee Onboarding

Onboarding videos are used by companies and businesses, large and small, to welcome new members of staff or introduce existing staff to new practices, equipment or procedures. These workplace resources offer great reusability and can simplify even the most complex training procedures through entertaining, brand reflective visuals . More importantly, it saves the long-term costs of hiring training staff to deliver onboarding sessions.

08. Compilation Video

If you have more than one marketing video in the bank, consider splicing several together to create a compilation . This could be a long video that plays each in full, perhaps in chronological or thematic order. Alternatively, pull your favourite parts from each video and mix them together. It can be a fun way to show off how your business has grown and evolved over the years.

09. Stories

Many social media platforms now feature the Story function, or some variation of the type. This may require alteration to the dimension size of the marketing video since stories host portrait style videos (9:16) instead of landscape (16:9). Squideo can create this for you, or you can use crop tools to accomplish the look.

10. Images

Create Your Video Today

Ready to start on a marketing video for your company? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Squideo Submarine: Emily's Echoes

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 07:30:00 GMT

It's the last dive and it's finally time for Squideo's Marketing Executive, Emily Woodcock, to take the Squideo Submarine out for a spin. Since creating a Spotify account was Emily's idea, the heat is on to compile a stellar playlist. Let's see what she's got.

You’re all alone, there’s no one here beside you. Are your problems all gone, or is a sentence aboard the Squideo Submarine your version of hell?

What an absolute nightmare! I want to emphasise right from the start that I do not want to do this. I hate being out on open water, I don’t even want to contemplate being under it. The only positive is there’s no one else aboard, so I can scream to my heart’s content. Which I will be, since you just put I’m All Alone in my head.

Life without music would be a mistake (very true Friedrich Nietzsche). Music is about to become your only companion. How much of a role does it play in your day-to-day life?

Well, I can’t argue with Nietzsche. I listen to music every day, usually at too high a volume. I remember a friend once asked why I play music so loud, that if you can hear the lyrics that’s loud enough, and I’ve never felt a greater disconnect from another human being before or since.

I grew up in a household where the radio was constantly on or someone was playing a CD (I even remember having a cassette player). My Dad plays guitar, my grandparent’s house had a keyboard… I learnt to play that using the song books available: The Beatles Greatest Hits and Oklahoma! I briefly played violin for a few years at school, even performing at the Hornsea Musical Festival with my teacher. I gave the violin up eventually but not music.

Crank the volume up to 11, there’s no neighbours to disturb. Talk us through your playlist – are you a fan of one genre or era, or do you like to mix things up?

I usually volley between several genres in one day. I have a lot of playlists on my phone which makes it easy to change it up. I thought my Squideo playlist would be more varied, but on the day I made it I was perusing 1970s style clothes ( The Hippy Shake ) and it clearly influenced my choices!

The only thing I knew for certain was my favourite band would appear at least once, and Free is in there three times – or four times, if you count the fact that the same band members performed Molten Gold .

You might be the only crew member, but space is at a premium aboard the Squideo Submarine! You’ve been given strict orders to bring only one bag of personal effects. What are you taking?

Dramamine, travel sickness patches, dry crackers and copious amounts of rum. I imagine I’ll be too sea-sick to read, and I won’t get Wi-Fi while I’m submerged under the sea. I’ll take my laptop anyway, since I can download a ton of films and tv shows to watch beforehand. If there’s any space left in my bag I’ll bring a teddy bear to talk to so I can pretend I have company.

A week is a long time, just long enough to decorate your quarters for the trip and make it homey. What band posters are going on the wall?

I’m not sure I’ve ever hung band posters before, except maybe S Club 7 when I was in school. I’ll throw them up on the wall, since they’re (hopefully) coming back. Then I’ll pick the latest concerts I went to, which was James Taylor ( Leeds Direct Arena ) and Tom Jones ( Hull Craven Park ).

Do your musical tastes align with your family and friends or is it wildly different?

I have quite an eclectic taste in music and I blame that on my relatives as they all liked different things, so I was exposed to a lot of genres growing up.

My Dad loves late 1960s and 70s music, particularly rock and blues. My Mum is more 80s, although some of her favourites overlap with my Dad like Free and Dire Straits. My Grandpops loved musicals and opera. Gran favoured 50s icons like Sinatra and early 60s groups. Granddad got me listening to comedy albums. Grandma likes choral pieces.

Even my primary school headteacher is responsible for making me love classical music, as she’d play Vivaldi or Mozart every morning when we filed in for assembly.

Like smell, music can have strong associations with certain memories. We don’t want to consider how the Squideo Submarine will smell after a week; instead, choose a song which you associate with your childhood.

I have a playlist made for almost every occasion, genre, decade and theme and that includes one for my childhood. There’s the typical Disney numbers – The Bare Necessities and Under The Sea were two of my favourites – and tween music like S Club 7 and Britney Spears. I also associate some songs my parents played a lot when I was younger with my childhood, like Sweet Baby James (James Taylor), Sultans of Swing (Dire Straits) and Put Your Lights On (Santana).

The submarine is starting to feel cramped. There’s no more air freshener and the view is getting old. Time to put some music on… again. What else is there to do in a submarine? What do you play when you’re angry?

I play loud, aggressive music. Ideally something with a lot of drumming or heavy bass. I have a playlist I like to play when I’m irritated, it has bands like the Ramones, Buzzcocks, Atomic Fireballs, Pharcyde… Then I play it insanely loud until my ears feel like they’re about to start bleeding, by which point I’m usually calmer.

Alternatively, I’ll listen to bombastic classical music and operatic pieces. Verdi’s La Traviata has the best one – Sempre Libera . Brindisi is more famous, but Sempre Libera is better in my humble opinion. During Hull City of Culture 2017, I watched a streamed performance of La Traviata in a carpark. Classy huh?

Opening the window isn’t an option when you’re aboard the Squideo Submarine, but there is a decompression room with a dive suit should you want a walk on the ocean floor. Would you go? What would you hope to see?

No. I don’t care if that submarine smells like a flatulent slug just ate a mould encrusted sock, I’m not going out there.

Living on a submarine is a quiet existence. So calm and peaceful… except… oh no… you have an earworm. What was the last song stuck in your head?

It was Help! by The Beatles. I don’t know why that song got stuck in my head, I just woke up and there it was. Frustratingly I only had one line stuck – “won’t you please, please help me?” – which kept going round and around in a loop. I ended up listening to The Beatles’ 1 album until it went away.

Squideo videos look inkredible, but there’s also a soundtrack! Which piece of Squideo-approved background music always gets stuck in your head?

In 2022 we released a short video called Stand Out to promote Squideo and there’s an instrumental in the background that I find insanely catchy. The video only lasts 15 seconds or so. I really want us to use it in something longer.

It’s almost time to come back to the surface! The journey went a lot quicker with music, didn’t it? What song are you playing in celebration of your return?

I’m finally escaping this underwater prison? In which case, I’ll play I Want to Break Free by Queen.

We returned to the surface where the H.M.S Fifty Squid was waiting to welcome the Squideo Submarine and its crew of one back onboard. The mission was a success with a full clean up achieved and at the same time we got a great opportunity to explore the depths and breadths of the ocean with the one and only Emily Woodcock.

Follow Squideo on Spotify for more Squid Squad entertainment.

What is Brand Storytelling and Why is it Important?

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:30:00 GMT

Brand storytelling is a useful marketing tool for any business, but what is it?

Engage the public with your businesses’ identity through storytelling. Brand storytelling focuses on the use of narratives to guide your customers through the history, development and values of your business. By adding brand storytelling to your marketing campaign, you can improve customer loyalty and humanise your brand .

What is Your Story?

Squideo has touched on the art of brand storytelling before, but how do you work out what story is the right one for you to tell?

Brand storytelling should humanise your brand, demonstrating to your customers and the public that your business is deserving of their support and their money.

Once Upon a Time

Ready for some inspiration? Squideo has compiled five examples of excellent brand storytelling to get your imagination firing. Alternatively, if you want to save yourself the job of creating your brand’s story, get in touch with the Squideo team today and we’ll take care of it for you!

01. Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Always gained notoriety in 2014 for its #LikeAGirl adverts. By focusing its storytelling on the obstacles menstruating people face, they showed their values and commitment to gender equality which humanised the brand and built customer loyalty . Their brand storytelling is backed up by action; Always has helped 18 million adolescent girls in 65 countries access puberty and confidence education.

There were plenty of statistics Always could have used to drive home its message, but by relying on a story narrative it was able to create an impactful and memorable advert. #LikeAGirl features no product placement , yet it proved a huge boon for Always with the video garnering over 85 million views.

02. The Tracks of My Tears

John Lewis’ Christmas adverts are something of a tradition in Britain, indicating the final countdown to Christmas Day. Their success hinges on an important part of brand storytelling – evoking an emotional response from your audience.

Retailers often focus their brand storytelling on ideals like quality products ( Quality worth every penny , Marks & Spencer) or convenience ( To create a better everyday life for many people , Ikea), and their products have a central placement in their adverts.

In John Lewis’ Christmas adverts, however, product placement is minimal – The Bear and The Hare shows an alarm clock, Monty the Penguin had a stuffed toy. The focus is to create an emotional bond between the audience and John Lewis. This is achieved through emotive storytelling, captivating music, and keeping John Lewis’ values at its core – caring about others. Every narrative in these stories consistently focuses on community and giving back.

03. You’re My Best Friend

Apple cleverly put their core value – customer satisfaction – at the heart of their brand storytelling by keeping the focus entirely on them. Their advertisements use existing customers as a case study for the effectiveness of their products and dedication to customer relationship management. As a result, their customers recruit new customers.

Behind the Mac explores the different uses for this product, inspiring existing customers and encouraging others to try it. During the pandemic, Apple invested in a new series of Behind the Mac , looking at the impact of lockdown, working from home, and the development of new communication methods.

04. Zero to Hero

Instead of seeking external representation, take a look within your business . Is there a specific legend within your company? A visionary like Steve Jobs? An endearing figure like Ole Kirk Christiansen? A historical figure like Levi Strauss?

Levi’s have leveraged its long history when creating its story. From the origins of the company and its first designs, Levi’s has grown into a global institution yet it uses storytelling to keep the spirit of their origins alive . By tying Levi’s to the California Gold Rush, maintaining the same headquarters for over 100 years in North Carolina, and keeping some of the same designs throughout its establishment, Levi’s has created a narrative that it’s more than a fashion manufacturer – it’s a historical institution .

05. It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Coca Cola adverts have a clear aesthetic – bold colours, sunshine, ice cold bottles or tins of Coca Cola and upbeat, energetic music. Christmas is different; not only does the aesthetic change but an entirely different vehicle is rolled out. Literally. The Coca Cola Christmas Trucks. Featured in the hugely popular Holidays Are Coming advert, they were introduced in 1995 in a wildly successful advert that was shown in over 100 countries.

While the look changes to suit the season , at the core there is still Coca Cola’s story – a product that brings people together. I Want to Buy The World a Coke ( Hilltop ) and Holidays Are Coming might look different, but tonally they are very similar: the theme at the core of their brand storytelling is sharing.

Happily Ever After

Ready to craft a story for your brand? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can help promote your business, then get in touch with us to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: The Entertainment

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:30:00 GMT

In this series, Squideo is breaking down the eight key ingredients to turn your advertising content into gold! In the last edition of Advert Alchemy, we examined the effectiveness of advertising series. This week, we’re looking at how advertisers to make adverts entertaining .

In the age of streamed content , advertisers have had to contend with the fact that watching adverts is optional . Even on television, recording technology means adverts can be skipped. Sick of adverts at the cinema? Wait twenty minutes before going into the theatre. Endure five seconds of advertising on YouTube before activating the skip button.

If you can’t force people to watch adverts and become interested in your brand, what options are left? Make something people want to watch . Something entertaining. And for a lot of advertisers, that means something funny .

The Joke's On You

The price of being humourless is no joke ; a lot of the most successful adverts in the past decade have relied on drawing laughs to retain attention. In this edition of Advert Alchemy, Squideo is looking at ten of the most successful – and funniest – adverts from the past 20 years.

01. Turn Down for What

One of the top ten most watched adverts on YouTube was an installation of Apple’s Apple at Work series, Escape from the Office . The advert is almost nine minutes long, yet it’s garnered over 35 million views within one year. Throughout the advert is a constant stream of Apple products, even a clip from one of Apple TV’s hit shows Ted Lasso, but this feels secondary to the narrative.

Apple created this advert off the back of The Great Quit phenomenon, as a record number of people quit their jobs post-pandemic. This made the advert culturally relevant , and it also ensured there was a huge audience who could personally relate to the story. For those who haven’t partaken in The Great Quit, there’s the humour. Once you start watching, there’s no turning away.

02. Set Fire to Your Hair

When Metro Trains released Dumb Ways to Die in 2012, they probably didn’t expect the video to rack up 269 million views , spawn a series of follow-up videos, inspire numerous parodies, and start a video game; culminating in a franchise which would eventually be bought in 2021 for $2.25 million AUD.

This three-minute video introduces a number of acts that can obviously prove fatal, but only the last forty seconds focuses on train-specific incidents. Accompanied by an original song, which was released as a single, the video animates these deaths in a non-graphic manner which makes it suitable for people of all ages while still conveying urgency. While the video was criticised by some, Melbourne claimed that it led to a 20% reduction in near-miss train incidents.

03. O Fortuna

Specsavers have long used the hilarity factor in their adverts, putting people in a range of bizarre or humiliating situations all because they “should’ve gone to Specsavers.” One of their most popular adverts to date aired in 2010 and parodied an existing advert created by fragrance company Lynx (also marketed as Axe) in 2006.

The opening of The Specs Effect is nearly identical to the Lynx advert, showing women running through a jungle and beach toward a man who is spraying himself liberally with deodorant. The variation comes late in the advert , when the man puts on a pair of large red glasses which instantly turns the crowd away from him.

Specsavers poked fun at an advert that had courted criticism, turning it on its head to avoid similar backlash. Joining in on an existing joke has been successful for other brands, and Specsavers proved that when it is done right a parody can become more iconic than the original .

04. Yeah

Amazon have created a number of wildly successful adverts in the past, but one of their most popular – and funniest – is Before Alexa . Starring American actresses Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, the advert premiered in 2020 during the Super Bowl . This humorous take on life before Amazon’s AI assistant Alexa received 61 million views , unsurprising considering the views Super Bowl adverts typically receive – in 2020, 150 million people watching.

The humour in the advert is what kept bringing audiences in after the game had ended. While the assistant only features at the start and end of the advert, throughout is the reinforcement that using Amazon’s product makes everyday tasks easier than ever before.

05. Karate

It’s rare for a new company to enjoy the overnight success story that Dollar Shave Club got in 2012, especially when their marketing campaign was limited to one video that unexpectedly went viral . Our Blades Are F**king Great crashed the company’s website an hour after it aired due to the unprecedented volume of traffic. Within 48 hours, the company had over 12,000 orders. Not bad.

The key to the video’s success is the simple marketing premise of problem and solution . Dollar Shave Club addresses the common problems for people looking to buy razors, then offered their product up as the solution. A simple premise, yet this video went viral. Why? Because it’s funny! Using deadpan humour, tongue-in-cheek jokes, the random appearance of a bear, and bleeped language, it grabbed attention from the start and kept its audience hooked until the very end.

Content Worth Gold

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more! Watch the video below to see our portfolio for 2023.

Animation Agencies vs. Freelancers: Which is Right For You?

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 07:30:00 GMT

There can be an overwhelming number of options available when looking for someone to create an animated video. Do you pick an animation agency? If so, a large company or something small and local? Would a freelancer work better for you? How do you even find a freelancer?

Read on for Squideo’s advice on how to find the right pick for you. Let’s dive in.

Freelancers

Freelancers are, well, freelance. They’re lone operatives and as such that means they won’t always be able to offer you a full range of whitelabel services that an animation agency could, like scriptwriting and in-house voiceovers . It is a diverse group to pick from however; there are currently over two million freelancers in the UK.

The majority of freelancers, 1.77 million to be precise, freelance as their main occupation. You might find someone with limited experience, looking to build a portfolio, or a seasoned professional who decided to strike it out alone.

Freelancers can be found through advertising sites like Fiverr and Freelancer, small business notices, social media and online. The process of working with a freelancer may be more informal than working with an animation agency; the freelancer may not offer a contract and might request upfront payment. Always discuss these details before you agree to start working together.

Animation Agencies

Animation agencies like Squideo have an entire team at their disposal which means they provide a range of customer services and whitelabel extras to ensure you receive a video that meets your every requirement. With an animation agency, you can expect :

01. Dedicated Account Manager

An Account Manager is on hand to support you every step of the way, discussing your ideas, filling in the gaps and implementing your feedback through each stage of production.

02. Music and Voiceover

With an array of extras included such as a voiceover, licensed music and subtitles, your video can be understood anywhere by anyone. And unlike other video production companies or freelancers, Squideo doesn’t charge for these basic inclusions.

03. Scriptwriting Service

A professional Copywriter can turn even the most complex process into an interesting and engaging message for your video script. Squideo offers unlimited script revisions, taking another burden off your team.

04. Digital Marketing Team

An in-house marketing team can provide you with full-service digital marketing skills to drive traffic to your website and generate video views.

05. Global Experience

Squideo has created videos of every style for companies all around the world, so we know what works. If you’re uncertain what video would work best for your business, just ask. We’re happy to share our expertise.

Which is the Right Option for You?

Since this has been written by a video production company, it may not surprise you that we have an answer to this question – an animation agency. Of course an animation agency!

With the contracted guarantee of completed work and a team to accomplish all of your project deliverables without having to coordinate with multiple freelancers, an animation agency is the obvious choice. With a team involved you can count on several quality check stages, know there won’t be any unforeseen charges, and can return for aftercare services like subtitle addition or conversion of your video to a different format.

Get Started with a Squideo Video

When crafted by a quality production company like Squideo, you will receive an animated video that meets your project requirements and comes guaranteed with the following qualities:

Professional quality
Impactful and eye-catching
Time saving and cost-effective
A clear call-to-action (CTA)
Good return on investment (ROI)

Let Squideo take care of the work for you and get in touch with our team today! Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo works and how we create explainer videos to suit your project brief.

Squideo Submarine: Adam S.ongs

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 07:30:00 GMT

With a reputation for choosing the oddest tracks for Squid Squad playlists, this penultimate journey aboard the Squideo Submarine is undertaken by Sales Director Adam Shelton. His Spotify playlist will definitely be memorable, so let's dive in and start the journey.

You never thought Peter Pan was lucky to have an autonomous shadow until now. Is a solo trip aboard the submarine a dream vacay or will you be climbing the walls within a few hours?

Going on a submarine? Absolutely! I’d love to do that. I think, if I had the adequate training to operate a submarine and the Squideo Submarine could handle it, I’d love to go to the Mariana Trench. The deepest trench in the ocean. I heard a story about some guy who did it and the window cracked. Which sounds like a terrible way to almost die.

So yeah, in short, I’d love it.

Where words fail, music speaks (thanks Hans Christian Anderson). Music is about to become your only companion. How much of a role does it play in your day-to-day life?

I love music. I predominantly listen to music to influence my mood, especially if I’m in the gym and I need motivation. When I’m there it’s pretty much always metal or heavy rock – something really angry. That works really well.

When I’m driving I like techno electronic, female vocal house trance, that sort of thing. Any sort of dance music. The car’s a great place to listen to good audio and electronic music is my favourite way to test a good audio system.

I don’t play music myself, even though I love listening to it. I used to play guitar when I was little until I was about 13 then I stopped playing. Sadly. Just got, like, really busy and didn’t pick it up for a couple of years. Probably could jangle along a bit, but that’s about it.

Take advantage of having the submarine all to yourself and play whatever music you want. Are you a fan of one genre or era, or do you like to mix things up?

I've got a sort of blast from the past playlist that I do listen to quite a bit which is made up from loads of songs from a different era. I’ll definitely play that while I’m down there. I also love instrumental stuff. Love the guitar, even though I don’t play it anymore. I don't need any lyrics, I just appreciate a good musician.

You might be the only crew member, but space is at a premium aboard the Squideo Submarine! You’ve been given strict orders to bring only one bag of personal effects. What are you taking?

Beer. I love a beer, as we all know, and I can’t think of a better place to have one then at the bottom of the sea. So that would be one thing. I’d also want some good noise-cancelling headphones. Not that there’s much noise down there but, yeah, I do like listening to audiobooks before bed or when I want to relax.

The team at Squideo are always prepared. Like Boy and Girl Scouts. Should the unimaginable happen, and you get taken in by the Tank Gang never to return to the Great Barrier Reef again, what song do you think your family and friends would remember you by?

I think it would be Desperate Times by Killswitch Engage. I really like the song and also it would be fitting with what sounds like a pretty desperate time.

Do your musical tastes align with your family and friends or is it wildly different?

Generally no, but I definitely have at least one family member or one friend that will align with each music genre that I like.

Like smell, music can have strong associations with certain memories. We don’t want to consider how the Squideo Submarine will smell after a week; instead, choose a song which you associate with your childhood.

Johnny B. Good by Chuck Berry. It reminds me of playing the guitar when I first started learning with my Dad. It’s the kind of thing we used to play at first, these bluesy acoustic songs. And then when I got a little better, I used to play Jimi Hendrix songs.

Do you hear something? Is it a knock at the door? Or the clunk of a submarine falling apart? Maybe the silence is finally getting to you. Better put on some more music. What do you play when you want to relax?

Usually some kind of electronic music, Euphoria style. Mostly when I’m relaxing I don’t listen to music, I prefer an audiobook. Something easy to listen to when I’m driving on the motorway. Or, of course, relaxing in a submarine.

There is a hatch with a ‘break in case of emergency’ window. If the solitude gets too much would you go for a walk on the ocean floor? What would you hope to see?

Definitely, that sounds great. I’d love to take a walk at the bottom of the ocean. I don’t know if the technology actually exists to enable that to happen at the depth I’ve chosen but, if it were, absolutely.

Our brain likes to fill moments of silence, whether we want it to or not! What was your last earworm?

It’s always annoying songs like Baby Shark or something by Ariana Grande, that sort of thing. The type of music that’s not really my bag. But Sarah, my partner, tends to put it on in the car using my Spotify which then screw up the algorithm and gives me more of that stuff. Which means more earworms.

Squideo videos look inkredible, but there’s also a soundtrack! Which piece of Squideo-approved background music always gets stuck in your head?

I’m going out there and picking a song we’ve never used in a video before, which I know isn’t the question, but it’s a song we should use. If we could afford the licence.

Why by Busted. It’s pretty much Ben’s favourite song. And I think we once listened to it on repeat continuously for at least a day. Unfortunately since then I’ve never liked the song as much as I once did, but it now always makes me think of Ben and Squideo.

It’s almost time to come back to the surface! The journey went a lot quicker with music, didn’t it? What song are you playing in celebration of your return?

It would actually be Why by Busted again. Because returning to the surface wouldn’t be a celebration at all, because being in a submarine sounds fantastic. So “why am I returning” would totally be on point.

We returned to the surface where the H.M.S Fifty Squid was waiting to welcome the Squideo Submarine and its crew of one back onboard. Sadly, Nemo hasn't turned up yet but the excursion gave us a great opportunity to explore the depths and breadths of the ocean with the one and only Adam Shelton.

Join us next time, when we’ll take a final trip beneath the waves with our Marketing Executive: Emily Woodcock.

Understanding the Character Design Process in Animation

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:45:00 GMT

Squideo has recently begun designing a series of new characters to use in our animated videos, making this an ideal time to answer your questions about the design process.

Squideo’s Characters

Our first collection of characters for 2023 has been completed, which we debuted in our video for Turtle Blue. These bold designs were created by our Creative Director Ben Underwood and animated by the rest of the team. They’re ideal for businesses that want to show off a diversity of characters whilst maintaining a bright and bold colour palette.

Squideo routinely updates our collection of animated characters, which compromises original and public creations. This is to keep our videos looking unique and fresh , whilst offering our clients an ever growing number of options to choose from. All of our characters are completely customisable based on the requirements of the client.

Check out Squideo’s Animated Explainer Video Examples page to see the range of characters we use in our animated videos.

The Process

Creating a set of animated characters is no small feat and a lot of hard work goes into designing a unique set. When Squideo creates new characters, we typically follow four steps that take us from preliminary designs to a fully animated character.

Keep reading to discover the process. Alternatively, get in touch with our team today and let us take care of the entire process for you!

01. Brainstorm

To figure out the style you want, you first need to decide on your characters’ personalities . For example, if a character is an evil supervillain then they’re typically designed using sharper shapes like squares and triangles. If a character is a happy teacher, you might use softer shapes like circles.

02. Sketch

Once a style has been chosen, sketch the characters out. Focus on the main design elements and less on proportions, these can be amended later. Sketches can be done with pencil and paper or using software like Clip Studio Paint, Adobe Photoshop and Procreate.

03. Digitally Create

Use the sketch to form the basis of the animated character . Using the software of your choice – Squideo uses Adobe Illustrator – create the main body of the character. With software like Illustrator, features can be altered down the line like clothing and colour.

04. Create Variations

Finally, it’s time to create variations of the character in preparation for animation. The character should have several main poses – for example, sitting down, walking and pointing. Animation will then be added to these poses to create movement .

Now your character is ready to make their debut in an animated video. Although you’ll have to repeat the process a few times to build up a complete character set before you start.

Get Started with a Squideo Video

Does creating a set of characters from scratch sound like a lot of hassle? Let Squideo take care of the work for you and get in touch with our team today!

Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo works and how we create explainer videos to suit your project brief.

How to Avoid Branding Mistakes

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:30:00 GMT

Before we get into the mistakes, let’s learn what branding is.

Branding is the image your business projects . It starts from the company’s name, builds with a logo and develops into a full set of branding guidelines which will influence your website, company documents and advertising. The public will recognise you through your brand, which is why it’s important to create something memorable .

Common Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. To err is human. But in an online world, mistakes are no longer easily forgotten . Making a mistake with your branding can resonate for a long time, and potentially negatively impact your business .

Here is Squideo’s round up of the top five most common mistakes you can make while branding.

01. Imitating Competitors

Branding strategies that have been successful for your competitors might seem like an ideal place to start planning, but copying their work can actually damage your brand . It makes your business appear generic and possibly fraudulent . Instead, research what made their branding resonate with customers and apply that knowledge while creating something original. New Paragraph

02. Jumping on Trends

Trends have their place , and some are indicative of something new that’s here to stay. Look at stories – they were a trend introduced by TikTok, now they’re a mainstream of social media. However most trends are fickle; they come and they go. To develop a timeless brand , come up with something unique to you and your business instead of relying on a fad. Trends have their place in marketing content, but not in the founding identity of your company.

03. Forgetting Market Research

A brand is designed for its audience. The branding for a toy company and a human resource firm, for example, will look very different because they’re not catering to the same demographic. Conducting market research helps you learn what your audience vales in a brand and what makes them connect to a company, saving you time and money experimenting with different branding styles.

04. Dreary Copy

Branding might seem visually-centred, but copywriting plays a big part in creating your company’s brand . From the business name, a slogan, tagline, website content and social media captions, it’s important to maintain a consistent branding tone . Consider what vocabulary, style and tone your audience will best respond to. Should it be formal and technical? Or casual and friendly?

05. Choosing the Wrong Partners

What may be a suitable partnership for some businesses might be wholly unsuitable for others. In 2023, the Royal Opera House became the last British cultural institution to end its sponsorship by BP. The partnership had brought a lot of criticism and damaged the brand of the ROH, whose audience responded negatively to its support of the oil giant. Which is a good reminder to conduct market research on your partners too.

Top Blunders

There are plenty of mistakes to make when branding, but what happened to the businesses who went ahead and made these errors. Let’s explore five examples of some of the worst branding mishaps of the past ten years .

01. Mind the Gap (2010)

When you have to reverse a rebrand within a week , you know it was bad. Like some other large companies at the start of the 2010s, Gap Ltd. decided it wanted to shake up its brand which had remained the same for thirty years. As soon as the new logo was released, Gap faced a torrent of ridicule that took the rebrand into news headlines . Clearly Gap should’ve conducted some market research before the debut, it could have saved them a lot of money.

02. Don’t Be So Qwikster Judge (2011)

Poor Qwikster, dead within a month. Perhaps if Netflix had done its market research before launching this new spin-off business the entire mess could have been avoidable. While Netflix argued the issue was consumer confusion about its pricing and subscription plans, the real issue was they created a company no one wanted . Qwikster was meant to take over the DVD-mailing service Netflix had dropped to focus on streaming, not realising the market for DVD-mailing was gone.

The tagline certainly didn’t help either – “Launching soon, so start popping the popcorn.” It only becomes popcorn once it’s popped Netflix! Hire a copywriter next time.

03. Avoid the Subway (2015)

Just like selecting a partner or sponsor, it’s important to research any potential brand representatives before signing them. Subway had used Jared Fogle as a spokesperson for several years, who had famously lost weight while in the role – supposedly from eating Subway sandwiches. In 2015, Subway launched the online game ‘Jared’s Pants Dance’ in reference to the trousers Fogle had since outgrown. The promotion for this game came out at the same time that Fogle pleaded guilty to a series of sex-related crimes. What terrible timing!

04. You Really Pepsi-ed Up (2017)

Let’s refresh what was happening in 2017 when Pepsi decided to drop the mother of all branding missteps . Black Lives Matter marches were taking place across the United States. Me Too had blown up the internet, prompting women’s rights protests around the world. And Pepsi hired The Kardashian’s star Kendall Jenner for an advert, attending a non-descript march, handing a police officer a Pepsi, and achieving peace. The advert was soon pulled and Jenner had to deliver an apology for her involvement. Don’t address social issues in marketing content unless you’re prepared to do your research first; or face the wrath of the internet.

05. The North Red-Faced (2019)

Clever or manipulative , I think we can all agree the greatest mistake North Face made was announcing the trick they had pulled. The brand substituted pictures on Wikipedia pages for high-traffic tourism destinations like Guarita State Park and Isle of Skye with images featuring their products. Condemned by the public and the Wikimedia Foundation, both the marketing agency and The North Face had to apologise for the stunt . It’s important to get your brand out there, but piggybacking another company stained this company’s reputation.

Get Started with a Squideo Video

Convinced a professional video production is right for you? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo creates explainer videos to suit your project brief.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: The Series

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 08:45:00 GMT

In this series, Squideo is breaking down the eight key ingredients to turn your advertising content into gold! In the last edition of Advert Alchemy, we examined the importance of the representative you choose to front your public campaign. This week, we’re looking at the effectiveness of an advertising series .

These marketing videos follow a consistent plot . This can have only two videos in the series, or dozens. It can run for a limited time, or over years. It drives people to look out for your adverts, because they want to see what happens next .

The Advertising Universe

The desired outcome of any advert is to get people thinking and talking about your brand . Most adverts last between 15 and 30 seconds, unless you create a series of adverts that run on from each other. This gives viewers an incentive to keep watching , which helps reinforce your brand in their memory, without paying for a longer advert which could lose the attention of an audience.

Read of for Squideo’s top ten picks for the best advertising series.

01. Daz-zlingly Clean

Cleaner Close, a parody on popular British soap operas like Coronation Street and Eastenders, was an advert series run by detergent maker Daz from 2002 to 2019. It featured a range of soap opera actors along the way, and its closing hook – a juicy revelation about one of the characters – guaranteed people wanted to watch more to find out the secret. No wonder the campaign successfully ran for seventeen years.

02. Fruit Winders-Up

Designed to run on children’s television channels like Cartoon Network, this series created a bunch of fun, bright characters who appeared throughout the series. In each advert, the characters capture an anthropomorphised piece of fruit and – using cruel and unusual methods – turn the fruit into a Kellogg’s Fruit Winder . The advert uses limited language, with no narration, making it easy for kids of all ages to understand.

03. Puppygood

Purina and Buzzfeed partnered up to create the Puppyhood series of adverts. Promoting Purina’s Puppy Chow range, the scripts were written and produced by Buzzfeed – and American internet media company – back in 2015. Over four adverts, audiences followed a man who adopts a puppy and uses Purina to learn how to care for her . The product placement in the advert is subtle, with much of the video spent developing the relationship between Max and his new dog Chloe. This helps keep viewers engaged however, ensuring they stick around for the video’s final call-to-action .

04. Positive Intel

With a “Meet the Makers” series, Intel decided to add a human element to its technology with this advert campaign. Focusing on several individuals, the adverts tell a story of how they have used Intel to achieve extraordinary things . Not only does this inspire the audience to use Intel’s products, but it also associates the brand with these feel-good stories helping to boost their public image.

05. Burger’s King

When the pre-video adverts were revealed on YouTube, companies took advantage of this new tool in different ways. For Burger King, they decided to capitalise on market research that said viewers were annoyed by the inability to skip straight away. In the advert, two men complain about being unable to skip the advert, while sitting with a tray of Burger King food between them. While the premise of this advert stays the same – two men sitting in a Burger King restaurant – there are a whopping 64 variations of the video.

06. Way to Go, Geico

Like Burger King, Geico produced this advert series in response to the YouTube pre-video advert . The “Unskippable” series worked off the premise that their main message should be delivered within five seconds before the “skip” button activates. After that, the serious financial advert takes a humorous turn which encourages the viewer to keep watching. Launching several variations of the advert, it became so popular Geico eventually released behind-the-scenes footage of the adverts’ creation to satisfy the curiosity of its audience.

07. Get Some Snickers

Featuring the legendary Mr T, this series poked fun at this celebrity’s tough persona . In the campaign, Mr T randomly appears in a tank – or sometimes a helicopter – to pelt Snickers bars at men he thinks need to toughen up. Bedecked in Snickers-themed jewellery, sporting his signature mohawk, and wearing a vest made of Snickers bars, it’s a call-back to Mr T’s role as B.A. (Bad Attitude) Baracus in The A-Team and it quickly became a classic in British advertising history.

08. Young at Old Spice

This male grooming brand has made a number of appearances in the Advert Alchemy series, and for good reason! Under its “Smell Like a Man, Man” campaign, Old Spice produced several videos starring Isaiah Mustafa. Created by Procter & Gamble, the series was so successful upon release that it led to a 60% increase in sales of Old Spice products after the first advert aired when the target had only been 15%. In the series, Mustafa’s character delivers rapid-fire monologues while progressing through various activities, locations and costumers – all in one seemingly uninterrupted take.

09. No Nonsmith

Originally performed by Jack Dee, the eponymous John Smith was played by U.K. comedian Peter Kay from 2002 to 2005. They became so popular with viewers that, when the advert series ended in 2005, there was a public campaign calling for its return . Kay returned in 2010 for another year. The “No Nonsense” campaign saw John Smith performing laddish behaviour before a product placement, popularising the phrase “’ave it!” at the same time. These comedic adverts featured a cast of characters and often took place in the same locations.

10. None the Budweiser

From 1999 to 2002, you could only go about the world having never heard the phrase “Whassup?” if you didn’t own a television. Budweiser’s hugely successful campaign launched a pop culture catchphrase , which went on to enter American vernacular and is known across the English-speaking world. Budweiser has resurrected the campaign since 2002 , most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage friends to remotely check-in with each other during lockdown.

Content Worth Gold

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics and much more!

Why Should You Include Social Media in Your Marketing Campaign?

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 08:45:00 GMT

There are a lot of social media options which have the potential to form a key part of your marketing campaign. A lot of options . So where to start? In a world where most businesses have a presence on social media, the argument can be made that these platforms are oversaturated and joining in won’t be of much benefit for your marketing campaign – but that’s not true.

Joining a social media platform isn’t enough to make a marketing campaign, but so long as you choose the right platforms and produce quality content it can make a huge difference to your existing campaign.

Top Social Media Platforms

We’ve talked before about the big three social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To recap, these platforms have a combined monthly active user base of 4.29 billion people . Having an account on each of these platforms puts you in the pocket of half the world’s population (Source: Backlinko 2022).

Each of the big three, and many like them, run paid advertisements and offer additional tools and insights if you switch from a personal account to a business or creator account. Instagram and Facebook also have marketplaces, to facilitate direct sales which is great for B2Cs .

Having a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account for your business is a must – ignoring these titans of social media will get you nowhere and you’ll miss out on a huge opportunity to engage directly with your customers.

What about the other platforms you say? Luckily for you, Squideo has already dived deep into some of the lesser utilised platforms, outlining the benefits they have for businesses and how to use them to your advantage in our Have You Considered series . This covered Spotify , Clubhouse , Pinterest , Tumblr and Reddit . And the runner’s up to the big three, TikTok and Snapchat, are seriously worth considering as they only continue to grow in users.

It’s vital to tailor your content to stand out, and choose your platforms with care . To engage your customers and convert new visitors, identify multiple platforms where they are most active. Find out your customers’ location, age range, professions, and any other identifiers you can think of to help identify the right platform to reach them on.

How to Use Social Media in Your Marketing Campaign?

Once you have an account on the social media platforms of your choice, it’s time to add them into your marketing campaign. To find success with social media, here are Squideo’s five top tips.

01. Create a Business Account

The most popular social media platforms are geared up for the buyer-seller market. Each of the big three, and many like them, run paid advertisements and offer additional tools and insights if you switch from a personal account to a business or creator account . This makes social media a vital tool to track Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and engagement on specific products and services.

02. Create Reels and Stories

It’s estimated that more than 500 million people use Instagram Stories daily . In 2022, Instagram Stories were used by 36% of businesses to promote their products, and 25% of Gen Z and Millennials use stories to find products and services. These numbers speak for themselves about the important role story and reel format plays in the daily lives of millions of potential consumers, so jump onto the trend or get left behind.

03. Open a Store

Shopping is a range of features offered by platforms like Instagram and Facebook which allows sellers to link images of their products to an online store where viewers can purchase them. It also enables customers to tag your store directly into their posts with product tags, so you can engage their followers as well. These platforms do have some caveats for the sellers they’ll accept, including owning your website domain, so read through their guidelines before signing up!

04. Provide Customer Service

Social media is a great way to build CRM as you can engage customers with content and use the platforms’ communication functions to provide customer services. This is useful for small businesses who might not have an advanced website or be able to afford an enhanced host plan that allows messaging via the website.

05. Identify Trends

Who needs to commit corporate espionage when your competition posts everything about themselves on social media. Keep close tabs on other businesses in your field to see what they’re doing and identify what content resonates best with audiences. Do you see any gaps in the market , perhaps a demographic that isn’t being ideally targeted or a missed opportunity to engage customers online? Be the change they want to see!

Get Started with Your Video

Convinced a professional video production is right for you? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo creates explainer videos to suit your project brief.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out more!

Squideo Submarine: Lesley's Lullabies

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 08:30:00 GMT

The last Video Producer taking a journey aboard the Squideo Submarine is Lesley Ovington. We don't play favourites at Squideo, but Lesley has chosen some great tracks for our Squid Squad playlists since we launched our Spotify channel last year. Ready to hear her next picks? Let's dive and see what happens!

The only companion you'll have on this journey is your own reflection in the submarine's windows. Do you like the idea of a solo holiday beneath the waves or will your reflection start talking back before the first day is over?

I’d give it at least three days before I started talking to my reflection.

There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats (serving up cold truths Albert Schweitzer). Music is about to become your only companion. How much of a role does it play in your day-to-day life?

Music plays a very important role in my life, from listening to it at work to going to gigs and concerts. I've seen a lot of bands live including Twenty One Pilots , Panic at the Disco , Slipknot and many more. Back in 2019 I went to Download festival which to this day is one of my favourite memories.

Solo missions might be lonely, but one advantage is you can play whatever music you want. Talk us through your playlist – are you a fan of one genre or era, or do you like to mix things up?

I’m very much a mix-of-all-genres kind of girl, although if I had to pick a favourite I guess I do often find myself listening to Alternative Rock and Indie more than any other genre.

You might be the only crew member, but space is at a premium aboard the Squideo Submarine! You’ve been given strict orders to bring only one bag of personal effects. What are you taking?

I would take my Nintendo Switch and plenty of games. Maybe I will actually complete a Pokedex for once or finish paying my loan to Mr Nook!

A week is a long time, just long enough to decorate your quarters for the trip and make it homey. What band posters are going on the wall?

Though I’m a big fan of music I never really put up band posters, although there is always one exception…

Do your musical tastes align with your family and friends or is it wildly different?

My tastes really do line up with my friends and families, after all in the words of Falling In Reverse I was “raised on Black Sabbath .”

Like smell, music can have strong associations with certain memories. We don’t want to consider how the Squideo Submarine will smell after a week; instead, choose a song which you associate with your childhood.

Half the World Away by Oasis. This song was actually taught to me in school by my science teacher (quite random I know) but I used to sing it a lot as a kid and it became very relevant to my life as I grew up.

Gosh it is quiet at the bottom of the ocean, isn't it? It's like you're the only person left in the world. Let's play something else. What music do you listen to when you're sad?

Usually I lean towards more comedic songs when I feel sad like Bo Burnham and Tom Cardy to lift my mood!

Amongst the provisions you’ll find aboard the Squideo Submarine, there’s a dive suit in case you need a break from the same four walls. Would you go for a walk on the ocean floor? What would you hope to see?

I would love to have a little stroll! I’d hope to see an octopus garden in the shade.

Our brain likes to fill moments of silence by forcing music upon us. What was your last earworm?

Hey, I Don’t Work Here by Tom Cardy. The whole song was stuck in my head for weeks! But I didn’t complain, it’s a funny song!

Squideo videos look inkredible, but there’s also a soundtrack! Which piece of Squideo-approved background music always gets stuck in your head?

The Spell With Me theme song – and yes, I know a few of us have picked it already. But it’s ingrained in my brain now after producing so many of their videos, and now when I see anything bee-related it pops into my head.

It’s almost time to come back to the surface! The journey went a lot quicker with music, didn’t it? What song are you playing in celebration of your return?

All Dolled Up by The Orion Experience!

We returned to the surface where the H.M.S Fifty Squid was waiting to welcome the Squideo Submarine and its crew of one back onboard. Sadly, Geppetto and Monstro was nowhere to be found but the excursion gave us a great opportunity to explore the depths and breadths of the ocean with the one and only Lesley Ovington.

Join us next time, when we’ll take a trip beneath the waves with our Sales Director: Adam Shelton.

Different Styles of Animation to Suit Your Brand

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 08:48:52 GMT

When there’s as many options as Squideo provides to choose from, it can be hard to know what you want. Choosing the right animation style for your video is important as, once it’s released, the video will become a part of your brand. It should integrate directly into your existing media; not stick out like a sore thumb.

That’s why Squideo has compiled this quick guide to help you choose the right style of animation to suit your brand. Let’s dive in!

Different Animation Styles

Squideo have created over 5000 videos for a wide variety of industries across the globe and we strive to make every video unique and a true reflection of the client . We want our videos to look like they were produced internally, fitting seamlessly into your existing brand.

During the early stages of video production, we speak to clients about how they want their video to look and reflect their current media. From these conversations, Squideo’s brilliant Video Producers identify the animation style that would work best for the client.

There are more animation styles than we could list but, broadly, we break down animation into six categories to simplify the process for our clients.

01. Character-Driven Animation

At Squideo, our Video Producers expertly craft animated characters using our in-house cartoon animation software. Whether the client wants their video to be playful or professional, adding characters is a creative way of engaging your audience. Character design depends on the client’s preference , and can be anything from realistic depictions of people to cartoonish, brightly-coloured animals.

02. Icon-Based Animation

If characters don’t feel right for your brand but you still want a visual representation , icon-based animation is a great alternative. The icons, like characters, can be designed in a range of styles to suit your brand. Icons help break down complex subjects and simplify a narrative by visually replacing long audio explanation.

03. Isometric Projection Animation

By adding the illusion of depth, perspective rendering and playing with dimensions, this animation style adds a three-dimensional quality to your video. Wonderful for depictions of products, but also a way to make icons even more engaging, isometric projection also lends itself nicely to videos for construction and design industries.

04. Line Animation

With the illusion of smooth motion and animation, you can better set the mood and create an engaging, powerful story that truly captures your audience by employing line animation in your video. Watch the video we created for Callala below to get an idea of how this clean animation style could work for your brand.

05. Screencast

A screencast is a video recording taken from a computer or mobile, overlayed with animation and audio. This is a great way to show off software and apps to potential users as it lets them explore with the narrator as their guide.

06. Stock-Footage Animation

With access to millions of commercially licensed clips, Squideo also produce videos that blend animation with stock footage , eliminating the need for filming. Alternatively, if the client would like to use specific footage, this can be incorporated into the video to create a truly unique piece of content that shows off your products, headquarters or staff.

How to Choose the Right Animation Style For Your Brand?

Squideo’s Creative Directors and Video Producers are on hand throughout the entire production process to give advice about the best way to proceed with your video . When Squideo takes on a new client, our team delves into your brand to identify existing styles and explore how a video can run alongside this.

During pre-production, the person in charge of creating the storyboard for your video will consider three things to choose the right animation style for your brand.

01. Video Aim

Is the video for a specific product? An explainer about your business? Whatever the aim of the video , it will inform the style your video should have. For company-wide videos, stick to the corporate branding guideline. For videos looking at products or specific topics, there’s an opportunity to break away and play around by adding new colours and imagery to reflect this area.

02. Stay on Brand

Your brand consists of a few main things: your website , social media platforms, logo and company documents . Do you already use icons on your website? Perhaps your logo has a character that could come to life in a video? The producer’s will look through these before crafting the visuals, but if there’s something particular about your branding you love and want to amplify just let us know!

03. Know Your Audience

Squideo has created thousands of videos for thousands of businesses, each one catering to a different audience . Look at your video aim to assess who the video should appeal to and we’ll consider the best animation to engage them.

Get Started with Your Video

Convinced a professional video production is right for you? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo creates explainer videos to suit your project brief.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: The Representative

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 09:00:03 GMT

In this series, Squideo is breaking down the eight key ingredients to turn your advertising content into gold! In the last edition of Advert Alchemy, we explored some famous jingles which proved the effectiveness of an earworm. This week, we’re looking at the importance of the representative .

Adverts often star characters , actors or the company’s owner and this representative can make all the difference in public perception of a brand.

Character Cameos

Love them or hate them, the right reoccurring character can make an advert and become synonymous with a brand. Read on for Squideo’s top five picks for iconic fictional characters who starred in adverts. How many do you recognise?

01. Bird’s Eye

Captain Birdseye , also called Captain Iglo in mainland Europe, has been a feature onscreen since 1967. Barring a brief death of the Bird’s Eye character in 1971, which was marked with an obituary in The Times, Captain Birdseye has been their mascot for over fifty years . Initially played by actor John Hewer, the Captain has also become illustrated with a prominent place on the packaging of Bird’s Eye goods. In 2018 a new actor, Riccardo Acerbi, took over the role proving Captain Birdseye is here to stay.

02. Duracell

The longstanding mascot for this company, the Duracell Bunny , was introduced in 1974. Besides a brief period when it was replaced by The Puttermans, a fictional family who received mixed reviews from audiences, Duracell Bunny has remained this brand’s mascot ever since. So successful was the introduction of the Duracell Bunny that Duracell’s competitor – Energizer –introduced the Energizer Bunny as a rival causing a legal dispute between both companies.

03. Go Compare

This character might fall under the “hate them” category, but it’s impossible to deny the effectiveness of Go Compare’s Gio Compario . The adverts have been running since 2009, with Welsh singer and actor Wynne Evans playing the character. The pervasiveness of this character became so divisive that an advert series was run by Go Compare in 2012 which featured various celebrities trying to assassinate Gio. Introducing this character certainly made the brand memorable, making Gio as effective as he is annoying .

04. Michelin

Bibendum , known as the Michelin Tyre Man in the English-speaking world, might be older than you think. First created for this French company in 1894, this character has become an icon the world over and remains one of the oldest trademarks still in use . The character has changed over the years to reflect the times, but every version remains identifiable as the Michelin Tyre Man. Its popularity has been referenced in books, film, television and songs. The character even starred in a 2009 animated short film, Logorama .

05. Rice Krispies

While not as old as Bibendum, Rice Krispies’ Snap, Crackle and Pop are no spring chickens. First appearing in 1933, these characters evolved from cartoonish gnomes to friendly elves over the years. Their names were derived from a radio advert – a real indication of their age – which describes the sound made from adding milk to this cereal. The names later became a jingle which, like the characters, is still used in the Rice Krispies adverts.

Who Are You Wearing?

These characters have carved out a legacy in advert history, but not all advertisers use fictional characters. Others prefer the classic celebrity endorsement – plastering the face of the world’s most famous people all over their product. This approach has its advantages and disadvantages, which come with the popularity of said celebrity.

Read on for Squideo’s top five picks for notable celebrity endorsements.

01. Dior

Natalie Portman was made a brand ambassador for Dior in 2010. As an ambassador, that means Portman not only appears in television adverts, but also wears Dior products at public events and attends Dior shows. Portman’s advertisements for the Dior fragrance Miss Dior have been particularly popular, combining well-known music , engaging storytelling and creative cinematography .

02. EE

From 2012, the UK’s EE mobile network has been fronted by American actor Kevin Bacon . Capitalising on the popular game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon and the actor’s prolific career, as well as a recent financial disaster which left the actor strapped for cash, Bacon has been the face of this brand almost as long as its existence – EE was founded in 2010. It’s certainly come a long way over the past decade, now ranked as the best rated 5G network in Britain, and these adverts certainly contributed to the growth of this brand over such a short period of time.

03. Nespresso

George Clooney hardly needed more exposure when he started appearing in Nespresso’s adverts in 2006, but his addition gave a huge boon to the brand. After becoming closely associated with Nespresso, Clooney started taking a deeper interest in their practices – including independently travelling to its coffee farms to test its claims of sustainability. The adverts utilise public perception of Clooney, portraying him as suave and a bit smug, always maintaining his tongue-in-cheek humour.

04. Nike

In 1984, Michael Jordan signed up with Nike for sponsorship – but unlike other sportsmen of the time he wasn’t going to be constrained to modelling their products, he wanted to create his own . Every year a new Air Jordans design is released, with vintage sneakers selling for thousands of dollars on the second-hand market. By limiting stock the demand is always higher for new and vintage Air Jordans than production numbers, which keeps this product at the forefront even after Jordan’s retirement.

05. Renault

It’s a testament, not only to the star power of Thierry Henry , but to the marketing team at Renault that this advert was able to change the English language. In 2004, the Oxford English Dictionary weighed in on the definition of Henry’s iconic line in the advert – “va-va-voom” – defining it as “the quality of being exciting, vigorous or sexually attractive." The definition was included in the dictionary they published that same year. If the Oxford English Dictionary needed to contribute, it proves that Renault’s advert certainly got people talking : about Henry, va-va-voom, and the Renault Clio.

Face to the Name

The last type of representative to address is the boss. The big boss.

Adverts featuring the founder or owner of a business have steadily become more common as the popularity of the celebrity brands grows. Anyone who is anyone seems to have their own business nowadays, and they capitalise on their existing fame to sell their products.

Read on for Squideo’s top five picks for notable owner appearances in adverts.

01. Aviation American Gin

Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds has done his fair share of advertising work, but when he bought a stake in Aviation American Gin in 2018 the bar was raised. While Reynolds doesn’t always star in these adverts (their 2019 parody of a critically panned Peloton advert , for example, went viral), he has successfully become the face of the brand despite having no hand in its initial creation. Reynold’s marketable style of comedy lends itself well to creating these entertaining adverts, and sales of the spirit have risen steadily since he came aboard.

02. KFC

Although it’s been a long time since Harlan Sanders owned Kentucky Fried Chicken – better known as KFC – his face is still synonymous with the brand . Colonel Sanders (an honorary title, not military) created the famous KFC recipe in the 1940s and stayed at the helm of the company until he sold it in 1964. His involvement didn’t end there however, and until his death in 1980 he remained a spokesman for the company – eventually becoming its iconic mascot in modern advertising.

03. Newman’s Own

Actor Paul Newman created the brand Newman’s Own in 1982. This non-profit food company started with a salad dressing, eventually evolving into a range of food and drink products sold in stores internationally. Newman helmed the brand and its accompanying charity Newman’s Own Foundation until his death in 2008. Despite his passing, Newman’s image is still used on all the packaging and marketing which contributes to the actor’s lasting legacy as a passionate philanthropist.

04. Virgin

Since its creation in the 1970s, Sir Richard Branson has frequently cameoed in advertisements for Virgin and its subsidiaries – making the British billionaire a recognisable figure in households around the country . While rarely starring in the adverts, he’s adopted a Stan Lee-style of briefly appearing in videos promoting his companies. In the video below, Branson makes a fleeting appearance firing the starting shot that propels Usain Bolt to victory. By making these cameos, Branson assures the memorability of his link to the brands without sacrificing too much of his time.

05. Warburtons

This family business has been around since 1876, and a Warburton is still at the helm. Warburtons has launched a series of successful adverts in the last 10 years, featuring prominent celebrities from The Muppets to Robert de Niro. Alongside them stars Jonathan Warburton , the current chairman of the company. Often filming with professional actors, the adverts routinely poke fun at his lack of acting expertise – staying seated behind a desk while the action plays out around him.

Content Worth Gold

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

Why Should You Hire a Video Production Company?

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 09:13:14 GMT

With all the amazing, modern DIY resources available online, you might wonder if it’s worth creating a video by yourself instead of turning to an experienced yet costlier video production company.

There have been leaps and bounds in production software, which makes it a dream for inexperienced creators to create something pretty exciting. What software cannot provide, however, is expertise, knowledge, advanced production tools and best practice.

Do It Yourself vs. The Professionals

Videos are a powerful business tool, which entertain, educate and engage your target audience.

Going it alone in the production stage might save money, but you could lose out in the long run. After all, why waste your budget on a video that might not perform? Cheaper isn’t always best and a low-quality video can damage public perception of your brand.

DIY software also lacks user support, so if you hit a speedbump along the way it can derail an entire project.

Quality, well-planned video production doesn’t have to cost your entire marketing budget. Costs will depend on your video requirements, but Squideo provides the best 'quality-to-cost' ratio on the planet. Since 2015, our in-house creative team have produced over 5000 explainer videos for every industry imaginable; creating a lot of happy clients along the way.

Get Started with Your Video

Convinced a professional video production is right for you? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo creates explainer videos to suit your project brief.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out more!

Squideo Submarine: Adam's L.yrics

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 08:45:00 GMT

As promised, this trip aboard the Squideo Submarine features Video Producer Adam Leveson. We’ve had a preview of his music style from our Squid Squad playlists produced for Halloween, Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day. But what will he pick for his voyage? Visit Squideo’s Spotify channel and give his playlist a listen!

A solo trip aboard a submarine can be a dream or it can be a nightmare. Will this be your ideal holiday or will you make a friend from a spork before you can say Toy Story?

I don’t know if I’d call it my ideal holiday, but it’d definitely be a fun experience! I’d love to see first-hand the different creatures underneath the waves.

If music be the food of love, play on (classic, thanks William Shakespeare). Music is about to become your only companion. How much of a role does it play in your day-to-day life?

It’s one of, if not the biggest, hobby in my day-to-day life. I listen to music constantly throughout the day when I’m working and when I have down time between activities in my free time.

When I was in primary school, I was offered the chance to learn an instrument and I chose (for whatever reason young-me had) to pick the flute of all things. All I’ll say is it didn’t last too long haha. If I could go back I’d tell myself to try and learn the guitar or drums.

You've got the entire submarine to yourself, so play whatever you like! Talk us through your playlist - are you a fan of one genre or era, or do you like to mix things up?

I’m a fan of a few different genres. Recently I’ve been trying to listen to older stuff which has ended up being a lot of David Bowie – he’s great.

I’m really bad at making separate playlists though, so the ones I do have end up being a mixture of everything I listen to. It’s easier listening to albums if there’s a particular artist or genre I want to hear.

You might be the only crew member, but space is at a premium aboard the Squideo Submarine! You’ve been given strict orders to bring only one bag of personal effects. What are you taking?

Well I’d definitely take my phone as it has all my music on it. I’d also want me camera so I can document everything I see down there. And if there’s enough space left, I’d want my Xbox too. I like playing all the different games and it helps me spend time with friends that live further away on a regular basis. Which would be perfect to keep me sane when I’m stuck alone in a submarine [laughs].

The team at Squideo are always prepared. Like Boy and Girl Scouts. Should the unimaginable happen, and you get taken in by the crew of the Pequod never to return to Nantucket again, what song do you think your family and friends would remember you by?

I’m not sure really. Probably just something that I listen to a lot, as I play music around my friends and family all the time. So I guess they’d associate me with that? Otherwise, I have no idea!

Do your musical tastes align with your family and friends or is it wildly different?

I like listening to a lot of different things, so sometimes it aligns with them and other times it’s totally different. I’m currently listening to a lot of David Bowie which I can talk with my Mum about, and also Nine Inch Nails – I have friends who are into hard rock and heavy metal.

Like I said, I listen to a variety of stuff so I usually have at least one artist in common with someone I know.

Like smell, music can have strong associations with certain memories. We don’t want to consider how the Squideo Submarine will smell after a week; instead, choose a song you associate with your childhood.

Probably something that my Dad listens to from the 1960s/70s. Whenever we went out in his car, he’d have the same radio station on that played those old hits. I don’t really remember any of the song names but if one of them played now I’d recognise it and know all the words.

Ah good times. Unlike the time you were stuck on a submarine for a whole... oh wait, that's still happening. Quick, think of something else. What music do you listen to at work?

I mainly listen to rock music based on the recommends Spotify gives me, but sometimes it can be more pop and other times more metal. Depends on my mood really.

Sometimes I bring out my records if I’m working on something that doesn’t require me wearing headphones.

We can’t open the windows aboard the Squideo Submarine (well you wouldn’t want to), but you can put on a dive suit and have a walk on the ocean floor. Would you go? What would you hope to see?

I know I’d be very hesitant to do that, I’d probably worry something would go terribly wrong [laughs]. I think I would though as it’s a pretty rare opportunity.

It is quiet in the submarine. Except, oh no – you have an earworm. What was the last song to get stuck in your head?

A few come to mind: Plug in Baby by Muse, I’m Afraid of Americans by David Bowie and the Hand that Feeds by Nine Inch Nails. I swear the last one is because Spotify constantly recommends it to me, so it just never leaves my head.

Squideo videos look inkredible, but there’s also a soundtrack! Which piece of Squideo-approved background music always gets stuck in your head?

Late last year we were all working on a series of videos for Spell With Me so their intro song just never left my head. It has over 25k views, so I guess I'm not the only one who got hooked.

It’s almost time to return home! The journey went a lot quicker with music, didn’t it? What song are you playing in celebration of your return?

I want to say How Not to Drown by Chvrches as I feel the song title alone would fit with that fact that I manged to get back okay [laughs].

We returned to the surface where the H.M.S Fifty Squid was waiting to welcome the Squideo Submarine and its crew of one back onboard. Sadly, Aquaman wasn’t discovered on this expedition but the excursion gave us a great opportunity to explore the depths and breadths of the ocean with the one and only Sarah Irwin.

Join us next time, when we’ll take a trip beneath the waves with our Video Producer: Adam Leveson.

Advert Alchemy: The Jingle

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 09:00:11 GMT

In this series, Squideo is breaking down the eight key ingredients to turn your advertising content into gold! In the last edition of Advert Alchemy, we examined the importance of location when releasing your marketing campaign to the world. This week, we’re looking at the effectiveness of a jingle .

This short, catchy advertising technique is similar to a slogan except it’s set to a tune. Unlike a soundtrack, a jingle is only a few seconds long but they can wriggle into your customers’ memory – ensuring they remember your product for a long time!

The Power of an Earworm

An earworm is a song or melody that keeps repeating in your head. Some of the most commonly reported earworms are songs like It’s a Small World (Disney), Who Let the Dogs Out? (Baha Men), Gangnam Style (Psy), Karma Chameleon (Culture Club) and YMCA (The Village People).

A truly well-crafted jingle has the potential to become one of these insanely catchy earworms . Before we dive into some of the best jingles to grace our screens, let’s explore how to create a jingle.

Keep it simple. In the examples below, no jingle is longer than thirteen words. The shorter it is, the easier it is for your audience to remember! Use repetition, rhyme and keep your language simple.
Choose the right music. Make sure it has the right tempo and speed for the voiceover artist to sing along to. Do your market research as well to discover which music genre your audience will respond to.
Know your product. What is the unique selling point you want your jingle to convey? Do similar products use marketing jingles? How can you set yourself apart from the competition?

Jingle Jamming

Think you’re ready to create a jingle of your own? Before you do, look through Squideo’s top ten picks for the best advertising jingles . Consider what these jingles say about the brand. Which ones would work for your brand?

01. Haribo

Kids and grown-ups love it so, the happy world of Haribo.

Jingles are perfect for child-targeted advertising . These catchy songs catch their attention, ready to be repeated to their parents nonstop. The German confectionary company Haribo has used this jingle across all of its English-speaking markets for over twenty years, making it instantly recognisable to people of all ages.

02. McDonald’s

Ba-da-ba-ba-baaa… I’m lovin’ it.

First used in 2003, this jingle was implemented at a time when sales for this enormous American fast-food chain was in trouble. Its stock prices had dropped and they needed to attract more customers – fast! German advertising firm Heye & Partner created this simple jingle which was rolled out internationally. It was only meant to play in McDonald’s adverts for two years… twenty years later, the jingle is still going strong .

03. Cadbury’s Fudge

A finger of fudge is just enough to give your kids a treat.

To a younger generation, Cadbury’s most iconic advert is likely the Gorilla campaign which ran in 2007. Go back a few decades, however, and this jingle for Cadbury’s Fudge bar created one of the most popular advertising campaigns of the 1970s . There is a longer version which was played as a song in some adverts, however this shorter jingle remains more memorable.

04. Hastings Direct

0800 00 1066.

Jingle’s usually contain one of three key pieces of information – the company name; the product; or how to get in touch. In 2005 , Hasting’s Direct impressed their telephone number upon a nation – making 0800 00 1066 almost as well-known as 999. By choosing a familiar date (1066, the year of the Battle of Hastings which is taught to most Britons at school), half the work was done for them. Through repetition and the use of a catchy tune performed by their mascot Harry Hastings, the full phone number was soon memorised. Very clever!

05. Compare the Market

Compare the meerkat; compare the market. Simples!

First launched in 2009 on British and Australian television, the advertisers behind this campaign were dedicated to its success from the get-go . Creating a Facebook and Twitter account for their mascot Aleksandr the meerkat, and a fictional website for comparethemeerkat.com, t he advert series runs to this da y. And at the end of each advert comes this memorable jingle.

06. Calgon

Washing machines live longer with Calgon.

Whether or not the statement made by this jingle is true – trust us, there’s been a lot of debate over the years – the memorability certainly created a huge boom for Calgon sales. Despite Which? making a complaint to the Advertising Standards Agency in 2011 over the validity of its marketing claim, the jingle is still used in their adverts thirty years on from its introduction. A true credit to its effectiveness.

07. Lilt

With a totally tropical taste.

Launched in 1975, the drink soon became associated with its jingle thanks to some memorable advertising campaigns that ran in the 1980s and 90s, including the popular “Lilt Man.” Unfortunately, in February 2023, it was announced by Lilt’s owners, Coca Cola, that the drink would be replaced by ‘Fanta Pineapple and Grapefruit.’ We’ll certainly be sad to see the last of these adverts but glad the tropical taste survives.

08. Toys ‘R’ Us

I don’t want to grow up, I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us kid.

This jingle for Toys ‘R’ Us, which was used in the 1980s and 90s, and was co-written by the crime novelist James Patterson. That’s an interesting piece of trivia for your next quiz night! This memorable line was produced by the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. The idea was to create a simple jingle that children could easily memorise and sing along with when it came on the television. It was later extended into a song.

09. PC World

Where in the world? PC World.

Considering the brand no longer exists, it’s a testament to the power of a jingle that it is still remembered long after the company it represented. After its merger with Curry’s, ‘Curry’s PC World’ still used the jingle for a time in its new adverts, clearly recognising a useful marketing tool when they saw it. Removing the PC World name in 2021, the only trace left of this former retail chain is a jingle that refuses to leave the head of anyone who ever heard it.

10. Cadbury’s Smash

For mash get Smash.

As the second Cadbury jingle to enter the list, it really goes to show this company knows what it’s doing! Launched in 1969, Smash is a brand of instant mashed potatoes – although it is no longer owned by Cadbury. Cadbury introduced the iconic Smash Martians in 1974 to promote their product through a catchy jingle. It was so memorable that in 2005 it was voted the UK’s most popular advert . The Martians even received their own fan mail while the advert was aired!

Content Worth Gold

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

Why Should You Animate Your Business Story?

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 09:00:00 GMT

Telling your businesses’ story is important. It humanises your brand for customers and gives people a better insight into your company . But how to do it?

Animation is a powerful medium for storytelling, and a well-crafted story is ideal to build brand loyalty and B2C relationships. Consumers are less interested in listening to ordinary promotional messages and prefer to watch videos that tell compelling personal or brand stories . The ideal way to do that is with an animated video. Animated videos allow you to experiment with various styles and effects and puts no limitations on your imagination.

What is a Businesses’ Story?

Creating an animated business story has a lot of benefits, so let’s explore a few of them. One of the best reasons to create a video is to show off your company’s accomplishments .

It’s a tough world for any business to survive in, and the older your company is the more impressive it becomes. It puts you ahead of your competitors. Won any awards that are hidden away at headquarters? Instead of taking them on a tour, talk about what made you a winner and set yourself even further apart from other contenders vying for their custom.

Taking your customers and clients through the story of your business humanises your brand, especially if you focus on the story of the company founders and other people instrumental to its development . This lets the audience forge an emotional connection to these people and become motivated to see the continued success of their business.

Animating your story also saves a lot of time. Instead of creating content for anniversaries and answering the same questions in business profiles and interviews, roll out the video. And don’t worry about it becoming outdated. The beauty of an animated story is that extra frames can be added over time as more accomplishments are accrued.

What Story to Tell?

The world is full of stories, and choosing the right one to tell is important. Businesses, big and small, have a lot of milestones and accomplishments behind them. So, what story should your animated video focus on?

1. A Tale as Old as Time

Been around the block a few times? An animated video can quickly encapsulate a company’s history , tracking every step from its foundation to its present activity. Showcasing your longevity will demonstrate to an audience that your company is here to stay; and highlighting your accomplishments will establish you as a forerunner in your field.

This can be a brief tour, such as this video by Kiehl’s, the American cosmetics brand. It explains its foundation then takes viewers through the introduction of new people and the creation of its most popular products.

Want something more in-depth. Look no further than The LEGO Story, a seventeen-minute long animated video which takes viewers along the entire journey of this company . It’s certainly too long for a television advert, but that hasn’t stopped the video getting 58 million views on YouTube.

2. Paint the Town…

Burger King launched its new logo and brand guidelines with a punchy video that showcased its new graphics, uniforms and chain interiors.

When delivery service Hermes rebranded to Evri, a massive campaign went out to publicise the name change and answer the inevitable questions for the reason behind it. The advert focused on customer service, as the business tried to leave its unfavourable brand reputation behind.

3. I Do Solemnly Swear

For Starbucks’ 50 ^th anniversary, they launched a short video that took viewers through a brief visual tour of their past before focusing on their future commitments to sustainable products.

As public scrutiny on businesses continues to grow, driven by social media exposing unsustainable and unethical practices, many companies are reshaping their narratives to present themselves in a more positive light. This often includes a stronger focus on environmental responsibility, ethical sourcing, and long-term sustainability commitments. Apple, for example, has placed significant emphasis on its ambition to become fully carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030. This commitment is central to the story it communicates, including in the following video, where it highlights the steps it is taking toward a lower-carbon future.

4. Come Together

2023 marks the 100 ^th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. Its advertisements have largely focused on encompassing this vast company , rather than focusing on its history. By compiling references to the multiple studios Disney owns, this video shows the story of the world’s most successful media conglomerate.

Get Started with Your Video

Convinced a product explainer video is right for you? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo creates explainer videos to suit your project brief.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: The Location

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 09:00:02 GMT

In this series, Squideo is breaking down the eight key ingredients to turn your advertising content into gold! In the last edition of Advert Alchemy, we examined the importance of timing in creating the perfect marketing campaign. This week, we’re looking at the importance of your advert’s location .

The placement of your advert is crucial in getting it seen. And there are plenty of options. If you have the budget, you can spread your advert as widely as possible. With more restricted budgets, however, you need to consider which location will provide the most bang for your buck.

A Place in the Sun

First, let’s examine five of the most popular advertising locations.

1. The Talkies

Traditional advertising spots are found on television , cinemas and radio . Here an advert can be exposed to a large and diverse audience depending on the platform you select; alternatively you can use local stations to attract specific groups.

On television and radio, where an audience is likely to repeatedly see or hear the same adverts, there is a risk of ad fatigue . After seeing the same advertisement, viewers can lose interest or become annoyed – which risks hurting their perception of your brand in the long run.

To combat ad fatigue, some marketing strategies factor in alternative versions of adverts and space out their broadcasting time. Skittles have run numerous successful adverts in the past, but in 2021 their “Taste the Rainbow” campaign came with an unexpected twist. The protagonist of the advert opens a series of doors in their new home. One produces the Skittles rainbow. In another, a cougar claw appears.

Yet, watch another version and the same door reveals a small man reading a book. The change catches viewers out, recapturing their attention and ensuring they pay attention during future airings in case there are other alternative versions to watch.

2. Blue Screen

From the early days of SixDegrees, MSN and Myspace, to the current titans that are Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, social media platforms have become a growing presence in our lives. Advertisers took advantage of the popularity of these sites early on in their inception.

The first digital advert on a website can be traced back to 1994 when A&T paid for a banner on what would become Wired.com . Facebook opened its platform up to advertisers in 2006, with YouTube following suit a year later. Twitter didn’t fall in line until 2010, however, and it is only within the past decade that regular advertisements on social media platforms has become commonplace.

Social media can be a good location to garner engagement as your audience can directly respond. Disney has had great success with its #ShareYourEars campaign which raises money for the Make a Wish Foundation. It encourages the audience to share their own images with the platform, which means Disney isn’t only engaging people following them but also the people following their followers.

3. Look Up

Whether static or digital, stationary or mobile, billboards have been a traditional marketing pitstop for almost two centuries . Also called hoardings, they’re big, they’re bold and they’re impossible to miss.

Starting as intricately hand-painted signs , billboards would take craftspeople days to create; sometimes even longer. One of the world’s most famous landmarks – the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, USA – was originally introduced as a billboard to promote a new housing estate.

Thanks to digital technology, billboards are easier for companies to access and cheaper to hire . There are fewer limitations that advertisers must contend with, even the size of the advert: in 2018, Ford set a Guinness World Record with the largest billboard at 56,672 square feet.

Over the last few years, 3D animation has become a popular choice for brands looking to set their adverts apart. Piccadilly Circus in London is a particularly well-known spot for 3D ads, given the shape of its screen. Have a look at the billboard WhatsApp produced for this location in 2022.

4. Paper Craft

Traditional paper marketing includes newspaper and magazine adverts, posters , leaflets and flyers . As printing techniques have evolved , advertisers have been able to produce some truly magnificent pieces of paper marketing.

Unlike billboards and videos, you’re not constrained by the amount of time people will spend looking at the advert. An audience can look at paper ads as long as they want, which means advertisers can invest in a lot more detail.

This doesn’t only include a larger word count, it also means creating designs that require more attention to appreciate. Have a look at this unusual, limited-edition advert delivered by Ikea in 2018.

Receive a positive result and a discount voucher is revealed. It’s certainly an odd campaign to run but, given the expenses associated with purchasing new baby furniture, it garnered a lot of interest and gave Ikea an opportunity capture brand loyalty with new parents.

5. Direct Mail

The best way to specifically target an audience is to contact them directly . Whether through snail mail or email , this is a great way to communicate news with existing clients. New products, updates, company shakeups… utilise your contact list.

Email advertising has progressed a lot as this medium enables more and more customisation . Scheduling platforms also make specific targeting easier than it’s ever been, with statistics at the ready to ensure your content is performing.

Embed images and videos, add animations, put your branding at the forefront with coloured backgrounds, custom fonts and consistent messaging.

Grand Designs

The most memorable advertising campaigns took a large step outside the box . While some of these unusual strategies might not suit your brand or budget, read on for a shot of imagination. Could any of these be adapted or scaled down for your project? Let’s look at five of the most unusual advertising locations .

1. Video Games

Companies have produced their own video games (Pepsiman by Pepsi) and featured their product in existing video games (Red Bull in Worms 3D). Not only do you put your brand out on an engaging platform, but your product will also become associated with fun!

2. Eggs

Yes, you read that right. CBS engraved a series of advertising taglines onto eggs. Think about it for a second and it makes sense. Lots of people buy eggs. Pluck one out the fridge for a fry up and what do you see? An advert. That’ll stick in your memory for sure!

3. Statues

If you’ve been lucky enough to visit Spain, this might be old news. For those unlucky folks, however, it may surprise you to learn about the Osborne Bulls. There are 92 of these silhouettes located around Spain standing at either 7 or 14 metres tall.

4. Outer Space

Propelled 20 miles above the Earth by a high altitude balloon, American company JP Aerospace sends logos and messages into space along with a camera to capture that special moment. Perfect for companies looking to create a truly unique marketing story!

5. Manhole Covers

This common street furniture has been decorated before, by graffiti, street or commissioned artists. Japan is estimated to have 12,000 specially designed covers, including an entire Pokémon range . Companies have sponsored manhole covers to support neighbourhoods, but some have even commissioned custom designs to advertise their products.

Content Worth Gold

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

How to Write a Script for a Video

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 09:00:01 GMT

Not all videos require a script, but when they do it’s important to hit a number of key points within the required timeframe whilst keeping your audience engaged. The script informs the storyboard and final visuals, so it’s important to perfect the script before moving onto the next production stage.

At Squideo, we provide optional copywriting under our whitelabel services . Alternatively, we offer copywriting assistance for clients who want to produce their own script but need help with optimisation – for example, reducing the length, refining the tone and keeping the language consistent.

To delve into the world of copywriting, we’re having a conversation with Squideo’s resident Copywriter and Marketing Executive.

1. How long should a video script be?

That depends on how long the video will be! We work on a rule of thumb at Squideo – 70 words per 30 seconds . If your video is going to be a minute long, the script should be 140 words. If it’s five minutes long, that goes up to 700 words.

We calculated this by analysing the videos in our archives and looking at the words per minute speed of our voice over artists. There is room for variation , however. Typically we have a 10 word margin around this figure to ensure the script doesn’t stop awkwardly. The viewer should be left wanting more, not wondering why the feed cut out!

No matter the length of your video, it’s important to hit some key points as early as possible. Plenty of research has been done about the average view time of videos by different demographics on different platforms. A video needs to hook viewers as quickly as possible to increase the overall view time. Try to mention:

The company or organisation’s name
Product or service name
Slogan
One or more unique selling points (USPs)

By including these points early on, you are certain that the audience has come away having learnt something about you even if they don’t watch the entire video.

2. What is your process for writing a video script?

Squideo’s projects start with a kick-off call . This gives the client the chance to meet the Production Manager, who will be the primary liaison, and a Video Producer, who will work on the visuals. If they have asked for copywriting or copywriting assistance, I will also join the call.

I have a list of questions that I need to ask before I can start creating a video script. Depending on how much information the client has already provided prior to the call some of these may already be answered, but it’s always helpful to confirm these details.

In the kick-off call, I like to ask:

About the company or organisation
For an overview of the client’s video idea
About the video’s key message and its aim
Where the video will be uploaded and who the target audience is
Whether it should be written in British English, American English, Australian English etc.
What tone the script should have
If there is any language I should include, such as a slogan or tagline
What the call-to-action will be

The call also gives the client an opportunity to ask the team questions, learn about our revisions process and put faces to the people they will work with on the project.

3. Do you need to choose a voice over artist before writing the script?

Not necessarily.

Sometimes the script can inform the choice of voice over artist . Once the video’s narrative is on paper and the tone has become clear, your choice of voice over artist might change to better match this script.

Alternatively, if you have a firm decision about the voice over artist early on in the process – perhaps voiced by yourself or someone on your team – this can give the script great direction in tone as it needs to reflect this language pattern.

4. What do you mean by tone?

The tone of a video is the style of language it will use. That doesn’t only mean the dialect of English (British or American, for example), but also the presence you want your narrator to have.

A corporate tone would use formal or semi-formal language. It might use more technical language for a specialist audience.

A reassuring tone is friendly and upbeat.

An energetic tone is friendlier and relies on shorter, catchier language to keep the viewer engaged. It works well in adverts or educational videos.

A serious tone is informative and eschews sales language to focus on delivering key facts.

Have a look at the example below. These scripts have been written for the same company, but the tone is different.

Scripts can incorporate multiple tones to match your organisation’s brand.

5. How long does it take to write a script?

How long is a piece of string?

There are two main factors that effect the speed of copywriting :

How large or small the total word count is.
Whether all the details needed to write the script have been provided by the client(s).

Taking these factors into consideration, Squideo’s Production Manager creates a schedule for our team and the client for key production targets and receiving client feedback. We have an average turnaround of 6-8 weeks , varying depending on the length of the project.

Typically the storyboard is produced shortly after the script and both documents are sent together so the client can get a feel of how the two will work together. The client can then come back with revisions to the script and/or storyboard, which will be implemented then resubmitted for the client’s approval.

Get Started With Your Video

Watch our video below to get a better understanding of how we create videos to suit your project brief. And if you want to discuss how our videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Advert Alchemy: The Timing

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:00:00 GMT

In this series, Squideo is breaking down the eight key ingredients to turn your advertising content into gold! In the last edition of Advert Alchemy, we examined the importance of music in creating the perfect marketing campaign. This week, we’re looking at the importance of timing .

How long should your advert last and when should you hit your audience with unique selling points (USPs)? Timing is everything and hitting the right notes at the right time is the difference between your audience visiting your website or pressing mute.

Time to Shine

The ideal length of your advertisement varies depending on three factors:

1. Location, Location, Location

Adverts can be shown on multiple platforms, so either focus on one main platform or create multiple versions for maximum optimisation . An advert on Facebook should ideally be 60 seconds, 30 seconds for television, and up to 15 seconds for YouTube.

2. Countdown

Do your market research. How long is the average viewer going to watch an advert on the platform of your choice? How long is your target audience going to watch? Don’t make an advert your customers won’t want to watch or you might turn them off your brand altogether.

3. Cash to Splash

If you’re planning to air an advert on television, remember that the longer your advert runs the more it will cost . The cost of your advert will also depend on the platform you want to broadcast it on, as different channels charge different hosting fees.

Making Your Time Up

Let’s break down five adverts of different lengths and examine how they use timing to maximise their impact.

1. Breaking Records

The longest television advert, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, lasted a whopping 14 hours! Shown exclusively in Brazil, it filled a gap between scheduled television much like teleshopping does on British satellite channels. Creating this was no small feat, with production and editing lasting months.

The brand which produced this gargantuan advert is one you’ll definitely have heard of: Old Spice. Their advertising campaign, created by Procter & Gamble, has been so successful that it led to a 60% increase in sales of Old Spice products after the first advert aired when the initial increase target had only been 15%.

The Old Spice adverts have been so successful, their campaign has run for over 10 years . It’s accomplishments are down to its fast humour, excellent audience targeting and fantastic casting. From the offset, Old Spice adverts start selling, packing a perfect punch into its longest and shortest ads.

2. Blink and You’ll Miss It

On the other end of the spectrum are adverts so short it’s entirely possible to miss them: blipverts .

What’s the point of that you ask? In a world of fast-forwarding, ad-blocking and skip buttons, getting to the point quickly is an artform that’s worth mastering.

The shortest Superbowl advert to ever run was half a second long. Viewers caught sight of a logo and heard the name. Curiosity was piqued. The Seattle restaurant Ivar’s is known locally for its eccentric advertising campaign, but this stunt took the brand to a new level of national infamy.

But the record holder for the shortest ever advert goes even further. The adverts for MuchMusic last 1/60 ^th of a second , appearing on screen as a flash of an image. These would be run concurrently during advertisement breaks to ensure viewers took notice.

3. Epic Odyssey

After hearing about an advert 14 hours long, something 90 seconds or over seems fairly tame. But compared to the average length, this is considered quite the investment. It’s rare for adverts to last longer than 30 seconds , so having something running for 90 seconds plus is certainly attention grabbing.

These long-form adverts can also be shortened into multiple segments making them very adaptable. On British TV, these long adverts are typically infomercials (think JML) or Christmas placements (John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Aldi etc.).

Warburton’s is a British companies that frequently likes to break the 30 second average . Whether it’s Robert de Nero creating a bagel empire, Peter Kay romancing the wholegrain, or The Muppets singing about crumpets, each advert is worthy of the time it takes and proudly showcases the product.

4. Running on Standard

Most adverts last between 15 and 30 seconds. An interesting way to shake up this average, however, is to create a series of adverts that run on from each other . This gives viewers an incentive to keep watching, which helps reinforce your brand in their memory, without paying for a longer advert which could lose the attention of an audience. The adverts can then be spliced together to create a longer advert to show on YouTube or your website.

Take a look at this compilation of John Smiths adverts. The brewery used the same group of actors throughout the series of adverts – including the well-known comedian Peter Kay. The plot often ran on from the same location, e.g., a wedding, a restaurant.

They became so popular with viewers that, when the advert series ended in 2005, there was a public campaign calling for its return .

5. Topsy Turvy

You can also run what is a called a top and tail advert . These are two adverts in the same television break of 15 seconds each, giving a total length of 30 seconds. These adverts are usually run by show sponsors .

John Lewis, for example, sponsors Channel 4, specifically their home related content (Homes on 4) like Grand Designs or A Place in the Sun. Their adverts are created to run before and after each commercial break , which is why they decided to use this advert style.

Have a look at their latest advert. The video below is the full version, which is split before airing on television to follow the top and tail format.

Content Worth Gold

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

6 Tips For Choosing The Perfect Voice Over for Your Animation

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 09:00:00 GMT

The majority of Squideo’s videos feature a voice over. This narrative guides the viewer through the video’s story. A voice over can add extra information to that shown visually, clarify complicated points and boost viewer engagement.

There are a lot of benefits to adding a voice over to your video, but how do you choose the perfect one for you? Read on for our six top tips to help you make the right decision.

Too big a responsibility? Squideo offers a range of voice over options . Get in touch with the team and we’ll help you find the right one for your project.

Squideo's Top 6 Tips

1. Agency vs. Freelance

Voice over artists typically work for an agency or work freelance. Freelancers can be sourced on websites like Fiverr and Freelancer.

Regardless of where you find a voice over artist, the first step is to ensure they are offering quality services. Their website or profile should have multiple example recordings available for you to listen to. These will demonstrate the range of tones and accents they offer.

Listen carefully to ensure they are using good quality recording equipment. If the quality is poor, it will also drag down the quality of the video it’s attached to.

2. Follow the Budget

The next consideration is your budget. Some voice over artists can charge a lot for their services, especially if they’ve been working for a long time and have put their voice to notable work. With this price comes a lot of experience, however, and professionalism.

To find the right artist for your budget, collect estimates from several sources before making your decision.

3. Pick a Tone

At Squideo, one of the first questions we ask a new client is “what tone do you want?” What this means is, do you want a video that’s corporate and formal? Something neutral and easily accessible? Maybe the tone should be energetic and friendly?

Getting an answer to this question doesn’t just inform the script and visuals, it also gives us an idea of the type of voice over you’re looking for.

To decide on the right tone for your business, ask yourself two questions:

What tone reflects your brand?
What tone will your target audience respond to?

Once you have the answers to these questions, the correct tone for your video will become obvious.

4. Do You Want a Dialect?

We’re narrowing down the search to find the perfect voice over for your animation, but there’s three more things to consider. Next up is the choice between a generic accent or a specific regional dialect.

If you’re targeting a large audience, a generic accent is usually the best call. For a UK video, this would be received pronunciation (RP) – also known as Queen’s English, BBC English or Oxford English. It is clear and commonly heard, making it likely that the majority of people will be able to understand the voice over without any issues.

Or perhaps you want something more distinctive? If you’re a local or regional company which delivers services to a niche market, you may want a voice over that reflects the accent of your customers.

5. Pick a Gender

The penultimate question is a little trickier. Gender.

For some videos, the gender of the voice over artist is interchangeable while in others the audience may respond better to one or the other. This will vary depending on your audience, so do your target research here.

A study by CXL in 2016 found that female voice overs were considered more “trustworthy” than male voice overs. In 2003 the Journal of Advertising also found that male targeted or gender-neutral products could use either a male or female voice over without any impact on the audience’s reaction. When it came to female targeted products, however, gender mattered much more and audiences preferred a female voice over.

There’s also the option to use both. If your video features dialogue between multiple characters, using female and male artists can help the audience differentiate who is speaking. Of course, this can drive up the costs!

6. Let the Company Speak

The final question is whether you want to hire a professional voice over artist at all. For B2Bs, using the voice of someone from your company can add a personal touch that customers will better connect to. However, this is not the easiest undertaking and can be costlier than hiring a professional.

Professional voice over artists supply their own recording equipment and are familiar with audio editing. Take into consideration that these are responsibilities you will have to take over. It’s important to use high quality recording equipment to ensure the recording is usable in the video. Anything of too low a quality might be rejected on hosting sites.

Get Started with Your Video

Squideo offers a range of voice over options. Get in touch with the team and we’ll help you find the right one for your project.

Benefits of Using Animation as a Learning Tool

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 09:00:01 GMT

Animation isn’t a new trend in education, but great strides have been made since the medium first became accessible to educators. Animation has moved on from PowerPoint transitions, talking paperclips and flying text bubbles. It has also become easier and cheaper to produce.

Animation simplifies complex processes, reinforcing content through visually stimulating designs. In 2021, Insivia reported that viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading it in a text.

This makes animation, particularly animated videos, an ideal learning tool. Although animation can be used to produce a range of materials, including infographics and GIFs.

In this feature, Squideo will break down the benefits of using animation as a learning tool and explore different ways to utilise animation in education.

What are the benefits?

Educators have understood for decades that different students prefer to learn and study using different learning techniques. Some people absorb information by writing notes, others by listening to lectures, others through practice and repetition; but visual learning is one of the most effective techniques for the broadest group of people.

Implementing animation, especially animated videos, has three key benefits.

1. Cost-Effectiveness

Creating animation can be more expensive than producing a handout sheet, but its cost-effectiveness comes from its reusability. Student after student, class after class, year after year will benefit from the use of your animation. It can also be used by the same students over and over again, as animations can easily be shared digitally and used for homework and revision.

2. Convenience

Post-pandemic, educators have come to appreciate the importance of online and remote learning tools. In the last three years, these tools have come a long way and animation has supported that improvement.

Giving learners animated content to access independently makes learning a lot more convenient for students, especially those in adult education, as they can fit lessons around their schedule.

3. Entertainment

Walt Disney once said: “Animation can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive. This facility makes it the most versatile and explicit means of communication yet devised for quick mass appreciation.”

The entertainment factor of animation is undeniable and this can strengthen short attention spans, especially in younger learners. Use animation to tell your learners a story they’ll never forget.

How to use animation as a learning tool

It is important to remember animation fits within a diverse curriculum. Animation cannot fill an entire lesson plan, instead it should fit in with lots of different activities to maximise learner’s attention spans.

Consider the age of your learners when choosing an animation style. Younger children may prefer something colourful with minimal text, while adult learners might like a clean palette with more information per scene.

Once you’ve decided on the right look and content for your animation, it’s time to put it to use. Here are Squideo’s top five suggestions on how to use animation as a learning tool!

1. Recruitment

Looking for learners to enrol on your course? A short, animated video could be the perfect hook to get them onboard. Use them in taster sessions or embed it on your organisation’s website. The video should give an insight into your teaching style, an overview of the course curriculum, and ensure that the viewer comes away having learnt something.

2. Replace presentations

Avoid the risk of ‘Death by PowerPoint’ by replacing presentations with animation. Animation helps retain interest and simplify difficult concepts through the use of motion graphics , infographics and video . Alternatively, break-up lengthy presentations with recap animations between slides to ensure content memorability.

3. Remote lessons

If the pandemic taught educators anything, it was how to deliver a class remotely. Whether you’re on Zoom, Teams or the dreaded WhatsApp, it’s important to use a mixture of learning tools to maintain the learners’ interest and attention. Mix things up with break-out rooms, interactive websites and animation .

4. Online lessons

Online learning has only continued to grow, giving students the benefit of learning at their own pace. Without classmates to consider, they can recap content as many times as they need until they are comfortable with the subject. Animation adds a new dimension to online learning, minimising the loss of the teacher. Consider using animated infographics to break up long sections of text or animated welcome videos for the start of each lesson.

5. Revision

Learning tools don’t solely apply to the classroom (physical or virtual). If your learners have important exams, tests or essays to complete, animation can be used for revision. These learning tools can also double-up as homework. Either way, it helps reinforce learning through a fun and engaging medium.

Get Started with Your Video

Watch our video below to get a better understanding of how we create videos to suit your project brief.

If you want to discuss how our videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Advert Alchemy: The Music

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 09:00:08 GMT

In this series, Squideo is breaking down the eight key ingredients to turn your advertising content into gold! In the last edition, we examined the importance of a slogan in creating the perfect marketing campaign. This week, we’re looking at the heart of every video advert: the music .

The ultimate tone setter, choosing the right music will underscore your entire advertising campaign – reinforcing the tone of your brand, captivating the audience and ensuring memorability.

Why Does an Advert Need Music?

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.

It’s a quote from 1931, but Aldous Huxley still has it right. Music will always take your advert to the next level . As we’ve explored in our Squideo Submarine series , music has a strong connection with memory and advertisers leverage this for one of five outcomes.

1. Evoke Emotion

This is the big one. Through music, you can influence an audience to feel the way you want them to . Looking for something energetic to get people onboard? Something understated to accompany serious footage? Make sure it matches your brand to avoid audience confusion. Don’t use a song about heartbreak to sell air freshener, and don’t use a song about the great outdoors to sell cinema tickets.

2. Inc. Identity

Creating a strong brand comes down to some key choices. The company name and logo. The slogan and tagline . The colour scheme and font style. And the music used in your media. Nothing brings a company’s identity together like a well selected piece of music that encapsulates a brand.

3. Transform Tales

Music can underpin the narrative of your advert, strengthening the story. Whether you use music to invoke a sense of adventure, compel an emotional response, or create a light-hearted atmosphere, music cues the audience to the most important part of the advert – whether they were watching or not. Nothing is more attention grabbing than a climactic swell of music.

4. Convert Customers

We’re all familiar with the call-to-action (CTA), but instead of using a voiceover or onscreen text consider delivering with music. We’ll explore jingles later on in the Advert Alchemy series, but consider how a song choice can influence a customer . In Coca Cola’s Hilltop advert (better known as Buy the World a Coke ) the song reinforces the message: do something kind; buy your friend a Coke.

5. Advance Action

In 2015, Always launched a successful advertising campaign called #LikeAGirl . Targeting negative gender-related stereotypes about women and girls, #LikeAGirl is recognised as the second-most viral advertisement campaign worldwide . The advert is accompanied by a simple, understated score that slowly increases in volume as the advert moves away from stereotypes to focus on its uplifting message. The music supports the tonal shift without detracting from it.

What Type of Music to Use

There are two main music options to choose between: existing music and original music. Are you going to use music your audience is familiar with? Or create music to set your advert apart from the competition?

Last Night of The Proms

If you’re looking to save money, it’s a good idea to choose music that is in the public domain . A lot of classical and opera pieces fall under this category which has made them a favourite of television shows, films and adverts, helping these pieces stay at the forefront of the public consciousness despite their age.

Alton Towers used the Peer Gynt Suite: In the Hall of the Mountain King . Cornetto popularised ‘O Sole Mio for British audiences so well that people abroad have been bewildered by outbreaks of Just One Cornetto amongst travelling Brits who hear the tune.

Top of the Pops

Lots of adverts have used popular songs, and some can even take credit for popularising tracks. Unlike songs in the public domain however, these might come with a heftier price tag. It could be worth the cost , however.

One of the most notable examples of successful soundtracking can be found in Cadbury’s iconic 2007 Gorilla advert. Cadbury’s use of Phil Collins In The Air Tonight put the song back on the charts 25 years after its release, but it did more than repopularise one song. The visuals were popular enough to spawn spoofs in shows like The Mighty Boosh and Children in Need .

In 2016, it was voted Britain’s favourite advert. Not bad considering it has no Cadbury’s chocolate in it and no clear "message."

Name That Tune

Classical music and opera pieces may be easier to access, but there are other instrumentals to consider for your advert music.

The theme song from Chariots of Fire has been used repeatedly, for example, including in advertisements for The Olympic Games and Nike. When looking for the perfect music, consider some of the most impactful music from modern media. Think of film scores, television themes, or modern classical pieces that have perhaps not permeated the public consciousness yet.

Never Mind the Buzzcocks

For some companies, it’s not enough to soundtrack their advert with a hit song. They have to commission something just for them. The song We’ve Only Just Begun , for instance, was commissioned by an advert agency in 1969; when it was later covered by The Carpenter’s (after seeing the advert), the song became a top hit.

Perhaps one of advertising’s best-known music hits – I Want to Teach the World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) – was developed by McCann Erickson for Coca Cola to run in its Hilltop advert. It became so iconic, the advert is still considered one of the greatest of all time and has become intrinsically linked to Coca Cola’s brand.

My Kind of Music

An original soundtrack is usually the hallmark of television and film, but occasionally an advert produces a piece of music so popular it becomes independent of the original piece . Take for example Chris Gunning’s theme for the Martini Bianco adverts .

Their advert series – The Right One – ran internationally during the 1970s. The music, reminiscent of a James Bond theme, was especially fitting for the brand. Martini, the vermouth producer, is thought to be the namesake of 007’s favourite cocktail.

Where Can You Get Music?

At Squideo, we’ve used a mixture of original songs and readily produced soundtracks. For the latter, we use platforms like AudioJungle and Envato Elements for royalty-free music.

Looking for the perfect music on your own? Check out the following options.

On Social Media. For advertisements run on social media, there is an option to embed music directly from streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music which gives you a good variety of songs without incurring any fees.
From Record Labels. Looking for something recognisable for an advert you want to share more widely than social media? Record labels offer advertisers music that’s under their ownership for royalty payments. The more your advert is shown and seen, the more you pay.
The Public Domain. Numerous websites host copies of public domain music, free to download and share without the risk of infringing copyright laws. Some of our favourites are Musopen, Open Music Archive and Digital History.
Directly From Artists. Interested in commissioning something original? If you don’t know any artists personally or through your business network, consider looking at freelance websites like Fiverr and Freelancer. Ensure the artist grants you the copyright at the end of the process.
Music Sites. Like Envato Elements, music from these sites is paid for either individually or on a subscriber plan. Once the track has been downloaded, you can use it as many times as you want.

Alternatively, if finding the perfect piece of music sounds like too much work, get in touch with Squideo. All of our videos include music. Have a look through our video examples to listen to some of our favourites!

Content Worth Gold

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

Squideo Submarine: Sarah's Symphonies

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:33:48 GMT

The first Video Producer taking the plunge aboard the Squideo Submarine is Sarah Irwin. Sarah has already contributed some almighty song choices for Squideo’s Halloween, Christmas and New Year playlists. We can’t wait to listen to her full solo selection and learn more about her musical style. Let’s get going and dive in!

Is this trip your bucket list fantasy or will it be the week from hell? Are you looking forward to the silence or are you hoping a witch’s curse will bring all the furniture to life so you have someone to talk to?

Was that a Disney reference? I like it!

It will definitely give me a lot of time to reflect and possibly send myself mad, but I guess you’ve gotta try everything once!

The only truth is music (thanks Jack Kerouac). Music is about to become your only companion aboard this journey. How much of a role does it play in your day-to-day life?

I listen to music every day, whether it be something motivational and happy to get me out of bed in the morning, or something to amp me up for the gym.

I also used to sing and play guitar a lot when I was a teenager, probably inspired most by my brother who played bass in a band called “That’s What She Said”; So I would tend to play with him sometimes.

In the submarine, no one can hear you sing. Talk us through your playlist – are you a fan of one genre or era, or do you like to mix things up?

Definitely mix things up. One second I could be singing along to The Wombats and the next it could be Tom Walker, followed swiftly by Post Malone. I have to give an honourable mention to the many Michael Bublé songs in my playlist choices. When you’re brought up with a dad who loves Michael Bublé it’s one of the only CD’s he will play in the car.

You might be the only crew member, but space is at a premium aboard the Squideo Submarine! You’ve been given strict orders to bring only one bag of personal effects. What are you taking?

I’m a very sentimental person, so photographs would top my list. I would have to bring my iPad. Food wise I’d have to bring some tiger bread, butter and crisps. If it wasn’t for those three things, I would be half the size I am now (laughs) I’m obsessed!

A week is a long time, just long enough to decorate your quarters for the trip and make it homey. What band posters are going on the wall?

My signed Lewis Capaldi CD’s would be first up, then it would have to be a poster from The Greatest Showman - the soundtrack for that blows me away every time. I would probably have some of The 1975’s artwork up there too, they are so good live it would be rude for me to not include them!

Do your musical tastes align with your family and friends or is it wildly different?

My music taste is a mix of both my parents and my brother. I grew up listening to different things with each of them. With my mum There Are Worse Things I Could Do from Grease was played on repeat until we got bored – then it would change to Abba. With my brother and my dad, it was The Script and Backstreet Boys. But me and my dad always listened to Boyce Avenue and Michael Bublé too.

Like smell, music can have strong associations with certain memories. We don’t want to consider how the Squideo Submarine will smell after a week; instead, choose a song you associate with your childhood.

See, I could say it is Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way as we used to always listen to it on car rides and take it in turn singing the verses like the actual members of the band. But, thinking about it, it would have to be Things by Robbie Williams featuring Jane Horrocks.

Our family has a New Year’s Eve party every year, and from a young age me and my dad would always sing this song on the karaoke. He’d do Robbie’s part and I’d do Jane’s. It stopped when I became a moody teenager (you know how it is) and I haven’t seen the karaoke machine out to sing it with him for the past few years… who knows, 2023 could be the year the Sarah and Steve duo make a return!?

Songs from our childhood are always so happy. Let’s choose a memory more potent to help you ignore the smell. What music do you associate with being a teen?

Kasabian, without a doubt. Specifically, Treat or Clouds . My best friend as a teen was given tickets to see them in Leeds for her birthday, so we went and managed to be at the very front, which was an amazing experience for my first gig. My friend managed to catch Sergio’s maraca and when he came off the stage, their band photographer managed to catch one of me clearly losing my mind (laughs).

Opening the window isn’t an option when you’re aboard the Squideo Submarine, but there is a decompression room with a dive suit should you want a walk on the ocean floor? Would you go? What would you hope to see?

I think I would, I’d be curious to see what lies out there. If I stayed on the submarine, I think I would only wonder “what if?” and regret it.

Living on a submarine is a quiet existence. So calm and peaceful… except… oh no… you have an earworm. What was the last song stuck in your head?

Daydream by Lily Meola is my favourite song at the minute and I have been playing it at least twice a day for around two weeks now. It’s such a nice song and it’s somewhat motivating.

Squideo videos look inkredible, but there’s also a soundtrack! Which piece of Squideo-approved background music always gets stuck in your head?

This one is one of my favourites, and I have seen the other producers use it occasionally. It is a song called Happy Upbeat Corporate Pop and we have used it in a video for 10Duke and Ardenia. It is just the perfect music to have in the background, it’s subtle.

It’s almost time to return home! The journey went a lot quicker with music, didn’t it? What song are you playing in celebration of your return?

Definitely a song called Just by Startisan. It is a song that’s featured in a film called Never Back Down 2 , one of my favourites. It’s one of those songs that motivates me, hence why it is my most played song in both my morning playlist and my gym playlist.

We returned to the surface where the H.M.S Fifty Squid was waiting to welcome the Squideo Submarine and its crew of one back onboard. Sadly, Aquaman wasn’t discovered on this expedition but the excursion gave us a great opportunity to explore the depths and breadths of the ocean with the one and only Sarah Irwin.

Join us next time, when we’ll take a trip beneath the waves with our Video Producer: Adam Leveson.

Creating the Perfect Video To Promote Your Mobile App

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 09:00:00 GMT

You’ve crafted the most magnificent mobile app, now you just need some users! Video is regularly used to advertise new apps on the market, either through in-app advertisements, social media or – for the larger app production companies – on television.

These videos are typically no more than thirty seconds long, meaning the video has to be concise and captivating. Your audience needs to watch it and immediately hit download, which is a big demand for such a short video.

In this feature, Squideo will explore how to create the perfect video to promote your mobile app. Let’s get started by examining the reasons to create a promotional video, then we’ll look at the perfect placement spots.

Why Should You Make a Promotional Video?

Squideo has had the pleasure of creating dozens of mobile app videos over the last several years, and we’re ready to share our experience of what goes into making a successful video! Here’s our top five reasons to make a promotional video for your app, along with some of our favourite examples from former clients.

1. Sell It. Why should people download your mobile app? The promotional video should highlight the best features and – if it’s a paid-for app – demonstrate value for money to convince viewers to purchase.

Check out this video Squideo made for Big Box Souq. The video for this shopping app perfectly address the target audience’s problems and proposes the solution: downloading their app.

2. Share It. Is your app location-based? A promotional video can target a specific area so people in this region know about the benefits it can bring them.

3. Play It. Gaming apps are perfect for promotional videos. Replicated gameplay can give viewers a feel of the game and a simplified overview of its rules.

4. Explain It. If your app is a little more complicated than a connect three game, a video can help users understand how to utilise it. Check out this video Squideo made for SafeCircle. SafeCircle’s security app has multiple features to protect users travelling by private car.

5. Buy It. Paid-for apps are a harder sell than free apps. Whether it’s a one-off payment or a subscription, a promotional video can convince viewers to take the plunge and invest in your app.

How to Promote Your Mobile App Video

You have an incredible app and an inkredible video, but now what? It’s time to let both see the light of day by sharing your video as widely as possible. Here’s Squideo’s top five suggestions to grow your audience and get as many users as possible!

1. In-app advertisement

A lot of free apps run in-app advertisements as a way to generate revenue. This can take the form of banners, pop-ups, and regular or optional video adverts. These video adverts often feature interactive elements which can direct the viewer straight to the app store so they can hit download.

2. Social media

Most social media platforms have advertisements, and adding yours can help your mobile app reach the perfect demographic. Using targeted advertising, you can specify country, age range, gender… putting your app in the sights of the people you made it for.

3. Tech websites

There are lots of websites out there that are the perfect spot for advertisement. Technology websites, review blogs, gaming sites… look at your target demographic and identify which websites they frequent.

If there are review blogs that focus on mobile apps like yours, it’s also worth reaching out and asking them to test your blog. It could earn you some good publicity amongst their followers.

4. Existing customers

Have you made mobile apps before? If you have, there’s an additional market you can tap into – all of your existing customers. Target them through adverts run in your other applications or use their contact information to send targeted information.

5. Television

Mobile adds don’t make up a huge segment of TV advertising, but they are becoming more common than they were five years ago. Due to the expense of television advertising, the shorter the video the better. Even something as short as 15 seconds can get your message out there.

You can also run what is a called a “top and tail advert.” These are two adverts in the same television break of 15 seconds each, giving a total length of 30 seconds.

Get Started with Your Video

Watch our video below to get a better understanding of how we create videos to suit your project brief.

If you want to discuss how our videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Squideo Submarine: Callum's Compositions

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 09:00:09 GMT

Our Production Manager Callum Major is the next member of the team to volunteer for a trip aboard the Squideo Submarine, the first expedition since our Christmas break. Callum already touched on his music favourites during his Back to the Beginning interview, so let’s dive and see what we discover this time!

Travelling to the ocean floor with no one for company except your own shadow. Dream or nightmare?

It wouldn’t be all bad, I like spending time with myself. Plus seeing life under the sea and all of the different types of fish would be pretty cool!

Some people have lives, some people have music (harsh John Green, harsh). Music is about to become your only companion. How much of a role does music play in your day-to-day life?

Music is a huge part of my day to day life, I am infamously known for always having my headphones with me. My friends and family joke about me having them anywhere I go, I love music and always have some on. I even have them on my Squideo Avatar.

There’s no one else around the consider the tastes of, so pick any music you like! Talk us through your playlist – are you a fan of one genre or era, or do you like to mix things up?

I love a wide variety of music, it depends on my mood that day. Mainly I like hip hop and R&B for the beats, as well as the clever rap lyrics – right now my favourite would have to be Little Simz. I also love older music, artists like Jim Croce and Johnny Cash amongst other stuff. I have playlists for different genres of music, as well as playlists to suit different moods.

You might be the only crew member, but space is at a premium aboard the Squideo Submarine! You’ve been given strict orders to bring only one bag of personal effects. What are you taking?

I'd take my phone – and be sure to download a few favourite films before leaving! Plus I'd be able to play chess against a computer on there. I'd also take a photo album and a good book, something big to chip away at, and finally a Rubik’s Cube to try and get some new personal best times!

The team at Squideo are always prepared. Like Boy and Girl Scouts. Should the unimaginable happen, and you get taken in by the crew of the Nautilus never to return to the surface again, what song do you think your family and friends would remember you by?

I'm not too sure on this, it's not something I have really thought of. I'd like it to be something happy, I wouldn't want anything depressing to be played to cause any further sadness. Moving onto the next question as this is too morbid!

Do your musical tastes align with your family and friends or is it wildly different?

Not really, my friends and family don't like my favourite artists. However, there's some crossover – for example my Grandad likes Abba and I'm a fan of them too! A lot of my friends are big on Indie music though, which isn't really high up in my favourites.

Like smell, music can have strong associations with certain memories. We don’t want to consider how the Squideo Submarine will smell after a week; instead, choose a song which you associate with your childhood.

Mambo Number 5 – this song is one of my first memories! I loved it, and every time I hear it I have a vivid memory of when I was younger and dancing to it. Also You've Got A Friend In Me due to my Toy Story obsession.

Don’t think about how the submarine smells! Instead, what song do you associate with a happy memory?

Going back to what I said about Abba, probably any of their hits. I have a great memory of my Grandad babysitting me and my sisters one night when we were younger, and instead of staying home he took us bowling, and on the way home he was blasting Abba through the speakers which made us laugh.

There is a hatch with a ‘break in case of emergency’ window. If the solitude gets too much would you go for a walk on the ocean floor? What would you hope to see?

I'll pass on that, I think that sounds like the beginning of a horror movie where an innocent walk would morph into me being taken hostage by some secret underwater creatures for trespassing...

It is quiet in the submarine. Except, oh no – you have an earworm. What was the last song to get stuck in your head?

I recently had the intro rhythm to Livin' La Vida Loca stuck in my head. I do like the song, but it was bugging me that I just couldn't remember what the name was for days! But finally I remembered.

Squideo videos look inkredible, but there’s also a soundtrack! Which piece of Squideo-approved background music always gets stuck in your head?

There was actually a track that me and a past employee used to joke about from the old "Tech" playlist. We had a variety of music playlists such as Easy Going, Corporate, Tech etc, and it was funny to us as the track didn't really suit our videos, but we eagerly awaited the day someone chose it just to see what sort of video was going to match its energy! Sadly that day never came, but the track stands out to me as a funny memory.

It’s almost time to return home! The journey went a lot quicker with music, didn’t it? What song are you playing in celebration of your return?

Back to Life by Soul II Soul and Caron Wheeler.

We returned to the surface where the H.M.S Fifty Squid was waiting to welcome the Squideo Submarine and its crew of one back onboard. Sadly, this expedition didn’t confirm sightings of a gigantic narwhale but the excursion gave us a great opportunity to explore the depths and breadths of the ocean with the one and only Callum Major.

Join us next time, when we’ll take a trip beneath the waves with our Video Producer: Sarah Irwin.

What Are Product Explainer Videos?

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 09:00:00 GMT

A product explainer video gives detailed instructions on how your product works and what its features are. There are lots of reasons to create a product explainer video, from debriefing your sales team to get the product out on the market to improving your customer aftercare provision.

Squideo has made plenty of fantastic product explainer videos over the years, which we’re going to explore in this feature. Read on for our tips on identifying the need for a product explainer video and what information to include if you decide to create your own.

Choose Your Audience

There are typically two audiences for a product explainer video.

An internal video is used for the sales team, who will become responsible for explaining the product’s features to stores interested in selling it. These videos can therefore be more technical than those produced for customers.

Videos for customers can be shared on your website and social media, or sent directly to them after purchase. Particularly useful for complicated products, providing an explainer video can relieve the strain on your customer service team. More entertaining than an FAQ page or lengthy instructional manual, improving customer aftercare will improve the rate of repeat custom and increase the number of positive reviews left for your product.

Let’s look at some examples of these videos in action and breakdown their effectiveness.

1. PrimeLase HR

This product is designed for use by beauticians. The video is designed for both the staff at PrimeLase HR (who will sell the product to this demographic) and the customers. As they are professionals in this field, the video can maintain quite technical in its description of the product’s uses despite it also being used externally.

2. FumiCan

This cleaning product comes with a simple instructional video explaining how the product is used by the customer. In just over a minute, the video explains the problem (COVID-19), the solution (FumiCan) and explains how customers activate its cleaning function. With onscreen instructions, any viewer who watches the video will come away confident they know how to use this product safely and effectively.

One Step at a Time

The content of your product explainer video will vary significantly depending on the product. Squideo has found, however, that there are five main chapters in these videos which can guide you when you are writing the script for your video.

Alternatively, get in touch with us about our whitelabel services and we can write an inkredible script for you!

1. What’s in the box?

The most exciting part of any new purchase is the unpackaging. Start the video showing the audience how the product should look and everything that is included with it. Tell them what to do if anything is missing, then guide them through any set-up processes.

Does it need fully charging before use? Is assembly required? Now’s the time to let them know.

2. Who, me?

The next step is the easy part: show off! What makes your product great? Are there hidden features the customer might not know about? This is the main portion of the video, and you should dedicate as much time as you can to making your product sound incredible. Your customers have already bought the product, but you want them to come away thinking your company is fantastic and ready to buy from you again.

3. Have you tried turning it off and on again?

Consider what problems customers new to the product could experience. Are there any easy mistakes to make? Compatibility issues? Troubleshoot these problems in this chapter of the video, demonstrating the simple steps they need to take to avoid or overcome the issue.

Finally, provide contact information for your customer service team. They can take it from there.

4. Would you like _____ with that?

Are there any optional add-ons that might take a product the extra mile? Let your customer know about these products now, then show them off in the video so they can learn how an extra investment can take their product from fab to fabulous. No additional features to offer? Instead, take the opportunity to mention other products in your range.

5. Are you satisfied with your care?

The last chapter of a video is for the Call to Action (CTA). For a product explainer video, there are three main options for this CTA. First, you can outline how to get in touch with your company in case there are any issues. Second, encourage them to leave reviews. Third, say something to get them buying more.

This could be a link to your online store, or perhaps a discount code for returning customers. Don’t waste the opportunity to bring them back for more.

Get Started with Your Product Explainer Video

Convinced a product explainer video is right for you? Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo creates explainer videos to suit your project brief.

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out more!

Advert Alchemy: The Slogan

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 09:00:10 GMT

Concocting the perfect advertising campaign takes a vivid imagination, solid branding, and dedication from your marketing team. On top of that, there are eight key ingredients that – once added – takes an advertisement from background noise to standout sensation.

In this series, Squideo is going to break down each of these eight ingredients. Follow our advice, and your next advert might just turn content into gold! This week, we’re starting with the bedrock of every company’s social presence: the slogan .

What is a slogan?

They're gr-r-reat!

The happiest place on Earth.

Snap! Crackle! Pop!

Just do it.

Finger lickin’ good.

Any of these sound familiar? The right slogan has the power to embed itself into the public mindset and become a part of popular culture. And even if it doesn’t reach the same legacy status as these global brands, the right slogan should become synonymous with your company.

It will represent your values, motivate your audience, and drive all future advertising campaigns. That means you shouldn’t come up with your slogan immediately. Give it a lot of thought, consider how it will appeal to your target demographic , and then think some more before making the commitment.

What is the difference between a slogan and a tagline?

While a slogan is for life, a tagline is much more interchangeable. Taglines can be reworked for different seasons and different products. The slogan is synonymous with your brand , just like a logo, and it should only be changed if you’re planning a major overhaul of your company’s look.

Taglines can be longer than the short, catchy slogan . This means they can be more descriptive, making them perfect for describing the products and services your company offers.

For example, Apple’s slogan is “Think Different” (replacing it’s 1970s to 80s slogan of “Byte into an Apple.”) When it launched its iPhone SE, it came with the tagline “A big step for small” to promote the compactness of this new iPhone model.

Coca-Cola’s slogan – “It’s the real thing” – has been accompanied by dozens of taglines since its creation in 1886. Which one made its biggest impact on you?

Catch the Wave.

You Can’t Beat the Feeling.

You Can’t Beat the Real Thing.

Make It Real.

Taste the Feeling.

Coca-Cola’s taglines use similar wordings to reinforce its branding throughout so many advertising campaigns. This is seen through its consistent use of the words “feeling” and “real.” Combined with its distinguishable red palette, this makes it easy for consumers to spot its advertisements at a glance.

Taglines can also be introduced for each product . Diet Coke had “Open Happiness.” Coke Zero got “Tastes More Like Coke.” Both fit with Coca-Cola’s brand, whilst informing consumers of the qualities that make this product stand out in the range.

Create Your Slogan

Ready to create a slogan of your own? Read Squideo’s tips below to produce the right slogan for you and your company. Or, if you would like direct marketing advice, get in touch with us.

1. Have It Your Way

Before you break out the rhyming dictionary or start drafting mnemonics, there’s an important question to answer: what do you want your slogan to say? Should it set you up as a modern, fun company. Or as a forerunner in your industry. Look to your brand for the answer – you want a slogan that will reflect you and your company.

2. Buy It. Sell It. Love It.

Toyota chose a simple slogan: “Let’s Go Places.” It reflects the product (motor vehicles, if you don’t know) and the minimalist look the brand embodies. Tesco chose to keep it monetary themed: “Every Little Helps.” It emphasises the company’s commitment to lowering costs for consumers.

Should your slogan be funny, serious, informative… It’s a question only you can answer! For inspiration, look at other companies in your field and companies targeting the same demographic . What are they doing?

Have a look at Squideo’s video for Qiiosk . Their slogan, “Information Everywhere,” connects them to their industry as an app developer.

3. Imagination at Work

Remember, the tagline is for detail. Your slogan should be short and to the point . How many famous slogans can you think of that are longer than five words? Probably not many. Set yourself a word limit to stop the slogan from running away from you – and your audience.

4. The Quicker Picker Upper

To make your slogan snappy, it must be fast, direct, and able to quickly roll off the tongue. Consider alliteration, puns and play on well-known expressions . This will make your slogan the most memorable it can be.

Have a look at Squideo’s video for Highlight . Taking this point to the extreme, their slogan is only two words: “See Clearly.”

5. Challenge Everything

History is full of advertising fails. Some are funny coincidences, like when a slogan creates an unfortunate acronym. Others can be more destructive, tarnishing the reputation of a brand. To avoid becoming a cautionary tale for future advertisers, test your slogan and test it well .

Not only should the slogan go through several members of your team, test it on your audience too. The benefit of social media is you can deliver it as a public vote, or run adverts featuring different slogans and delete those that are unsuccessful.

Share Your Slogan

Once you’ve got the perfect slogan for your company, it’s time to share it as widely as possible! Your slogan should be consistently present throughout your advertising campaign, becoming as synonymous with your brand as your logo.

That’s not to say it needs to appear on every piece of advertising – sometimes a tagline may be more appropriate. But often enough that when a customer hears it, they associate it with you.

1. Video Adverts

This is a Squideo blog, so we have to lead with video! Whether they’re destined for television, YouTube or your website – a slogan can take a video to the next level .

2. Billboards

Either static or animated, billboards are a great way to capture audience attention . Even a minimalistic design featuring a prominent slogan can go a long way – providing you’ve followed our tips and have come up with a winner!

3. Website

When someone arrives at your website, they will stay there for an average of 54 seconds. To convert an audience into customers, it’s important to capture their attention immediately .

Having a slogan front and centre is a great way to hook their interest. Show off your corporate values, encapsulate your company’s services, have some fun! Whatever the slogan, make sure it has a prominent place on your website.

4. Social Media

Most social media platforms have a word limit for your profile biography – making it the perfect spot to use your short and snappy slogan . Keep it short enough and you might even have some characters left over to add details about your services and location.

5. Paper Ads

Business cards, flyers, leaflets… each one is a worthy location for your slogan. The beauty of this traditional advertising medium is that your audience literally takes it home with them, giving your slogan plenty of time to work its magic.

Content Worth Gold

Get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can improve your advertising strategy with video production, motion graphics, social media management and much more!

Creating Characters for Explainer Videos

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 09:00:01 GMT

During your kick-off call with Squideo , our video producers will always ask if you want characters in your video or something more abstract. Animation offers a huge variety of options for characters, which can make this a tough question to answer. Are characters right for your brand? What style would suit for your explainer video?

Squideo’s talented video producers can create characters in a range of animation styles, with plenty of customisation options to ensure your brand is mirrored by the design. Read on to find out how we create the right characters for every explainer video and find out how we can make the perfect content for your business.

Why Should You Add Characters to Your Video?

Storytelling is one of the most important parts of an explainer video, keeping your audience entertained and focused while taking them on a journey through the subject you want to cover. Characters play an important part in storytelling, providing sources of emotion and personality that reflect your brand. They put a face to the corporate entity that is your business, improving recognition and humanising your brand.

Characters work at their best when producing a problem to solution video. By putting the characters in relatable situations, the audience is more likely to respond to the solution they find (your product or service) which converts viewers into customers.

How to Choose Your Characters

In the kick-off call , Squideo’s video producers will ask five important questions to find out if characters are right for your video and what style they should produce. Have a look through our list so you know what to expect.

1. Animating Rita

First of all, have you produced previous videos or images for your company? Did this content use characters? If it did and you want to maintain brand consistency, it’s worth adding characters into your new video. Ask our video producers to produce characters in these styles and we’ll make sure your new video fits seamlessly with those already in your collection.

Secondly, look through Squideo’s portfolio for character design inspiration. We’ve produced lots of videos in a range of styles, so have a look through for something that would align with your brand. If you’re unsure, share brand resources with our video producer and ask for guidance.

2. Luke, I Am Your Narrator

If you’ve chosen a voiceover to accompany your video, consider if you want a character to physically represent the narrator. Are you looking for a conversational presence, or perhaps a formal presenter? Watch the video Squideo made for Ideiio to see how an on-screen narrator can work for you.

3. Ready Character One

After deciding whether you want a visual representation of the narrator, there’s another important decision to make – how many characters do you want? Characters don’t have to take the lead, they can also be in the background. Do you want to depict your potential customers or your employees? Adding characters into the story can bolster the narrative, and provide a visual representation your audience can see themselves in.

4. The Employees New Clothes

If your video is about the provision of important services, it might be useful to include characters. They can show your customers what they can expect from your team: including how they’ll look. If your business has branded clothing, such as a uniform or safety equipment, Squideo can personalise your characters to feature these items. Prepare a few images of these items to help our designers make them as accurate as possible.

Alternatively, if your branded clothing is subject to change or you have a large collection, ask our video producers to create something generic which uses your logo.

5. Pro Fiction

Characters can be inspired by reality, but that doesn’t limit artistic licence. One of your employees can fly to the rescue like a superhero. A customer could be a talking cat. Background characters can have purple skin and orange hair to match your brand colours. In the world of animated explainer videos, anything goes!

Talk through any visual ideas you have for your video, even if it’s only the bare bones of a plot, and our team will create the animation style and characters to make it work.

Get Started with Your Explainer Video

Watch our video below to get a better understanding of how we create explainer videos to suit your project brief.

Interested? Whether you want characters in it or not, get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how an explainer video can benefit your business!

Have You Considered... Reddit?

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 09:00:02 GMT

In the last installation of Have You Considered , we investigated Tumblr – a platform for brave B2Cs looking to target the Millennial demographic. This time, we’re exploring Reddit.

Recently in the headlines for its role in destroying Wall Street’s short-selling of GameStop, Reddit has a mixed reputation amongst the general public and business community. Catering to a wide range of niche communities, from economic investments to craft tips, businesses have an opportunity to build a community with their target audience by utilising this platform.

What is Reddit?

Reddit is home to thousands of communities, endless conversation, and authentic human connection. Whether you're into breaking news, sports, TV fan theories, or a never-ending stream of the internet's cutest animals, there's a community on Reddit for you.

Founded in 2005, this platform has remained consistently popular for fifteen years as one of the top 100 websites in the world. Reddit is most used in the United States of America, which accounts for 47.82% of its total traffic. Its next largest audience is from the United Kingdom which makes up 7.6% of users, which is a large margin of difference. However, unlike the last platform we put under the microscope – Tumblr – there is greater diversity amongst the age of its users with the largest age demographics being the 18-29 and 30-49 ranges.

Unlike other platforms we have explored in this series, content on Reddit isn’t curated by an algorithm; rather it is circulated through up and downvotes and moderated by community volunteers. Characterised as a social news platform, Reddit supports a range of media uploads (including images, videos and audio) and offers advertising packages for businesses.

After joining Reddit, users follow communities which are centred around certain subjects. Their dashboard also shows the most popular recent posts from all Reddit users, which have the most upvotes. This gives users the opportunity to see content from a wide range of users; not just the accounts or communities they follow.

How Can Reddit Help Businesses?

Reddit can generate lots of traffic to your website and social media accounts, both advertising packages and free engagement with the community. Diving into the community is the most effective way to utilise Reddit and the more time you put on the platform, the more you will get out of it.

In addition to its marketing potential, Reddit is also a useful customer engagement tool and you can use its communication functions to provide customer services. This is useful for small businesses who don’t have a fully developed website, as subreddits can be created for specific problems, advice and products. Another advantage of this is that other customers can add their advice to these subreddits.

How to Utilise Reddit

Ready to take the plunge? Follow Squideo’s top five tips to get started on Reddit and utilise it for your business.

1. Market Research

Use communities to find out what your customers want, don’t want, like and don’t like. It is easy to find your customer base due to the existing niche communities and subreddits on the platform. Ask questions on existing posts and upvote content you like. The better your Reddit karma, the better your chance of getting upvotes on your posts and reaching other users’ dashboards.

2. Befriend Your Audience

Like Tumblr, the best way to succeed on Reddit is to lean into the uniqueness of the platform. Transparent marketing campaigns work best, instead of content shaped around trending content and hashtags – which performs better on sites like Instagram and TikTok. Generic marketing campaigns can often get downvoted because the creator is seen as being unengaged with the community – and community is the most important part of Reddit!

3. Learn From Dashboard

When it comes to trending content, don’t look at Google Trends, look at your Reddit dashboard. See what has got the most upvotes and try to replicate possible reasons for its success. Did it include video content? Does it use a bright colour palette? Maybe the content is humorous or educational? Learn from your dashboard and use what you see to improve your performance on the platform. Let it inspire you – but don’t copy it. That will only earn you downvotes and damage your Reddit karma.

4. Build a Community

When content is posted to Reddit, it takes on a life of its own as other users can up and downvote and add comments of their own. This allows existing customers of your product or service to contribute feedback and guidance, helping shape the perspectives of potential customers. Always engage with comments left on your posts. Each of these comments can be upvoted and has the potential to become more popular than the original post. You don’t want to be left out of the conversation, especially if it's attracted a lot of people to the table.

5. Host an AMA

AMAs stand for “Ask Me Anything”. Host an AMA on Reddit regardless of how big a following you have. If gives you an opportunity to tap into your community and answer questions you wouldn’t think to ask on a routine FAQ page.

Get Started with Video Marketing Today!

Hopefully, you found this installation of Have You Considered useful. Follow our blog to stay tuned while we explore other underutilised platforms and find ways to make your brand stand out. And speaking of standing out, check out our portfolio !

If you want to discuss how animated explainer videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today.

The Fish Tank: Dashing December

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 10:00:00 GMT

2022: Year in Review

It’s the time to look forward to the winter break and look back at everything we’ve accomplished this year; and what a year it’s been! In this edition of The Fish Tank, we’ll be diving through our biggest achievements of the year and sharing what’s in store for Squideo in 2023. So take a deep breath and let’s dive in…

This month, we have also launched a brand-new quote form on our website to simplify our process and get customers the information they need faster. This cool new form features a brand new video and, for desktop users, has some cool animations. These upgrades are just a small part of a huge website overhaul that we have been working on for the past few months and aim to fully unveil to you in early 2023.

Thank You!

We really wish every single one of our clients and suppliers a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Through a tough year we would like to thank you for your custom and look forward to seeing you again next year.

An extra shoutout to everyone who left a review for us on Trustpilot and Google Reviews. 2022 was the year we made it to 100 reviews on Trustpilot which is an achievement we're all really pleased with here at Squideo.

Ben Underwood and Adam Shelton

Squideo’s Directors

2022’s Top 5 Blogs

Squideo’s blog drops twice weekly on our website and LinkedIn, covering a range of topics from marketing tips, video production techniques, and behind-the-scene interviews with the Squid Squad. Our five most read blogs of 2022 makes up a diverse collection. If you haven’t read them already, click on the links below to check them out!

Client Example

It might be fun to reflect on the year that’s been, but there’s still work to be done at Squideo HQ. This month, we’re proud to share our latest video for Spell With Me .

We started working with Spell With Me in September 2022, and we’ve been blown away at how quickly this YouTube channel has grown. With over two thousand subscribers , each video we’ve made for Spell With Me has had a loyal viewership. This month, we’ve produced four music videos to accompany the launch of Spell With Me’s first album.

2022 in Video

We’ve taken a look back on our most popular Squideo Creates videos from this year and have produced a reel with our top contenders. From Lesley’s movie nostalgia hit to Callum’s day-in-the-life adventure, have a look back on the year to see what the Squid Squad were doing when they were meant to be working.

Follow our social media channels for our upcoming Squideo Social Media Awards too, and find out which Squid Squad member is taking home the trophy for the most successful video of 2022.

Motion Graphics vs Animation: What is the Difference?

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 09:00:01 GMT

Motion graphics and animation are two styles that are often confused, for a simple reason. Both are moving images, but were motion graphics are static images given movement, animation is a series of moving images.

Simple, right?

The best way to see the difference is to compare the two styles side-by-side. Have a look at the examples below. The first starts with motion graphics. The second example is a short which mixes 2D character animation.

Still confused? Well you’re not alone. Head onto Google and search the difference between motion graphics and animation, and you will find two main answers.

They’re the SAME! Motion graphics is just one type of animation.
They’re NOT the same! They’re two completely different artforms.

So simple.

To save on the simplicity, this article will focus on the difference between motion graphics and animation at Squideo and what you can expect if you order one of these two formats from us.

Motion Graphics

There are a lot of benefits to motion graphics , particularly in terms of their production. It is faster and easier to produce a motion graphic than animation and, once produced, a motion graphic can be reused as many times as needed.

As discussed in Squideo’s previous blog post on motion graphics , they can be used for numerous projects. Examples include motion graphic logos, advertisements, explainer videos and infographics.

Animation

Animation has been around for over 100 years, and it is a much-loved and enduring artform for a reason. It is engaging, entertaining and adaptive. An animated video has a clear narrative and is ideal for a story-focused plot. With dozens of artforms to choose from, it is easy for Squideo to make something unique and brand-appropriate for your business.

Which One is For You?

The choice between motion graphics and animation comes down to five main decisions you have to make to find the right style for your video project. Here are some of Squideo’s tips to help you make the decision between motion graphics and animation. If you would like additional expertise to find out the perfect style for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

1. Cost

The design choices of many projects are primarily influenced by cost. Squideo offers a competitive rate for the quality of service we deliver, but when it comes down to it motion graphics are cheaper to produce. Animated videos are usually longer in running length and add extra costs like script writing and voiceovers, which overall makes them more expensive – especially if you want a long video.

2. Time

Are you running to a tight schedule? Motion graphics can be quicker to produce and work well on projects with a short turnaround. Animation, especially if you’re looking for a complex animation style, works well for projects that can dedicate more time to production. Speak to our team to work out how quickly a video can be produced for you – and remember Squideo has express options available!

3. Audience

Different people want different products, and during the production phase it’s important to consider who will be viewing the finished graphic or video. Look at your archive or content produced by your competitors and what their audience has responded to, and use that research to inform your decision.

4. Reusability

If you plan to reuse your new content for years to come, think about which would be easier to amend if needed – for example if you update your brand guidelines or change logos. If you are unlikely to need amends, either option could work for you. If you are and want to keep amendment prices to a minimum, think about choosing motion graphics.

5. Branding

The final decision to consider is which style best suits your brand. Both motion graphics and animation are produced in various styles. Motion graphics can be character-based, abstract shapes or text-centred. Animation is either created in 2D or 3D, and follow numerous artforms. To decide which is right for you, look at examples of both styles and see what works best with your business’ branding .

Get Started with Your Marketing Video

Watch our video below to get a better understanding of who we are and how we can create motion graphics and animated videos to suit your project brief.

If you want to discuss how a motion graphic or animated video can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

What Are Interactive Infographics?

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 09:00:00 GMT

Infographics are incredibly effective at explaining complex concepts, making them a highly engaging information source. When infographics are animated or made interactive, they become even more successful at driving home important messages and facts that captivate your audience.

Squideo can create beautifully executed infographics with ultra-smooth transitions and a professionally simplistic design . Read on for our top tips on the benefits and uses of interactive infographics and find out how we can make the perfect content for your business.

What are the Benefits of Interactive Infographics?

93 percent of marketers say that interactive content is more effective for educating buyers, and 81 percent say it is more attention grabbing than static content. This is because interactive content generates twice as many conversions as passive content and is effective at differentiating a brand from its competitors.

There are many forms for interactive content, from shoppable videos to online quizzes, but interactive infographics also have their advantages. 85 percent of business to business (B2B) marketers were already using or planned to use interactive infographics as part of their marketing strategy in 2022.

Whether its interactive or animated, these infographics capture audience engagement, educate and are more likely to be shared – extending the reach of your content.

What are Interactive Infographics Used For?

There are no limits on the uses of interactive infographics, instead Squideo has taken six fantastic examples of interactive infographics used by a range of organisations to convey important information through this fun and entertaining format.

1. World’s Biggest Data Breaches and Hacks, Information is Beautiful (2021)

This infographic lives up to the name of its producer – Information is Beautiful. With a lot of data to explore on this vast subject, a traditional report or static infographic would be incredibly long and run the risk of alienating readers. This interactive infographic takes up a lot less space, without detracting from the enormity of the subject matter. Circles are used to show the scale of the issue of data breaches and hacks, each one interactive with weblinks connecting the circle to relevant data sources about the breach or hack.

2. Lit in Colour, Penguin (2020)

Penguin, the book publisher, produced a report in 2020 about ethnic minority representation in literature. Produced mainly for educators and government officials to challenge curriculum reading lists, the report managed to find a wider audience by creating this accompanying infographic. The biggest findings of the reports are distilled into eye opening statistics with bold colours and cartoonish animation helping maintain its audiences’ attention.

3. Gay Rights in the US State by State, The Guardian (2015)

The United States of America is a big country with a complex set of legislation given the devolved powers states hold separately from the national government. To find out the rights available to gay people in each of the fifty states could take a long time, but this interactive infographic by The Guardian simplifies the situation in an instant. Easily divided by geographic area, it’s quick to find the state you want and see from a glance how state rights affect access to marriage, employment and adoption.

4. Refugee Migration from 1975-2021, The Refugee Project (2021)

This interactive infographic takes the form of a global map, which visitors can click on to find out how many refugees come from or to each country across the past 50 years, distilling massive amounts of data taken from UNHRC which could take a researcher or casual viewer years to process. Clicking on the countries gives preliminary facts with an option to dive deeper into the infographic for more detailed information.

5. Top Dog Names by Breed, Visme (2018)

Not all interactive infographics are used for serious subjects, as this fun entry proves. Compiled by studying the records of five American cities, Visme put together this entertaining infographic which breaks down the most popular dog names for each breed.

6. Home Working and Staying Healthy, Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (2020)

At the start of the pandemic, a lot of us had to adjust to home working and it took some getting used to! Thankfully the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors had our backs (literally) by producing this infographic explaining how to create a safe work station at home to reduce the risk of eye strain and poor posture.

Get Started with Your Interactive Infographics

Watch our video below to get a better understanding of how we can create infographics , static or interactive, to suit your project brief.

Interested? If you want to discuss how an infographic or one of our videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Have You Considered... Tumblr?

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 14:04:21 GMT

In the last installation of Have You Considered , we investigated Pinterest – a platform ideal for B2Cs operating in America and Europe. This time, we’re exploring Tumblr.

Tumblr is a comparative underworld when compared to social media titans like Twitter and Facebook, with a smaller userbase and intrinsic counterculture which you must master before you can pass muster. But if you’re willing to dedicate the energy, Tumblr is ideal for creative businesses looking to target the Millennial demographic.

What is Tumblr?

Social network? No, it’s a mycelial network. It’s wholesome chaos. It’s the gay people in your phone. It’s your angle. It’s your devil. Tumblr is whatever you want it to be.

Oh, and influencers? Don’t even go here. This is your space. Every video you find, every quote you reblog, every tag you curate, every waterfall GIF you secretly gaze at in wonder – that’s all you. You’re the explorer. We’re just a map you all keep making. Welcome home. Welcome to weird. Make it yours.

Founded in 2007, Tumblr was created as a microblogging platform which was designed to be an informal counterpart to WordPress. Tumblr users create a blog, follow other blogs and create, like and reblog content. Its community features allow private messaging, like other social media sites, but users can also ask questions which show up on the blog as posts once the blog owner answers.

This function has been successfully used by celebrities and companies to engage with their fanbase. Notable examples of successful Tumblr accounts include those by American actor Will Wheaton, British author Neil Gaiman, and fast food chain Wendy’s.

Tumblr is most used in the United States of America, which accounts for 42% of its total traffic. Its next largest audience is from the United Kingdom which makes up 5.84% of users, which is a large margin of difference. This lack of diversity is carried over to its largest age demographic – Millennials make up a whopping 69% of users. This could soon change, however, as in 2022 61% of new users were from Gen Z.

The anonymity functions of the site mean that minority groups have a large presence on Tumblr – particularly members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Like other platforms we have explored in this series, Tumblr supports a range of media uploads including images, videos and audio. Unlike other platforms, however, text-based posts also perform well on Tumblr. This is because the platform was initially created as a microblogging platform and blogs still make up the core of its content.

How Can Tumblr Help Businesses?

If your main aim is to increase revenue, delete the app and retreat back to the safety of the social media giants which are designed around monetisation. If your main aim is to engage your userbase and build a community, cautiously approach. Because Tumblr is notoriously unmarketable. Yahoo bought the platform from its developers in 2013 for over $1.1 billion USD. When the site was most recently sold, from Verizon Media to Automattic, it reportedly went for $3 million USD.

Attempts by its owners to monetise the site have repeatedly failed, and some of its most successful money-raising campaigns have been minor schemes like selling Tumblr branded shoelaces. That’s not to say you can’t generate any revenue from Tumblr. Post+ was launched in 2021 which enables users to tip bloggers for the content they produce. And it is a place to build brand awareness, which can help with conversion, but don’t expect Tumblr to become your new marketplace.

Tumblr is ideal for creative businesses. Whether you produce quality blog content, videos or artwork, Tumblr can create a community for your products.

How to Utilise Tumblr

Ready to take the plunge? Follow Squideo’s top five tips to get started on Tumblr and utilise it for your business.

1. Make Your Mark

As Tumblr is a microblogging platform, it offers plenty of customisation options to make the blog your own. The blog page is fully customisable for colours and logos, there are HTML editing options, and you can even customise your domain name. Customising your domain name is particularly useful if you want your blog to be searchable outside Tumblr through search engines.

2. Tag It

Tagging is vital in getting your content seen, and its become a practiced artform on other platforms due to character limits. Tumblr operates on a different level. Post tags are separate from the caption and has unlimited characters. Once you post, the tags are condensed to streamline user dashboards meaning your content will find its way to the right people without running the risk of annoying them by taking up screen space with a mountain of tags.

There is a tagging etiquette on Tumblr, however, and its easy to alienate users by using tags which are irrelevant to your content. So tag considerately.

3. You’ve Got Mail

If you’re going to Tumblr, you’re going for the community. And there is no better way to build a community then by enabling Tumblr’s messaging function. This allows users to submit questions (with an option to deliver anonymously), share posts to your blog and send direct messages (DMs). Depending on the product or service you are using Tumblr to promote, followers can use this function to give feedback, ask questions or even just shoot the breeze.

4. Please Tip Generously

Introduced in 2021, Post+ enables users to link their blog to Stripe to collect tips from their followers. This is particularly useful for creatives who post original content like artwork, videos and music. This function is still relatively new to the site, so it remains to be seen how effective it will be in generating revenue for Tumblr users.

5. Embrace the Chaos

Affectionately called a “hellsite” amongst its own userbase, Tumblr has a lot of quirks which is what has kept its loyal fanbase around for 15 years. From an April Fools Day prank which allowed users to send virtual crabs to the home screen of their mutual followers, to trolling Elon Musk by enabling users to buy multiple blue check verification marks, Tumblr knows its reputation and has leant into it. To succeed, you must take a leaf out of Tumblr’s playbook and embrace the chaos.

Get Started with Video Marketing Today!

Hopefully, you found this installation of Have You Considered useful. And if you decided to join Tumblr, don’t forget to give Spotify a follow.

Stay tuned over while we explore other underutilised platforms and find ways to make your brand stand out. And speaking of standing out, check out our portfolio ! And, if you want to discuss how animated explainer videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today.

What Are the Best Animated Music Videos?

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 09:00:01 GMT

Animated videos have lots of uses, from advertising to educating to entertaining. Perhaps one of its most entertaining uses is by musicians who employ different animation techniques to create their music videos. Prevalent from the 1980s onward, animation has been used in a variety of ways to strengthen a song’s narrative, reflect the personality of the artists and capture their audiences’ attention.

Squideo is going to break down ten animated music videos to explore a range of styles and genres, suitable for a range of budgets. If you are interested in creating your own animated music video, check out Squideo’s recent work for Spell With Me or get in touch with us directly for expert guidance.

01. Yellow Submarine by The Beatles (1968)

Before the launch of MTV in 1981, The Beatles created a feature-length music video with their film Yellow Submarine . The titular track was included in the film and this sequence has since been used to create an individual music video for the song. Yellow Submarine is considered a landmark in 2D animation and contributed toward the legacy of the song.

Led by animators Robert Balser and Jack Stokes, the psychedelic style of the film reflects the dreamy nature of the lyrics ( Yellow Submarine was written by McCartney/Lennon as a children’s song) and the bright pop-art colours make a memorable splash. 2D animation is utilised to support the song’s narrative, as well as the film’s overall narrative of The Beatles travelling through an underwater paradise.

02. Take on Me by A-ha (1985)

Combining 2D animation with live-action , this iconic eighties track set the trend of animating music videos. The original live-action video inspired little success for the 1984 song, which caused a major rethink at Warner Brothers (A-ha’s record label) before a second video was released. Combining line animation, rotoscoping and live-action, this music video made Take On Me a global hit.

The music video for Take On Me became iconic and has been parodied numerous times in film and television, as well as by other musicians. Take On Me is considered a milestone in animated music videos and certainly inspired a trend continued by other entries on this list.

See Also: Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul (1988); Hope for the Future by Paul McCartney (2014) and; Caught in the Middle by Paramore (2018).

03. Money for Nothing by Dire Straits (1985)

3D animation , which now includes computer-generated imagery ( CGI ), helped Dire Strait’s music video stand out at a time when animated music videos were having their biggest moment. Trading in 2D for 3D, Money for Nothing still incorporated live-action elements to the video to showcase the artists’ skill, which were rotoscoped for added visual interest.

Its use of 3D images, particularly of human characters, was a gamble since the technology was still in its infancy but the novelty of the format is what contributed to the song’s success. While the band was initially reluctant to create a music video, its success on MTV is credited with propelling the single to No.1 and making it Dire Straits’ most commercially successful song.

See Also: Go to Sleep by Radiohead (2003).

04. Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel (1986)

This stop-motion live-action animated music video made Peter Gabriel a chart-topping artist, and it went on to be the most-watched MTV music video of all time. The use of stop-motion animation creates a visual distortion which matches the destructiveness of the titular object (the sledgehammer).

An early showcase for Nick Park, later of Wallace and Gromit fame, plasticine was also utilised for this stop-motion masterclass. While it wasn’t the first music video to use these techniques – see Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads – the deftness in which they were employed has made Sledgehammer the benchmark for all stop-motion animated music videos that proceeded it.

See Also: Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads (1985), Leave Me Alone by Michael Jackson (1989); Fell in Love with a Girl by The White Stripes (2002), and; Strawberry Swing by Coldplay (2009).

05. Innuendo by Queen (1990)

The penultimate album by Queen and the last released before Mercury’s death, Innuendo was its title track. The band’s first number one hit since Under Pressure in 1981, Innuendo ’s accompanying music video was created with rotoscoped animation, live-action footage and stop-motion . Rotoscoping is an animation technique which overlays live-action footage frame-by-frame to simulate realistic movements and facial features.

This technique made the production of Innuendo ’s music video a relatively simple process as no new footage was required to create the video, instead clips were taken from previous Queen music videos and spliced together with animation to create new and unique content.

See Also: Go With the Flow by Queens of the Stone Age (2003) and Heartless by Kanye West (2008).

06. Do The Evolution by Pearl Jam (1998)

Produced by comic book legends Kevin Altieri (of Batman: The Animated Series ) and Todd McFarlane (of Spawn ), from the moment of its conception Do The Evolution was going to be a fantastic piece of 2D animation . It ended up taking over 100 artists a month to animate the video and for their efforts Do The Evolution was rewarded with a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video (ultimately losing out to Scream by Michael and Janet Jackson).

Heavily influenced by the artistic style of American comic books, the video pays homage to several sources including Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman and animator Hugh Harman. It remains one of Pearl Jam’s most popular music videos, despite the single failing to break into the Top 30 charts.

See Also: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me by U2 (1995); Superheroes by Stormzy (2019), and; At the Door by The Strokes (2020).

07. Move Your Feet by Junior Senior (2002)

Like many music videos created with pixel animation , Move Your Feet was visually inspired by video games of the 1980s and 1990s. This budget production was created using EA’s Deluxe Paint , proving that a music video hit doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.

The video was produced by a British art collective who produced animated and live-action artwork. The video helped Move Your Feet become Junior Senior’s highest ranking hit, particularly in the UK where it ranked at No.3 on the singles chart.

See Also: Careless Whisper by Seether (2009); Wait for Me by Moby (2010), and; We Come Together by Goldfish (2011).

08. Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz (2005)

Many animated music videos featured on this list are standout videos for the artist(s) involved, but in the case of Gorillaz it is a staple of their brand. Their iconic Feel Good Inc. video merges regular 2D animated characters with live-action footage of the band’s collaborators.

Each of the band members have their own animated counterpart, with rich fictional backstories that inform the narrative of the band’s music videos. Gorillaz videos are influenced by Japanese manga, particularly the work of Hayao Miyazaki whose film Castle in the Sky inspired some scenes in Feel Good Inc.

See Also: Paranoid Android by Radiohead (1997); Feels Like Summer by Childish Gambino (2018), and; Birds by Imagine Dragons (2019).

09. Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys (2013)

This line animated music video uses a simple black background and white line which could easily be replicated for a budget music video. Infused with 2D animated scenes , the music video for Do I Wanna Know? stylistically reflects the album cover ( AM ) and the consistently minimalistic style of the band’s brand.

In 2020, it became one of only a dozen rock genre music videos to reach over 1 billion views on YouTube (as of 2022). This genre traditionally sticks to live-action music videos, but the success of Do I Wanna Know? suggests that animation could be the best way to stand out.

See Also: Breaking the Habit by Linkin Park (2004).

10. Levitating by Dua Lipa (2020)

Produced in collaboration with the social media platform TikTok, Levitating’s original music video is a mixed-media marvel which includes a CGI levitating “intergalactic dance floor.” This collaboration video , in which Dua Lipa is accompanied by DaBaby, was followed by a solo video which was fully animated.

Produced in a Japanese anime style reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s, this version shows that there is still a trend for 2D animated music videos which can be traced right back to the beginning of this list. From the pop-art colours reminiscent of Yellow Submarine to the Japanese-inspired characters like those in Feel Good Inc. , Levitating uses animation to create a truly memorable video.

See Also: One More Time by Daft Punk (2001) and Starlight Brigade by TWRP (2018).

Get Started with Your Animated Music Video

If you’re feeling inspired by this list of the Best Animated Music Videos and are ready to get started on making your own, watch Squideo’s video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can create the perfect videos to suit your project brief.

If you want to discuss how one of our videos can benefit you, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

How Do You Make a Good Onboarding Video?

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 09:00:01 GMT

Onboarding videos are used by companies and businesses, large and small, to welcome new members of staff or introduce existing staff to new practices, equipment or procedures.

These workplace resources offer great reusability and can simplify even the most complex training procedures through entertaining, brand reflective visuals . More importantly, this one time investment saves the long-term costs of hiring training staff to deliver sessions.

Onboarding videos can be used in combination with face-to-face training sessions or, in a world of remote work, can be sent straight to the employee. But is an onboarding video right for your business, or are you better off sticking with traditional training methods?

Onboarding Video vs. Training Sessions

Traditional training sessions still retain a host of benefits. Not only does it give attendees the opportunity to ask a trained professional follow-up questions or seek clarification, but it also allows networking between employees. For large businesses, this alone may outweigh the benefits of onboarding videos. For smaller businesses, however, training sessions have their downsides.

Training staff must either be hired externally or, if it is a regular employee, pulled away from their regular tasks. Depending on the number of people in attendance, there are also the costs of renting a venue and providing refreshments.

Regardless of your company’s needs, Squideo has identified five main benefits of using onboarding videos. Read on or, if you would like expert advice from our team on how an onboarding video could benefit your business, get in touch with us directly.

1. The Time Saver

Onboarding is a time-consuming process for all involved parties. Using an onboarding video frees up staff and keeps training running to a specific time. If used in a training session, the training leader can start the video then step away to complete their regular tasks until it’s time to take questions.

2. The Family Favourite

No matter how many times you need to deliver onboarding, the video can be replayed over and over again. And its reusability isn’t only an advantage to the business. Make it available to your employees so they can refresh their onboarding information whenever they need.

3. The Life Saver

Depending on the industry, onboarding videos may need to cover complex topics – like safety procedures, safeguarding or data protection – or a large variety of topics. Death by PowerPoint is all too real and it’s easy to lose an audience with complex or dry content. Visuals help retain interest and simplify difficult concepts through the use of motion graphics , infographics and video .

4. The Mascot

In large businesses which have several branches, onboarding videos maintain important consistency when it comes to messaging and company branding . Make sure your employees understand company policies and procedures, no matter where they are.

5. The Entertainer

The thought of training sessions may automatically fill some people with immense boredom, but training can be entertaining if its delivered right. It’s an opportunity to fire-up employees, get them excited about the job or new changes ahead. Onboarding videos are a great way to do this, with powerful visuals, lively audio and energetic narration.

What are Onboarding Videos Used For?

Onboarding videos are an introduction, and there are a lot of potential people to introduce. Whether they’re existing staff, newcomers or visitors, Squideo has broken down the top six uses for an onboarding video below.

1. New Hires

Introduce new employees to company policies and procedures, explain the management hierarchy and show what an average day will look like. Onboarding videos can be customised for different departments or, if it’s for a smaller business, kept generalised for maximal use.

2. Refresher Training

Some training content needs refreshing on a routine basis to ensure employees stay up-to-date on the latest legislation or procedures. Onboarding videos are easy to update or add to, while keeping the core message intact.

3. Customers

Introduce new customers and users to your services with an onboarding video. This explains what they can expect throughout the journey and how your business will support them. Have a look at Squideo’s process video which is sent to new customers who sign up to have a video made by us.

4. Company Changes

Merger? New software? Pension update? There’s lots of reasons you might need to contact your employees about important company changes. Using an onboarding video introduces everyone to the topic and breaks it down. No need to host numerous meetings, just send a video.

5. Visitors

Your business may accept visitors on-site, but while they’re your guests it’s also important for them to follow some basic rules. An onboarding video condenses this information and clearly shows visitors what they can expect on their tour, what rules apply to them, and where to go in an emergency.

6. Interns

Whether your business offers apprenticeships and internships, work placement opportunities, or open days for local schools, colleges or universities, an onboarding video combines the on-site rules of a visitor video with an introduction to your industry. Sell your audience on the benefits of working in your company. You can also use these videos at recruitment fairs! Check out this video Squideo made for people interested in working in the digital sector.

Get Started with Your Onboarding Video

Watch our video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo creates our videos and works to create the perfect content for you.

If you want to discuss how our videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Have You Considered... Pinterest?

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:00:01 GMT

In the last installation of Have You Considered , we investigated Clubhouse – a relative newcomer to the social media forum which launched in 2020. Clubhouse is an ideal platform for B2Bs, however, it’s not for everyone.

For businesses who are targeting customers, Pinterest offers a diverse audience especially in the American and European market.

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a visual discovery engine for finding ideas like recipes, home and style inspiration, and more.

With billions of Pins on Pinterest, you'll always find ideas to spark inspiration. When you discover Pins you love, save them to boards to keep your ideas organised and easy to find. You can also create Pins to share your ideas with other people on Pinterest.

Founded in 2009, Pinterest has one of the most diverse userbases amongst its competitors. The majority of its userbase lives in the United States of America, Germany, France, Canada and the United Kingdom – but of its users it has a diverse age demographic. The largest segment is the 25-34 age range, however it has strong numbers in all demographics besides 65+ (2.9%) which is a difficult group to target through social media platforms. Furthermore, unlike other platforms, the majority of Pinterest’s userbase is female (60%).

This makes Pinterest a potential asset for American and European businesses looking to target their customers. Like Instagram and TikTok, it is a visual-centred platform. Unlike these larger platforms, Pinterest offers businesses an opportunity to engage with multiple demographic segments through one campaign.

While images remain the most popular upload on Pinterest, its users also watch close to one billion videos a day on the platform. This gives businesses an opportunity to utilise pre-existing marketing materials made for other platforms without having to update its format, content or dimensions. Pinterest offers ad packages, which are set up to bolster the targeting and reach of video campaigns.

How Can Pinterest Help Businesses?

Pinterest is ideal for B2Cs and small businesses. The platform is particularly popular amongst educators and creatives. Set your business up using a business account to unlock analytics and add more detailed information to your profile.

1. Inspire Customers

Many Pinterest users access the platform for inspiration. Maybe they have a problem that needs solving or are looking to spark their creativity. Either way, by sharing quality content on Pinterest you can ensure that the inspiration they find leads them to your business!

2. Build Brand Awareness

Ensure everything uploaded to Pinterest contains your brand’s logo. Pinterest enables content to be shared widely and images shared on Pinterest will also appear on Google Images. This gives large scope for your content to spread, but don’t lose the credit. You should always include a link to your website with each pin – this could be a blog post, an online store or a company website.

3. Drive Sales

Pinterest drives 3.8 times more sales than other platforms and 87% of Pinners have purchased a product because of Pinterest. While Pinterest has fewer active users when compared to social media giants like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, this high conversion rate compensates for a smaller audience.

4. Curate

Boards are used by users to categorise saved pins to make it easier to find content at a later date. Curate your uploads to make it easier for potential customers to find what they’re looking for; specifically – your business.

5. Engage Customers

Like other social media platforms, Pinterest can be utilised as a tool for customer engagement. Build a community by following similar accounts or create content which engages other accounts. Check out this video Squideo made to thank other Hull-based business – Scribes Digital Printing – for creating their branded shirts.

How to Utilise Pinterest

Creating an account on Pinterest isn’t enough to build followers and increase customer conversion. Like all social media platforms, your campaign needs to be carefully designed for success. Follow Squideo’s top five tips to find marketing success on Pinterest.

1. Pin Your Website

Pinterest offers an API (application programming interface) with makes it easy for your website visitors to save you on Pinterest for later review. If a visitor is browsing your website and sees an image or product they like, the API allows them to hit a “save” button and add it to their Pinterest account. Once they share it to Pinterest, anyone on the site can see the image – expanding your viewership even further.

2. Use the Right Pin

Rich Pins are available to Pinterest business account users and add extra details to your posts (Pins). There are four types of Rich Pins to use and it’s important to get your choice right to drive traffic to your website.

Article Pins. Attaches the headline, author and article description underneath the Pin; ideal for bloggers.
Product Pins. This adds real-time pricing, availability and store location to your post.
Recipe Pins. Gives a snapshot of the required ingredients, cooking time and serving size.
App Pins. Adds an “install” button so users can download your app without leaving Pinterest. This is only compatible with iOS apps.

3. Upload High-Quality Content

On visual platforms like Pinterest, quality is important. Upload photos and videos at a high resolution to make them more shareable. 80% of people on Pinterest use the mobile app , which means it is better to use portrait dimensions instead of landscape. This makes your image or video fill the entire screen as the user scrolls. The maximum aspect ratio for Pins is 1:2:8.

4. Search-Friendly Captions

Pinterest is fantastic for SEO, so utilise search-friendly captions to propel your content toward the top of the results page. Analyse popular keywords for your business or products and start including these keywords into your Pin captions.

5. Reflect Your Brand

Whilst Pinterest doesn’t offer many profile customisation options, it is easy to create a Pinterest aesthetic. Keep your uploads looking uniform and related to your brand. Use the same colours, font and style, and add your logo wherever possible. Create custom covers for your Pinterest boards too using creators like Photoshop or Canva. You can also give your boards similar names. The goal is for your brand to become immediately recognisable to your Pinterest audience. To accomplish that, consistency is key.

Get Started with Video Marketing Today!

Hopefully, you found this installation of Have You Considered useful. Stay tuned over the next two months while we explore other underutilised platforms and find ways to make your brand stand out.

Speaking of standing out, check out our portfolio ! And, if you want to discuss how animated explainer videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today.

Squideo Submarine: Hannah's Harmonies

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 09:00:01 GMT

Our Creative Director Hannah Bales is the next member of the team to volunteer for a trip aboard the Squideo Submarine. After getting a sense of our team’s musical tastes with our Halloween playlist last month, the submarine might just be sporting a pair of Mickey Mouse ears when it returns to the surface. Let’s dive and see what happens!

Solo missions aren’t for everyone. Is this solo mission aboard the Squideo Submarine your version of a fun vacay or will you need to make fruit friends to maintain your sanity?

I’m very much in-between. I love to have some time on my own, whether it’s gaming, listening to music or anything creative (design/photography related). I prefer to stay at home, but once I’m out and about with friends I really enjoy their company and making lots of memories.

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent (thanks Victor Hugo). Music is about to become your only companion. How much of a role does music play in your day-to-day life?

Let’s just say I could not live without music. I’ll use it to get in the zone at work or alternatively I’ll play some chill music whilst gaming. I really like the game Fallout 4 because it has an in-game radio ( Diamond City Radio ) that you can listen to. For other games, I’ll just put my Spotify on in the background.

I don’t play any instruments, but I would love to be able to play the guitar. At the moment I’ve got too much on my plate, but that is definitely on my list.

One advantage of the solo mission is you can play whatever music you want without having to worry about the musical tastes of anyone else. Talk us through your playlist – are you a fan of one genre or era, or do you like to mix things up?

My music taste varies a lot, so I tried to put as much variation into the playlist. (I did leave some of my favourite tracks off this playlist because they had too many swear words haha). Rock music, Disney music, alternative music, 1920s music, musicals… I can listen to anything depending on the day or my mood.

You might be the only crew member, but space is at a premium aboard the Squideo Submarine! You’ve been given strict orders to bring only one bag of personal effects. What are you taking?

This is a tough question. If I could bring anything, I’d most probably bring: my Xbox, camera and phone. I would use my camera to take pictures of my Squideo adventure, then play my video games when I want to be immersed in another world. Phones do everything nowadays, so that’s always a great thing to have.

I’m sure Cody will be on the pier to bark goodbye, along with the rest of your crewmates, friends and family. If they threw you a Bon Voyage party, what music would your friends and family pick for you?

The first song that comes to mind is In the Big Blue World from Nemo the Musical . As it’s about exploring the ocean. Although, I feel like my family would pick something like Beyond the Sea as that can also be found in the film Finding Nemo and also one of my favourite video games – Bioshock .

Do your musical tastes align with your family and friends or is it wildly different?

100 percent!

Rock music. From my parents and my partner. My Mum loves Foo Fighters , my Step-Dad is obsessed with Iron Maiden and Lewis is a huge Slipknot fan.
Older classics. My Grandad inspired this one, we share an interest in artists like Nat King Cole and Glenn Miller.
Disney. My whole family is Disney-obsessed, especially my Mum. Disney music – especially the park music – helps me relive so many happy memories.
Musicals. Recently I’ve been going to Hull New Theatre to see musicals with my Grandma like Bugsy Malone and Bedknobs and Broomsticks .

Like smell, music can have strong associations with certain memories. We don’t want to consider how the Squideo Submarine will smell after a week; instead, choose a song which you associate with your childhood.

Splash Mountain Medley – this reminds me of family memories at Disney World – and Dancin’ a Catchy Rhythm – I always thought of this song speaking to me, wishing I could be back at Disney World.

Good memories certainly takes the edge off the deafening silence of the ocean. Is there a song you associate with a different time you went travelling?

Mostly always Disney Park Music from the parades and shows such as Fantasmic , Dream Along with Mickey , Jammin’ Jungle Parade , the list goes on. I even listen to the ride audio because I love to relive the memories and it transports me to the happiest place on earth.

Amongst the provisions you’ll find aboard the Squideo Submarine, there’s a dive suit in case you need a break from the same four walls. Would you go for a walk on the ocean floor? What would you hope to see?

The scene from The Little Mermaid instantly comes to mind. Seeing all of the sea creatures singing and dancing. Alternatively, I can’t help but imagine bobbing along the beautiful briny sea like in Bedknobs and Broomsticks .

Our brain likes to fill moments of silence, whether we want it to or not! What was your last earworm?

So many! The one's I recently had were Off with the Head (by Palaye Royale), Samantha's Gone (by Corey Taylor) and Lost (by Avenged Sevenfold).

Squideo videos look inkredible, but there’s also a soundtrack! Which piece of Squideo-approved background music always gets stuck in your head?

I’m going to be completely predictable and go with the totally catchy kids songs that we’ve been working on for Spell With Me. I’m hooked. I’ll choose the latest one we made: If You’re Happy and You Know It.

It’s almost time to return home! The journey went a lot quicker with music, didn’t it? What song are you playing in celebration of your return?

Unbound (The Wild Ride) by Avenged Sevenfold.

We returned to the surface where the H.M.S Fifty Squid was waiting to welcome the Squideo Submarine and its crew of one back onboard. Sadly, no mermaids green with human envy were discovered on this expedition but the excursion gave us a great opportunity to explore the depths and breadths of the ocean with the one and only Hannah Bales.

Join us next time, when we’ll take a trip beneath the waves with our Production Manager: Callum Major.

10 Best Video Hosting Platforms in 2022

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 09:00:00 GMT

Every year the rate of video watch hours increases, and 2022 was no different. 68% of adults in the UK watch online videos every single day, averaging at 5 per day (not including on-demand streaming content).

After investing in creating your perfect Squideo video, it is important to give placement a lot of thought. Good placement is the difference between your video gaining the audience it deserves and it only being seen by your relatives when its shared on Facebook.

There is no shortage of video hosting platforms from the infinitely popular YouTube to the lesser-known JetPack VideoPress. Read on for Squideo’s in-depth exploration of our pick for the ten best video hosting platforms in 2022. Or, if you would like additional expertise, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

1. Brightcove

This American platform was launched in 2004, making it a year older than YouTube. Despite being lesser-known than its younger companion, Brightcove has a lot to offer.

First and foremost, it is known for its robust security features which have become appreciated in an age of hacked accounts and stolen content. And while some video hosting platforms focus on website embedding, the developers at Brightcove have long kept the platform up-to-date in regard to app integration; making it ideal for sharing content to your social media channels.

2. Dailymotion

With the second largest userbase on this list (350 million monthly viewers), Dailymotion is well worth considering when looking for platforms to upload your latest video masterpiece. This French platform has a global userbase and was an early supporter of high-resolution videos back in 2008. Dailymotion has always stayed ahead of the curve, which is why it holds onto a loyal userbase.

Unlike YouTube, Dailymotion has carved out local communities within its platform making it easier for users to find content relevant to them and for businesses to reach the right audiences. Utilise the platform’s detailed analytics to monitor your video’s performance and customise your page to reflect your brand.

3. JetPack VideoPress

Designed by WordPress for WordPress, JetPack VideoPress was created with one key aim: seamlessly embed videos onto websites hosted by WordPress. And in that function, JetPack is ideal.

As content uploaded to this platform is intended to be viewed on a website, JetPack is advert free with plenty of customisation options to ensure your video truly reflects your brand. As this platform is designed for embedding, however, it means there is no built-in audience. Your video will look perfect on your website, but it won’t pick up any viewers on JetPack itself.

4. Spotlightr

Formerly called vooPlayer, Spotlightr is the ideal place for serious content creators looking for additional control over their channel and videos, with greater opportunities for monetisation.

With these benefits, however, comes the price tag. Unlike other video hosting platforms, Spotlightr’s free features offer little. This is because the platform is geared toward businesses and more advanced creators, and with investment comes a host of features that other sites don’t offer at any level.

Creators have control over video ads and can insert ads before and after your video. Interactions are insertable throughout with popup embeds and built-in social sharing elements, perfect for Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

5. SproutVideo

SproutVideo offers sharing and collaboration tools perfect for businesses looking to capture leads, build an audience and receive advanced video analytics. This video hosting platform was built to drive growth and there are plenty of tools available to help businesses accomplish this.

Offering up to 8K resolution on its videos, SproutVideo offers password protection on videos and video editing tools like watermarks and custom thumbnails. It is one of the pricier entries on this list – however with investment comes reward.

6. Uscreen

Uscreen is designed to offer videos as an on-demand subscription service, just like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Like Spotlightr, Uscreen makes the content creator the beneficiary of video monetisation instead of the video hosting platform (for example, on YouTube 45% of advert revenue goes to the platform instead of the content creator.) Uscreen also offers live-streaming for subscriber engagement, and its apps allow users to access your content from different devices.

7. Vidyard

Designed to host and analyse video performance, Vidyard was launched in 2011 as a solution to Vimeo and YouTube.

Responding to the criticisms of these leading platforms, Vidyard is advert-free and offers additional video editing and CRM tools which are a big plus for content creators. To fund these premium features, this Canadian video hosting platform offers both free and paid membership, starting from $19 for individuals with business packages available.

8. Vimeo

One of the better known platforms on our list, Vimeo has a sizeable built-in audience of 230 million people per month. While this may seem small compared to the colossal userbase YouTube boasts, it is still a significant audience.

Additionally, it has fantastic analytic functions and setting customisations which make the platform incredibly business-friendly. Its customisable privacy settings are also ideal for creators who prefer to upload and schedule in bulk.

9. Wistia

Like Spotlightr, Wistia is an ideal platform for businesses and serious content creators. Its insightful analytics and customisation options offer serious competition to YouTube, and makes Wistia more of a digital marketing solution than a video hosting platform.

Without ads or external video recommendations to distract your audience, Wistia makes it easier to engage viewers and its customisation options keeps your branding at the forefront.

10. YouTube

Last but most certainly not least, is YouTube. The behemoth of video platforms, YouTube is not only the most used video platform but is also the second most visited website in the world after Google.

As one of the go-to video hosting platforms for many content creators, YouTube has a monthly userbase of 2 billion people, which means it offers a built-in audience just waiting to watch your video.

By utilising SEO efforts, your content can easily rack up views. However, be wary of trying to use any music or clips which you do not have the rights to, as YouTube is infamous in its approach to potential copyright.

Get Started with Your Marketing Video

Watch our video below to get a better understanding of how Squideo can create the perfect videos to suit your project brief.

If you want to discuss how one of our videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Have You Considered... Clubhouse?

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 09:00:07 GMT

In the last installation of Have You Considered , we expounded the benefits of Spotify in helping a business standout amongst an oversaturated social media market. Adding an audio component to your marketing strategy, alongside face-to-face outreach and video, creates a multisensory campaign which helps engage different customer segments.

Spotify helps humanise a brand and introduces creativity to your marketing plan. If you’re operating as a Business to Business (B2B) however, there is a more business-focused platform you could use to accomplish this: Clubhouse.

Clubhouse had its fifteen minutes of fame in 2020 when it first launched amidst a changing business landscape. It spiked in popularity and, while it may have fallen slightly off the radar since, Clubhouse remains an innovative platform. It offers businesses an opportunity to not only engage customers but also conduct valuable market research.

What is Clubhouse?

Clubhouse is like an always-on dinner party where you can hang out with friends, meet new ones and talk about anything. When you're on Clubhouse, it's not about posting content, but joining a community of friends-of-friends who come together to meet, talk, and share ideas. We built Clubhouse for people who value rich friendships and conversation, care about experiences, memories and being in the moment.

Clubhouse has been described as a hybrid of conference calls, talkback radio and a house party. Originally run as an invite-only platform, Clubhouse is now freely available to anyone who downloads the app. When you sign up, you’ll be prompted to follow people or choose topics of interest. The app then recommends ‘rooms’. Rooms are topic-orientated spaces, where Clubhouse members can go to talk to other members or listen to discourse.

Clubhouse grew from over 3.5 million global downloads to 8.1 million in February 2021, at the peak of its popularity. This explosion in followers was attributed to high-profile celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Mark Zuckerburg joining the app.

While the rate of new membership has dropped since the height of its hype, in 2022 Clubhouse maintained around 10 million users from around the world.

How Can Clubhouse Help Businesses?

Clubhouse is ideal for B2Bs and small businesses. With a relatively small userbase when compared to major platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, it’s easier to be heard (figuratively and literally) above the noise.

1. Learn From Others

There is a significant number of business owners and leaders on Clubhouse, who are in rooms and clubs ready to have a conversation. Search for events and rooms that are relevant to your industry to forge useful connections. Once you find people who have succeeded in something similar to what you are doing, take the opportunity of Clubhouse’s format to ask them questions and listen to what they’re willing to share.

2. Find Investors

Focus on creating a digital space for your business, promoting what you’re doing, and forging connections by joining lots of different rooms. If you spend time on the Clubhouse app, there is an opportunity to make valuable connections with potential investors. Keep an eye open for relevant networking events, rooms and clubs.

3. Host Virtual Events

Clubhouse members don’t only join rooms, they can also create them. These rooms are a great way to gain followers and engage with connections and potential customers. Attract new members to your room by hosting a virtual event, perhaps to celebrate the launch of a new product or for fundraising.

4. Gain Followers

To get the followers you need to make your Clubhouse account a success, invest time in the app and join plenty of rooms and clubs. Finding a following on Clubhouse can boost your following on other social media platforms as people want to learn more about your business after talking to you or hearing you speak.

5. Research the Market

Clubhouse doesn’t only link you to an audience, it also allows you to have meaningful conversations with them. By engaging with your market on this intimate scale, you can find out what your customers want, identify areas for development in your business and marketing plans, and improve customer service and aftercare.

You can also test marketing strategies before implementing them on larger social media platforms, like new branding or perhaps sharing an amazing explainer video…

How to Utilise Clubhouse

One of the best ways to utilise Clubhouse is to host rooms and clubs. To do this, you need to build your room around a topic. This can be as generalised or niche as you want. There are five types of rooms you can create or participate in on Clubhouse:

Welcome Rooms. Welcome Rooms are created when new users sign up. If someone in your phone contacts joins Clubhouse, you may get a notification to join a Welcome Room—a private room where you and other contacts of the new user can help orient them to Clubhouse. You can also open the room to the public. If you see Welcome Rooms in your feed, feel free to jump in and say hello. Clubhouse promotes an informal environment, and you never know what useful contacts you might end up making!
Open Rooms. Anyone can join an Open Room. They're popular for hosting public conversations, shows, or meeting lots of new people. This is the default setting for rooms on Clubhouse.
Social Rooms. Social Rooms are only for the people in your Clubhouse circle. So that's your followers and the followers of any of the speakers. To expand the list of people who can be invited, add one of your followers as a moderator, and they'll be able to invite the people in their circles to the room.
Club Rooms. A new function added by Clubhouse in 2022, you can now open a room within a Club so members can join you to discuss relevant topics. You can always open the room to anyone on Clubhouse, which is a great way to expand club membership.
Closed Rooms . Also called Private Rooms, these are only for people you invite. We hope that Closed Rooms will be helpful when you are looking to have more private conversations, or want to talk with a smaller group but haven't yet set up a club for it. When you start a Closed Room, you can always ping in more people or open it up to either a Social or Open Room.

As well as rooms, there are also events. These are scheduled conversations with optional co-hosts to help with moderation. Once an event is created, it’s added to Clubhouse’s bulletin to attract followers. The bulletin displays upcoming scheduled events and allows users to set notifications to remind them when it’s coming up.

Get Started with Video Marketing Today!

Hopefully, you found this installation of Have You Considered useful. Stay tuned over the next two months while we explore other underutilised platforms and find ways to make your brand stand out.

Speaking of standing out, check out our portfolio ! And, if you want to discuss how animated explainer videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today.

What is Motion Graphics?

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 09:00:00 GMT

Motion graphics is, in its simplest terms, graphics (images) with motion (movement). Unlike live-action, motion graphics is rooted in graphic design. From cartoons to memes, from animated infographics to television adverts, there is no shortage of motion graphic content on our billboards, televisions and phones.

Motion graphic content usually incorporates additional features, such as animated text, music and voiceovers. They can also be spliced with or overlaid on live-action footage and animation.

Using motion graphics, especially in a video , is an effective way to communicate information and capture a large proportion of modern internet users. In 2022, 82% of all internet traffic were video views. YouTube remained the second most popular website in the world and the average view time of video rose to a worldwide total of 1 billion hours every single day .

What are the Benefits of Motion Graphics?

The versatility of motion graphics and wide viewership of motion graphic video is just the start of this medium’s benefits. Whatever your requirements, motion graphics can get your message across effectively and creatively.

1. Educate, Don’t Exterminate

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a deluge of information trying to explain what the virus was and how the public could protect itself. Thinking back on those early months, what video helped you to understand what was going on? A short motion graphic video ? Or one of Jonathan Van-Tam’s PowerPoint presentations?

A short motion graphic video easily distils a complex process, reinforcing content through imagery, onscreen text and audio. In 2021, Insivia reported that viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading it in a text.

2. Once Upon a Time

For over a century, moving images have been used across the globe to tell stories. More accessible than ever before, motion graphics can encapsulate a brand, propel a narrative and enrapture an audience. It’s not necessary to hire an A-list cast, high-budget director and sound studio to tell a story though.

Particularly effective when paired with narration or music, graphics can be used to tell a story and reinforce the message to an audience.

3. What’s the Point?

A call-to-action is important with any medium, and motion graphics are no different. Creating motion graphics is an investment in time and money, as such there should be a measurable outcome. Whether its converting viewers to customers, boosting subscriber numbers or raising awareness, underline your point with a call-to-action.

Visit our website! Subscribe! Buy Now! …You get the gist. Whatever your choice of CTA, if it is said through a motion graphic your point will be memorable.

4. Reuse. Repurpose. Recycle.

Once made, a motion graphic can be shared repeatedly on your platforms, shortened for distribution on social media, or even inserted into new content.

The easy reusability of motion graphics makes them an effective long-term investment, particularly when compared to live-action material. Live-action footage has the potential to quickly date, especially if it features a changeable workforce, location or branding. Motion graphics are more enduring, and easily updated if required.

5. Sharing is Caring

In 2021, Wordstream reported that 92% of users watching video on mobile will share it with others. Video is considerably easier to share than most other formats, as they can be distributed across social media platforms, text messages and emails.

Consider the platform your motion graphic will be uploaded to in order to determine whether it needs to be produced in multiple dimensions for ease of sharing.

What are Motion Graphics Used For?

Motion graphics have a host of benefits, but how can you use them to your advantage? Here are some of Squideo’s tips on the most popular placements and uses of motion graphics. If you would like additional expertise, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

1. Advertisements

Motion graphics were, once upon a time, the poorer relation of live-action in the world of advertisements and Mad Men; used by businesses with limited marketing budgets. Nowadays, its possible to create high-quality, creative and entertaining advertisements solely with motion graphics.

2. Explainer videos

Explainer videos are a fantastic marketing tool and can either be distributed externally to customers or shared internally with staff. Explainer videos combine a script, storyboard, background music, voiceover, sound effects, animation and motion graphics to bring together your ideas.

3. Infographics

Seeing the cost of gas soar then watching the value of the pound tumble, news channels love to put a motion (info)graphic to terrifying use. Whether you’re looking to raise awareness with shocking statistics or share the excitement of growth with charts, animated infographics make the biggest impact when brought to life with motion.

4. Logos

We’ve already mentioned that YouTube is the second most popular website in the world, so let’s mention the first: Google. And when we say “Google!” you say “Doodle!” The Google Doodle has become synonymous with logo motion graphics, and for good reason. They’re eye-catching and fun, which makes the Google logo memorable.

Do the same for your brand with a motion graphic logo. No longer limited to website pages, motion graphic logos can also be implemented on select social media platforms and are likely to become supported on more platforms over the next few years.

5. Presentations

Avoid the risk of ‘Death by PowerPoint’ by adding motion graphics to presentations. Whether delivered face-to-face or virtually, motion graphics help capture an audience’s attention and add dimension to a presentation.

6. Short films

Motion graphics can be used solely or in combination with animation and live-action to create short films. When set to music, combined with narration, or accompanying powerful imagery, motion graphics can be used to highlight important parts of a story or simplify an intricate narrative.

For a quick overview at the difference between motion graphics and animation, look at the difference between these two videos.

7. Title sequences and credits

You decided, despite everything, to go with live-action over motion graphics at the end of this blog. But did you really escape motion graphics? From the 1950s onward , motion graphics have been the cornerstone of title sequences and credits. Pioneered by the likes of Saul and Elaine Bass, graphic design changed these sequences from monotonous lists to entertaining segments which set the tone of an entire production.

8. UI animations

User-Interface animation is motion graphics designed for interaction with a viewer. Simply put, UI makes graphics move either in response to a user, or to prompt interaction from a user. There are three main uses of UI animations:

Loading and progress. Typically a loading bar or status wheel showing the progress of a download or installation.
State changes. Commonly found on a digital form, these UIs change as information is added. Think of a red line around a box that remains until you enter the required information: that’s a state change UI animation.
Navigation. Designed to help users find their way through a website, programme or game. It can come in the form of moving arrows or pop-up graphics and text.

UI animations not only simplify processes for your userbase, but their interactive nature makes them more stimulating which in turn helps retain your customer’s attention.

Get Started With Your Motion Graphics Video

Watch our video below to get a better understanding of how we can create motion graphics and motion graphic videos to suit your project brief.

If you want to discuss how a motion graphic or one of our videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Squideo Submarine: Ben's Ballads

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 09:00:08 GMT

Our Creative Director Ben Underwood is leading the charge and has volunteered for the first trip aboard the Squideo Submarine. After the deep dive behind-the-scenes in our Back to the Beginning series , we’re exploring our team’s other interests. And what better way, since Squideo has just launched its Spotify channel , than a playlist for the journey?

For some people the isolation is crushing; for others it’s exhilarating. Is this mission your ideal holiday or will you paint a face on a volleyball before the first day is up?

If it’s just one week I think it would be a great opportunity to reflect. If it was two weeks I’d go insane! Get me that beachball, I need Wilson to keep me company.

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music (thanks Aldous Huxley). Silence and music are about to become your only companions aboard this journey. How much of a role does music play in your day-to-day life?

I feel like music is a depreciating asset. The more you listen to it, the more it loses its effect on you. With unlimited access to music, through Spotify or whatever other platform you use, comes a separation from the special power it has over you. Bring back the CD I say! But I still use it to get me through a run. Although I do like to play the guitar every now and then to relax.

There’s no one else around to consider the musical tastes of. You’re the DJ of the week with no audience to please. Talk us through your playlist – are you a fan of one genre or era, or do you like to mix things up?

All depends on the mood of the day! I would use country to revel in the moment. Rock to progress. Pop to create.

You might be the only crew member, but space is at a premium aboard the Squideo Submarine! You’ve been given strict orders to bring only one bag of personal effects. What are you taking?

Japanese textbooks! Without pushing forward in something I would go into a slight depression so that would be my go-to. I got my Level N2 in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test this year, so a week away from distractions would be perfect to get me on my way toward that coveted Level N1.

Your crewmates, friends and family will want to wave goodbye before you embark on your voyage. Is there a song you always associate with a certain person or people?

Not sure which exact song but I would go for but something depressing to feed the sadness of leaving.

The team at Squideo are always prepared. Like Boy and Girl Scouts. Should the unimaginable happen, and you get taken in by the residents of Atlantis never to return to the surface again, what song would you like to be played at your memorial service?

Thriller by Michael Jackson! Perhaps if they play that there would be a chance of me rising from the grave to join in.

Like smell, music can have strong associations with certain memories. We don’t want to consider how the Squideo Submarine will smell after a week; instead, choose a song which you associate with your childhood.

I would say the Pokémon Theme is the song I associate the best with being a kid. And listening to it would bring the best out of me in any situation. I usually listen to it when I'm producing video content, especially if it's cartoon-styled .

Keep focusing on good memories and not how the submarine smells! What song do you associate with a happy time in your life?

The song It Wasn’t Me by Shaggy is a certified masterpiece. It reminds me of good times and carefree days pretending to be a rapper with my friends [laughs]. Unbelievably, that career didn’t go anywhere for me.

We can’t open the windows aboard the Squideo Submarine (well you wouldn’t want to), but you can put on a dive suit and have a walk on the ocean floor. Would you go? What would you hope to see?

I’d have to go into the belly of a whale to see what it is really like. [Like Pinocchio?] Yes! In the sense that I would also like to survive the journey.

Our brain likes to fill moments of silence by forcing music upon us. What was your last earworm?

Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s Stay has been haunting my dreams for the last three months. Now it’s still a very good song, but I wouldn’t mind a change.

Squideo videos look inkredible, but there’s also a soundtrack! Which piece of Squideo-approved background music always gets stuck in your head?

Has to be the Spell with Me Theme Song ! Absolutely top 10 classic, it’s ready to take over Baby Shark . We just need about 10 billion more views and we’ll be there. I reckon sometime next week? It was such a fun project to work on, I love making educational videos .

It’s almost time to come back to the surface! The journey went a lot quicker with music, didn’t it? What song are you playing in celebration of your return?

Michael Jackson’s P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) is always a great song that fills me with elation. I’d be going for that to celebrate.

We returned to the surface where the H.M.S Fifty Squid was waiting to welcome the Squideo Submarine and its crew of one back onboard. Sadly, no dancing fish were discovered on this expedition but the excursion gave us a great opportunity to explore the depths and breadths of the ocean with the one and only Ben Underwood.

Join us next time, when we’ll take a trip beneath the waves with our Creative Director: Hannah Bales.

Have You Considered... Spotify?

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 09:00:05 GMT

There is an overwhelming number of options for individuals and businesses looking to build an online presence. The focus for many remains on the big three: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. With a combined monthly active user base of 4.29 billion people, an account on each of these platforms puts you in the pocket of half the world’s population (Source: Backlinko 2022 ).

For businesses, there are huge markets to access through these platforms – if you can be heard over the crowd. These massive platforms attract companies from around the world. From multinational conglomerates to the newsagent at the top of your street, it feels like everyone has an account.

It is a buyer-seller market that these platforms are geared toward. Each of the big three, and many like them, run paid advertisements and offer additional tools and insights if you switch from a personal account to a business or creator account. Instagram and Facebook also have marketplaces, to facilitate direct sales.

How to Stand Out

First of all, keep your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. Nothing can be gained from ignoring these titans of social media! If you want to stand out amongst your competitors, however, it’s time to consider expanding your social presence to other platforms which offer more opportunities to shine.

The obvious secondary choices are the runners-up in the social media rankings – namely TikTok and Snapchat – however, as they surge in popularity they start to mirror their competitors. Both have business account options and deliver advertisement packages. It’s vital to tailor your content to stand out and choose your platforms with care.

To engage your customers and convert new visitors, it is important to identify multiple platforms where they are most active. Find out their location, age range, professions, and any other identifiers you can think of. If you’re operating as a Business to Business (B2B), platforms like LinkedIn and Clubhouse could be ideal. If your market is teachers and educators, use Facebook and Pinterest.

Go where your customers are. You might end up somewhere unexpected!

What is Spotify?

Spotify is the largest music streaming service with 365 million monthly active users tuning in from around the globe (Source: Backlinko, 2021 ). As well as big title artists, Spotify also hosts over 2.9 million podcast titles. It is free to sign-up and listen with adverts. Premium membership is also available for a monthly or annual subscription.

For a business looking to build brand awareness, Spotify has two key advantages:

1. Prima Podcast

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat… they’re all focused on the visual, whether it’s an image, video or reel. Spotify allows you to reach out to an audience through a different medium: audio. From your Spotify account, you can launch an informal podcast to deliver insights from your industry, chat with customers or service users, or host different team members to discuss company updates.

In education, students have long been grouped into three learning preferences: visual, auditory and kinaesthetic (physical activity). While most people have a preference, the best lessons incorporate all three. So why should your marketing strategy be any different? By incorporating audio into your marketing plan, you can engage a new customer segment.

2. Humanising the Brand

Spotify isn’t only available to businesses as a podcast platform.

Humanising your brand helps your audience build a connection to your business, making them more likely to convert into customers. Form meaningful connections and build a community that wants to work with you, and soon you will stand out amongst your competitors.

Spotify lets you do this by giving you the option to add music to your brand. Curate playlists that align with your services and products, or give team members a chance to create something unique to them. Show your audience that there is a personal element behind the logo. Below is the playlist that Squideo created for Halloween - each team member picked a track and their personalities really shine through with each selection!

How to Utilise Spotify

It’s easy to promote a Spotify account through your existing social media platforms. Spotify allows you to share music directly to Twitter and Facebook, and embed it on a website. With platforms like Linktree, you can share your Spotify account across all of your social media accounts to encourage your combined audience to visit your business page and follow.

Unlike other social media platforms, Spotify does not offer users the choice to switch to a business account which means there are no statistical insights into the reach and engagement of your account. The prime method to track engagement is through channel followers and user likes on playlists and original content.

What Spotify lacks in business functions, however, it makes up for through passive engagement.

Traditional advertising has become less engaging for consumers, and curated content is a great way for brands to make an impact on an oversaturated landscape.

People listen to music all day. Offering a curated playlist enables you to passively engage these potential customers throughout their daily activities.

Design playlists that relate to your brand or team. Read on for inspiration!

Location. What is the team in your office listening to, compared to a different branch based in another city? Bring a company together and bridge staff no matter how far apart they are.
Holidays. Squideo kicked off its first Spotify playlist with a compilation for Halloween, with tracks chosen by each member of the team. Make one for every holiday or season, like Valentine’s Day or the Summer Holiday.
Business Themes. Ideally connected to your brand in some way, the songs in this playlist will connect to one main theme. For a company like Squideo, this could be ocean-themed, film-themed, or Hull-themed (the city where we’re based).
Activities. For people using Spotify, activity playlists might be curated for things like working out, relaxing or cooking. For a business, consider creating playlists for activities connected to your work. If you’re an estate agent, create a playlist that represents the joy of selling a house. If you’re a construction agency, create a playlist for working at a site on a hot day.

Once you’ve made your playlists, add an extra layer of personalisation. Spotify gives its users the option to create a playlist cover. Design this with your branding in mind, so that when people go to play your playlist they think of your business!

Share your playlist across social media and keep it up-to-date (Spotify does remove and add music depending on its arrangements with music record labels). You’ll find your following soon enough.

For more inspiration, check out other leading businesses on Spotify like McDonald’s, Nike, Zara and Lidl.

Get Started with Video Marketing Today!

Hopefully, you found this first installation of Have You Considered... useful. Stay tuned over the next two months while we explore other underutilised platforms and find ways to make your brand stand out.

Speaking of standing out, check out our portfolio ! And, if you want to discuss how animated explainer videos can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today.

Back to the Beginning with Emily Woodcock

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 08:00:00 GMT

This week was my turn in the hot seat, with questions chosen by the other Squideos. Hopefully no one is out for revenge for some of the questions I’ve asked over the past three months. So, let’s hand over to Hannah who’s taking the lead on this last installation of Back to the Beginning.

Hey guys! Over the past week, I’ve been gathering questions from the Squid Squad for our Marketing Executive, Emily, to answer. After asking all of us cool, crazy and interesting questions, it’s time for us to return the favour!

HANNAH: I’ll start us off with an easy question! What do you enjoy most about your job and when did your interest in this field start?

I fell into this field by accident. I had no career plans going through university (#student-loans-graduate-moans), I just studied subjects I liked. My first job after graduating was in a department store (horrendous, our stock room was a converted gents toilet with the cubicles and sinks still in place). My loathing of that job motivated me to take an internship with a company where I stayed for 5 years. I picked up a lot of random skills – copywriting, teaching, marketing, outreach etc. – and somehow Squideo found worth in that. So in short, I have no idea how I got this job. But I’m glad because I love it!

BEN: You’ve asked all of us about our favourite projects. You might be the newest member of the Squid Squad, but you’ve written a lot of scripts already! Which one was your favourite?

Hmm, let me think. One of the first scripts I wrote at Squideo – maybe even the first – was for Crunch accounting. So I’ll pick them for the nostalgia factor.

CALLUM: Where has been your favourite place to travel to and where – if you have any plans – are you going next?

I have been fortunate to travel a lot. Since Hannah is running this interview I’ll choose a spot I think she’d like most. Disneyland – the original theme park. My Aunt and Uncle used to live about an hour away from Anaheim (which is where the park is). The coolest thing was going to Club 33. It’s this super exclusive private club – the only place there which serves alcohol. My Aunt took me for my birthday. I had fondu with Mickey Mouse, it was pretty awesome.

No travel plans yet. If I could go anywhere I’d go back to San Jose in California (I lived there for six months and it was fantastic).

ADAM S: Tell me three interesting facts about you. [Define interesting?] No. You define interesting.

Okay. By my definition of interesting:

An ancestor of mine had a waxwork in Madame Tussauds. An artefact of theirs is also on display in the British Science Museum.
My Granddad was a professional rugby player who played for Hull FC and was friends with Clive Sullivan (interesting if you’re a rugby fan and from Hull).
I wrote a book during the first lockdown which I’m preparing for self-publication.

SARAH: What is at the very top of your bucket list (if you have one)?

Visiting the historic ruins at Herculaneum at the foot of Mount Vesuvius in Italy. I’ve been fascinated since I was a kid, as it combined my love of history and geography. The ruins at Pompeii are more popular, but Herculaneum is better preserved. Plus it would give me a chance to practice speaking Italian again.

ADAM L.: If you could time travel for a day, where would you go?

Do I have any time to prepare before I time travel? If so, I’d go withdraw my bank account, convert that money into gold, then travel back to London in the 1950s, convert the gold back into money and use it to buy a house there. Come back to the future, sell the house and I’m financially set for life.

LESLEY: You’ve mentioned yoga and meditation before. What got you into them as a hobby?

I first went to a yoga class when I was about… eight years old? My Mum’s workplace put on a parent/child yoga class during the school holidays. My entire body hurt afterward (and at that time I was really active, I was on nearly every sport team my school offered) so I never wanted to do it again. Cut to 10 years later and I decided I needed to take up something relaxing. I started going to a yoga class at my community centre. We practiced meditative breathing which then also got me into meditation.

BEN: These questions are all way too easy. Here’s one. What is your vision for the idyllic future of mankind?

Star Trek. Star Trek is an idyllic version of humanity’s future. No money, so no poverty. Food replicators, so no hunger. Planet-wide peace. Since I’m a cynic, however, I know it will never happen. I expect a Blade Runner future. Rain, painfully bright neon lights, and replicants getting murdered in the streets. Maybe a dash of Logan’s Run and we have to report to the Sleepshop when we’re too old to work for our keep.

ADAM S.: Okay, harder question? How about if you could only eat ONE thing for the rest of your life, nothing else, what would you choose?

Pragmatically. Something that fully incorporated all of the food groups into one meal to ensure my nutritional health. Some kind of salad that incorporates vegetables (urgh kale / mmm carrots), fruit (tomatoes, I guess), protein (chickpeas, nuts, chicken, maybe some bacon for flavour), dairy (cheese), carbohydrates (croutons, pasta), and a salad dressing. Again for healthiness, it should probably contain some healthy fat like olive oil, balsamic vinegar… is balsamic vinegar classed as a fat? Eh, who knows. Well a nutritionist, but I can’t be bothered to look it up.

Reality. Lasagne . Specifically the one my Mum makes; I’ve never had one that’s better.

HANNAH: A fun question this time. [Thank you!] You’re welcome. If you could live in any film / game / book etc. universe, where would that be?

I think I already answered that when I said Star Trek! My Dad got me hooked on Star Trek: The Next Generation when I was a kid. It’s still my favourite so I want to live onboard the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D not NCC-1701: I can’t stand Kirk and my favourite Vulcan is Tuvok not Spock).

HANNAH: Technically this last question is yours, since you’ve asked everyone else this. We all know about Ben’s wild idea of going to Amsterdam for Christmas, and everyone else has thrown different international destinations into the ring. Where would you go?

I’m up for everyone’s suggestions, so long as a trip to Australia involves several stop-overs: I can only sit on a plane for so long. Out of them all, I definitely like the idea of Amsterdam the most. It’s the most practical. Although I’d prefer to fly there; I don’t think I could handle the ferry ride.

That wraps up our Back to the Beginning series! Be sure to check back in next week when we unveil a brand new series with a post that will be sure to put the "oo" in spooky!

Back to the Beginning with Adam Shelton

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 08:00:01 GMT

Squideo’s resident ghost has always been difficult to pin down. Adam Shelton, Accounts Manager, often operates in a world of his own as the singular person responsible for sales, but today he sat down for our penultimate installation of Back to the Beginning. From vans, motorbikes and automobiles to interesting beer recommendations, read on for a deep dive behind the scenes.

I’ve been asking everyone to choose a question for my next interviewee. It was Sarah’s choice for your interview: With the company rebrand and you holding the keys, are you planning to rewrap the Squideo van with the new colours, details, etc. And does the van have a name?

Yes, I’m absolutely planning on getting rid of the old branding on the van. It's not great having the old branding on it. You might not know, but it's actually my personal van. It's not a company van, because Squideo doesn't really need a van to make videos. I use it for carting motorbikes down the country. And it's a bit of free advertising, or it would be if it was the right brand! But, yeah, absolutely planning on rewrapping it.

A wrap is something that is quite difficult to get off in the cold weather, so I'll probably do it when it gets a bit warmer early next year and get another wrap design to put on. It probably won't look as wild as the last one. Just over the back, because it's got nearly 200,000 miles on it now and it's sensitive. As for its name, it doesn't really have one. Old unreliable, or possibly the Squid Van. Yeah, Squid Van. I suppose that would be its name if I had to choose one.

I spoke to Ben in the first interview for the Back to the Beginning series about Squideo’s history and I want to get your side of the story too. How did you and Ben meet and when did you two decide to work together? A motorcycle accident was mentioned around the time Ben got back from Japan.

I actually met Ben the first day of school, so reception, which was absolutely ages ago [laughs], and yeah, we didn't really hit it off straight away. We sort of became friends in year two, and since then, yeah, we hit it off. We actually started working together in school. We used to go to a local supermarket that sells nearly out-of-date stuff and fill our rucksacks with it and sell that to people after PE for quite a lot more than we bought it. So we used to do that. We’ve done various other things, but I always remember that!

How has Squideo’s services changed since you originally launched as Fifty Squid?

The core service is still the same as it was when we first started Fifty Squid. We've just been striving to increase our production value whilst maintaining a level of efficiency that allows us to be competitive with pricing without compromising on the process and revisions and things like that. Squideo is something that's always evolving, even to this day. The service is the same, but things have come on a lot. We work with quite a lot of big brands now, whose demands are higher and the process has to evolve to meet these demands.

As the Accounts Director, you’re responsible for bringing in new clients. What’s one of your favourite projects that you’ve worked on at Squideo?

I don't really have a favourite project that I've worked on, or at least brought in. I do like local stuff though. I'd like to think that we're reasonably well known, but because we’re remote and everything is done on the computer it's quite difficult (other than the van) to have a local presence in Hull. So when we do get a local project, it's nice to know that the word is out and people use us and things like that, so I suppose they would be the ones that I like getting in the most.

The company went fully remote in 2020. What do you like about working remotely? And is there anything you miss about the old offices?

Because of COVID-19, Squideo was forced to go remote. If you'd asked me whether I wanted to work remotely before that, I would have said, no, absolutely not. But what it did was force us to tighten up our paper trails and the systems we use to communicate. They weren't there in the way they are now and it forced us to do better and become more efficient. In a way, I think it might even be detrimental to work in an office again. When people have these conversations face-to-face, there isn’t a paper trail and things can get mixed up. Now we can refer to Monday and Slack to figure out what has been done, and who needs to do what next.

So it does have its advantages. However, it's not social at all, and I always miss that part of it. People work differently, though, and some people do better in a social environment. I'm actually quite easily distracted, so I do tend to work better when I'm in my own space. So overall, I do miss working in an office, but I think we work a little bit better remotely. But I'm sure there are people in Squideo who wish we were in an office all the time.

I’ve talked to a couple of people about your office pets – Squidge (RIP) and Ink – but I’ve never asked: who’s idea was it to install a fish tank to begin with?

I can't actually remember whose idea it was. I think it was Ben's. We got this really, really s**t fish tank from Facebook Marketplace which was an absolute nightmare to maintain. I loved the idea of having fish in the office, but once we had fish in the office it was a nightmare. We had this idea to reduce the amount of cleaning we had to do – because fish excrete stuff which makes the tank very mucky – to get some little cleaning prawns and make a micro-ecosystem. In theory, the prawns look after the fish and the fish look after the prawns. It obviously didn’t work, since they all died. But we did try!

Now we don’t have any fish, unfortunately. Although for all of fish kind, they probably consider themselves very fortunate.

Even though Squideo is now fully remote, we’ve been able to stay in touch as a team with our morning meetings, Slack chats and occasional meetups. The last staff outing was to The Deep. Where do you want to go next?

I don't think I'll be the only one who said this, but I'd love to do an escape room. I've never actually done one, but me and Ben did the Crystal Maze experience last weekend and it was absolutely awesome! There were elements of an escape room to it but yeah slightly different. So having done that and not done an escape room, I think that would be so a lot of fun. So, yeah, that would be on my list.

Ben had a wild suggestion of the Squid Squad taking the ferry to Amsterdam for the Christmas holidays, but Hannah would prefer a trip to Disney World. Callum favours Australia and Sarah chose Iceland. Ignoring cost, which international destination would you pick? Moto Grand Prix circuit, maybe?

I think I'd have to choose something that everybody would want to do. If we went to a race circuit, I think everybody would probably fall asleep. [I wouldn’t!] Okay maybe some people wouldn't, but, yeah. If cost weren’t an issue, I'd go back to Japan. I went before with Ben and I feel like there'll be something for everybody there. And you can just geek out massively if you wanted to.

The first time we met in person, at the bowling alley, you mentioned going to Le Mans to see the race. What got you interested in motorcycles, cars and racing?

I did go see a car race in Le Mans, good memory! That was awesome. I'm just as equally a car nut as I am a bike nut. So, yeah, I actually started competing in carting, which is like go-karts, when I was six years old. And then it got to the point where the next natural progression from carting is switching to cars. But if you're going to race cars you need a massive infrastructure. You need trailers and things like that. And it was really expensive. Couldn't afford that! But one thing you can always do with a motorbike is get it in the back of the van. So, yeah, I moved over to bikes pretty early, probably when I was about 13, and then competed all the way up to 2015. I got to a semi-professional level, which was great. I enjoyed that. And now I just do it for a bit of fun. Still massively into it, but without the pressure.

You’re also known amongst the Squid Squad as a beer aficionado. I’m looking for three recommendations: the weirdest beer you’ve ever had (but not necessarily the worst); the best beer to drink during a spicy food challenge, and; the nicest cheapest beer you’ve tried.

Okay, beer! Here we go. I'll try to keep it short.

My favourite beer ever is one called Schlenkerla Rauchbier which is from a German brewery. It’s a smoked beer, so it's really like marmite, which is why it doubles as the weirdest choice! People absolutely love it and people absolutely hate it. It tastes like bacon, but it's a beer and it's absolutely phenomenal. They do all sorts of smoked beers at that brewery, all the way up to different levels of smokiness if you like. And the Rauchbier is one of the smokiest. So that would be my favourite.
The best beer to drink during a spicy food challenge. Hmm. I reckon something like a Vice beer. So something that is nice and creamy to counter the spice. Or I'd go completely the other way. And you can actually get ghost pepper beers if you want. So you could have the meal and the beer spicy at the same time and that would absolutely blow your head off!
I think my favourite cheapest beer if I had to recommend somewhere to go… the Lidl and Aldi stuff is pretty good if you want to spend between £1 and £2. I always go in there and buy whatever is new. There's a big craft beer movement at the moment, so everyone's doing a bit and it's not too bad compared to just a few years ago when you couldn't really get that sort of stuff anywhere.

So, yeah, I suppose that answers the question! And then some [laughs].

Check out our next post to hear from Squideo’s Marketing Executive, Emily Woodcock, in our final installation of Back to the Beginning.

Case Study: Believe Perform

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:24:45 GMT

Explainer Video Case Study

Believe Perform: The world’s most accessible source of mental fitness expertise.

Believe Perform are leaders in visual led mental health resources for the education and sport sector. They are dedicated to moving mental health beyond awareness and into action by providing people with accessible, engaging and applied mental fitness resources.

They came to Squideo for fourteen educational videos designed for young learners.

Check out one of their videos and read the Case Study below:

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your project requirements.

"Believe Perform’s mission is to move mental health from awareness to action. We do this by working shoulder-to-shoulder with organisations to develop mentally healthy cultures through designing and delivering bespoke well-being, resilience and performance readiness programmes.

Our project requirement was fourteen animated videos, around 2.30 minutes long each, which created a curriculum journey for young learners."

What made you choose animated videos for this project?

"Engagement and the ability to choose style and colour. Squideo were brilliant from start to finish – starting with the initial kick-off call, then storyboard meetings, development meetings and support."

You placed a bulk order with Squideo for fourteen videos! How did you find it working with our company?

"As a company, we found it easy and enjoyable to work with you, it was a very professional service which was logical and clean throughout the whole process. The people within the business were incredibly personable. The videos were done on time and to a high standard."

How did you find Squideo’s communication throughout the process?

"Communication was great from the outset, through the project management and post-delivery of the videos. Thank you!"

Did you get the videos you envisioned?

"We are incredibly happy with the videos, the music, style and information link so closely to us as a brand. They are professional yet engaging – we would 100% recommend and will be using Squideo again for our next project."

What feedback have you received for the videos from staff, clients etc.?

"They have all been incredibly impressed by the videos. They love the style and the flow. We measure ourselves on the impact that we make and so far engagement and impact have increased due to the quality of these videos."

A big thank you to Adam Morris at Believe Perform!

The world’s most accessible source of mental fitness expertise.

Believe Perform regularly post blogs with self-guided resources, educational and corporate guidance, and company news. Visit their FREE blog today and receive fantastic advice about creating an environment to promote positive mental health.

Back to the Beginning with Adam Leveson

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 08:00:10 GMT

For this edition of Back to the Beginning, I spoke with Adam Leveson – one of Squideo’s squid-tastic Video Producers who has been with the team since 2018! From gamer dilemmas to surprise job interviews, read on for a deep dive behind the scenes.

I’ve been asking everyone to choose a question for my next interviewee. It was Lesley’s choice for your interview and she chose a classic: If you could only play games on one system for the rest of your life, which would it be? PC, Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo console?

Hmm, that is a hard one. On first instinct, I would go with Nintendo. I’ve had a lot of their consoles since I was a kid, but then a lot of my friends use Xbox so I’d choose Xbox so I could keep playing with them. I like the social games. I know Nintendo has some, and it’s portable, but… yeah, Xbox.

We have a lot of gamers at Squideo, and quite a few MCU fans. If you could fall asleep and wake up with any Marvel character’s powers who would you pick? (Marvel comics, not just MCU so we can include the X-Men).

Oh god [thinking loudly] I guess… Quicksilver. Quicksilver, even if we’re going by the movies were he dies very quickly. But his speed seems cool, a bit like The Flash (DC comics). If I had more time, I’d analyse every single character, make lists, weigh up the pros and cons, but I guess we don’t have that much time? [No.] Then I’ll stick with Quicksilver!

Did you always know you wanted to end up in video production, graphic design or some other job within the creative industry? How did you wind up joining the Squid Squad?

Yeah, I always wanted to go into a creative job. In college, I did photography, which is what I wanted to do. Then branching out, and going into work, I found it quite difficult – it’s niche, photographers tend to work freelance. I started at Squideo as an apprentice. Originally, when the intern provider listed the job they told me it was more about social media and marketing – what you do – but in the interview, it was about video production. I don’t know how I got through it! I wasn’t prepared at all for any of the questions! Somehow I must’ve sounded like I knew what I was doing because I got the job and I’ve been here for almost four years.

What is one of your favourite projects from your time working at Squideo?

I remember enjoying Connolly Scaffolding. It was a really fun project, with plenty of characters to animate and bold colours. There were lots of backgrounds too, to reflect all the different building site types, so we got to play around a lot with it.

Like our clients, I don’t know much about what happens when the video passes from the pre-production stage (scriptwriting and storyboarding) to production stage. Can you give us an insight into what video production involves and what a normal day would look like for you?

Sure. We start out with the visual storyboard. That’s the document Hannah or Ben make with the visual notes alongside the script. We go scene by scene, trying to bring it to life using the notes from the client and storyboard producers. Once the storyboard is made, it goes into pre-approval, Ben, Hannah or Callum give us amends, and then once those are made it goes to the client.

The client either sends back amends or approves the visual storyboard, so then it’s time to animate it. We add in the voiceover, make the video look its best then the cycle starts again. The video goes into pre-approval, comes back with amends, and then goes to the client. And before you know it, it’s time to start a new video!

The company went fully remote in 2020. What do you like about working remotely? And is there anything you miss about working in an office?

No morning commute! Or evening commute. No commute, commutes are terrible. Originally, I wasn’t too far from Squideo so I only had a ten minute walk; but if we went back to that exact location I’d be so far away and I’m not a morning person so it’d be horrible. It’s also really nice to have my own space with no distractions. I used to put my headphones on at the office anyway, but I can really focus when I’m working from home.

I do miss the social aspect of the office. It can be a lot easier to talk person-to-person than over text messages. Definitely the social aspect. We’d watch Netflix during lunchtime – although we could never decide on a show, so I’d usually end up on my phone – or go walk somewhere for a sandwich.

I learnt that Squideo’s old office had pet fish. Do you think having an office pet would be fun if we ever stopped being remote? Or do you think we’d never get any work done? Especially if Cody met Mango and Peach!

Depends on the pet! If it was more fish – the other fish disappeared before I joined – I think it would be okay, but if it was a dog I wouldn’t be able to concentrate. Fish aren’t really that interesting though, unlike a dog. You can interact with a dog. I just doubt you can work with one!

What’s one of your favourite things about working as a Video Producer?

The main thing is that every day is different. My previous job was installing software onto tablets. This is a really creative job, no monotony. It’s great.

Even though Squideo is now fully remote, we’ve been able to stay in touch as a team with our morning meetings, Slack chats and occasional meetups. The last staff outing was to a bowling alley. Where do you want to go next?

I do occasionally bring up doing an Escape Room. I do those a lot with friends, and it would be fun to see how people deal with the different puzzles. Who would freak out about being locked in, or who would really get into the game. Hopefully they'll be a prize for winning, I have a collection.

There’s been some wild ideas of an international Squideo outing. Amsterdam, Disney World, Australia, Iceland and Japan are the current contenders. Ignoring cost, which international destination would you suggest?

I would definitely go to Japan, even though Sarah already picked that. Other than that, I guess somewhere in South America. It’s so far away, but I think Brazil would be cool to explore.

When Ben first suggested taking the ferry to Amsterdam, I asked Hannah who she thought would get sea sick first. Her answer was, and I quote, “I feel like one of the guys. They always set funny challenges for each other and most of the time they include hot sauce or spicy food.” Is that fair?

Yeah [laughs]. Yeah, that’s fair. Other Adam loves spicy food, half the time I’d come in and someone had given him a hot sauce challenge. Some crazy times in the office!

Finally, we had a change to the interview schedule with Squideo’s other Adam (Adam Shelton, Accounts Manager) temporarily escaping interrogation. Would you like to choose a question for him?

Adam’s almost in his own sector of the company, I never really get to talk to him. I know he’s big into motorbikes and cars so something to do that? Maybe what his dream car or motorbike would be?

Check out our next post to hear from Squideo’s Account Director, Adam Shelton.

Back to the Beginning with Lesley Ovington

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 08:00:01 GMT

Despite the previous billing, this week's edition of Back to the Beginning is shining the spotlight on another one of our brilliant Video Producers: Lesley Ovington! From gamer tips to (Princess) Peach and Mango’s invaluable Squideo contributions, read on for a deep dive behind the scenes.

Your opening question comes from Callum, who seems to be going through another Pokémon phase. His question is this: Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle. Who are you picking as your starter and why?

This is a hard question! I’ve always leant more towards the water-type Pokémon starters, but Bulbasaur has my heart on this one. As to why, it simply stems from the fact that I like the look of him and vine whip is a pretty cool move!

We have a couple of gamers at Squideo, and I think it’s safe to say you’re one of them! I know you’re excited about Pikmin 4 coming out next year. Do you prefer strategy games like Pikmin, or do you play a variety of games? Got any recommendations?

I love open-world games mostly, can’t beat running around and exploring an unknown world! But in general, I do play a wide variety of games from Slime Rancher to Elder Scrolls. Recommendation wise, I love this little indie game called Keywe. It’s a puzzle-platform two-player game where you and your friend are a pair of Kiwis working in a post office. It’s a lot of fun!

Unsurprisingly, a lot of our Video Producers are incredibly creative people. Since you were responsible for Squideo’s posts for Artfight 2022, I know you’re pretty involved in the online art and graphic design scene. Did you submit anything for Artfight (if so, were you Team Bloom or Team Wither)?

I’ve been a part of the online art community for a while and have participated in a few Artfights over the years. This year I was Team Wither! Here are a few drawings I did for other artists and submitted this year:

Did you always know you wanted to end up in video production, graphic design or some other job within the creative industry? How did you wind up joining the Squid Squad?

I’ve always been a creative person but when I was young I wanted to work with animals. In fact, I went to Bishop Burton College and got a diploma in Animal Care. After I graduated I got a job as a groomer, but I wasn’t enjoying it. My dad, who always supported my art, encouraged me to pursue an art career so I went to Hull College and studied Illustration, which then lead me all the way to Northampton University where I got a BA Hons in Illustration.

After I graduated, I moved back to Hull and was looking for a job when I saw an advert for a Video Producer with Squideo. I looked up the company, did my research – even watched some vlogs from the old studio [Fifty Squid] – and decided to apply. The rest is history!

What is one of your favourite projects that you’ve worked on at Squideo?

My favourite project is Ideiio! I’ve done a few videos from Ideiio, and I always enjoy the art style and character animation I get to produce for them.

Squideo is a small team, but our clients might not know about some of our extra members! Hannah’s already talked about Cody (her loveable Dalmatian). Can you tell us a little about your cats? I love seeing them cameo in our morning meetings!

Of course! I have two cats. (Princess) Peach is a 2-year-old Calico with lots of sass who lays in the goofiest positions. She loves to talk and greets everyone who comes into my house!

My other cat is a ginger tabby called Mango, who is only a 1 year old. He is a very affectionate and shy cat. Mango loves to sleep on my lap while I work and has the loudest purr!

Getting to work from home must be an advantage for a pet owner. What else do you like about Squideo’s remote office? And is there anything you miss about a traditional office?

I love the remote office! Working from home has so many advantages – from the commute (meaning I never have to worry about being late because of traffic) to the fact I can leave videos to render after work without having to stay at an office late. I joined Squideo while the company was remote (because of the pandemic) so I never got to see the old offices, but I have heard a few stories about them!

There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, and the biggest mystery for our clients is probably the video production stage. What goes into making a Squideo video?

A lot of thought, creativity, and communication! When creating these videos, we use various different techniques and software. We always get feedback from each other and learn where we can. We are a very collaborative team.

What’s one of your favourite things about working as a Video Producer?

One of my favourite things is all the new design and animation techniques I’ve been given the opportunity to learn at Squideo from the other video producers! The field constantly evolves, so we all learn different things then share with each other.

We’ve been able to stay in touch as a team really well (despite working remotely) through regular online meetings and the occasional staff outing. Last time was a trip to the bowling alley; where do you want to go next?

I would love to go to a theme park! Rent a minivan and go to Flamingo Land just like you would in secondary school [laughs].

There’s been some wild ideas of an international Squideo outing. Amsterdam, Disney World, Australia and Iceland are the current contenders. If money was no issue, where would you want to go?

If money wasn’t an issue, I would love to go to Japan! Ben would be the perfect guide after all since he’s been before and knows the language. [I’m sure he’d love to show off.] Definitely!

Finally, it’s your turn to choose a question for the next interviewee. Adam Leveson, another one of our fantastic Video Producers, is up next. Can you think of something good for me to ask?

I know Adam is into gaming as well, so I think this age-old question is best: if you could only play games on one system for the rest of your life which would it be: PC, Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo console?

Check out our next post to hear from Squideo’s Video Producer, Adam Leveson.

Animated Videos: Video Marketing Tips for Converting Your Online Audience

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 10:45:24 GMT

There's no doubt that animated videos are one of the most significant developments in marketing today , and they won't go away anytime soon. Increasingly, companies are incorporating animated videos into their marketing plans, not just as a trend but as an integral part of their campaigns.

This development is because animated videos are a powerful tool for reaching and engaging your target audience . According to metrics, adding animated videos to your landing pages can increase conversions by up to 80%, and 92% of mobile video viewers are likely to share videos with others.

In this blog post, we'll look at some helpful video marketing tips that will help improve your marketing strategy using animated videos and take your efforts to the next level.

Why Is Video Important To Drive Website Conversions?

In today's world, one of the most effective marketing tools for a business is videos. A video facilitates a better connection between the audience and the product or service. Using the right video marketing strategy, you will be able to increase traffic to your website, raise bra nd awareness and increase conversions .

Like blog posts, animated videos can be used to drive conversions on your website. When you align your video content with a possible next step, offer or download, your visitors are more likely to convert into leads.

Video marketing aims not just to upload videos but to develop a successful marketing strategy template to drive traffic and convert visitors . Creating videos is an entire process that involves efforts to make them effective marketing tools.

To increase traffic and conversions with your videos, take the following seven simple steps or contact us if you want further advice from our team of experts on how to stand out among competitors online.

7 Video Marketing Tips To Help You Convert Your Online Audience Using Animated Videos

1. Create a video that tells a story

A good video tells a story that connects with the viewer. By telling your company's story well , your viewers will be able to understand what your company offers and how it can help them. Creating value for your viewers is the key to getting them to watch your video. People likely won't pay attention to videos purely aimed at promoting a brand or driving sales.

Videos also provide an excellent opportunity to highlight your company's culture through quality video content. People don't want to watch boring content; they are more likely to watch videos that are engaging and full of personality . Video content that engages viewers tells stories that resonate with them. You can increase your viewers' understanding of what your company offers and what it can do for them by telling stories about yourself.

2. Establish a posting schedule

It's essential to think about your videos as campaigns instead of posting them at random intervals because viewers will be expecting regular content updates. Tell stories that can be broken down into multiple parts, posting new updates each week. Develop a publishing schedule after you have established the content of your videos.

Consistently posting videos will encourage your audience to return. You can also schedule your videos over a specified time period, building anticipation for a major product launch or an exciting announcement. Keep your audience engaged by implementing new campaigns in accordance with your posting schedule. Consistently posting helpful videos will also enhance your company's reputation as a leader in your field .

3. Incorporate calls-to-action (CTA)

Ensure your videos include calls-to-action as you want your viewers to follow through with a specific action after watching a video. The CTA should use phrases such as 'download now' to clarify the message . Let your audience know if you want them to visit your website or follow your social media accounts.

Incorporating a call-to-action is easy and can lead to the conversion of leads that might not otherwise have been generated. When someone speaks in the video, they can easily instruct viewers on how to take the desired action. Adding text, links, and other information about your website to your videos will help viewers learn more about you . Even if your video is well received, if your customers don't know what to do after watching it, you may end up wasting time and money.

4. Capture attention from the get-go

On average, the average attention span of a website user is just 8.5 seconds . To create a successful video, you must bring your story to life quickly in order to instantly catch the attention of those scrolling through their feeds. The first 15 seconds of your video are crucial . During the first seconds of your video, you must clarify what it is about and why it is worth the viewer's time.

The longer viewers wait for what they want to watch, the less likely they are to watch through your video and be likely to convert. By capturing the viewer's attention early, they will feel encouraged and motivated to stay on your website and continue interacting with it.

5. Share your video on social media

Videos on social media are an excellent way to engage your audience. Instead of posting direct links, make sure you upload and share native videos on your social media platforms. Why? Because the performance of native videos on social media has been found to be 10x better than that of video links . A recent study analysed 167,000 FB profiles and 6 million posts, revealing that native videos on social media received an average of 478% more shares and 110% more interactions than linked videos .

Social media videos don't have to be one-and-done. Depending on your social media schedule, you might upload one video to several networks over a month-long period. If you're planning to live-stream , you'll need to promote often to ensure lots of people will tune in at the right time. Multiple videos could be produced from a single film recording session. You can use different clips to promote your business or splice them together to create new videos. When promoting videos, think big.

6. Consider the video length

A video's length doesn't have to be rigid. The length of time your audience will engage with your content depends on your industry, the type of content, and its general appeal. As such, consider the average duration of people's sessions on your website or how long they spend watching your videos .

Your video's length will affect how long users watch instead of converting. It is even possible to scare away viewers with an exceptionally long video . Keeping your message short and concise allows you to convey your message effectively and keep your viewers wanting more.

7. Add videos to your blog posts and landing pages

The use of animated videos can enable you to express the full range of human emotions and will allow you to connect on a much more personal level with your readers . This is also one of the best ways to convey tone - nonverbal cues and facial expressions can communicate much more than words alone.

Text and video are not mutually exclusive. A reader may still benefit from written content after watching a video, and they can go over the content at their own pace and refer to specific details that require more attention. Be aware of the larger context and how video and text can complement each other to communicate a message best.

Get Started With Your Marketing Video

If you’d like more tips, take a look at our guide, Creating an Animated Video Marketing Strategy , or our video production process to get a better understanding of how we can create your next marketing video.

If you want to discuss how a marketing video can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Using Animated Videos As Part Of Your Video Social Media Marketing Strategy

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:12:56 GMT

Embedding videos within your branding campaign is the basis of video marketing. Compared to static images, video content creates faster and stronger connections between brands and their target audiences . It leaves less to the imagination, tells your story more effectively, shares your message, and captivates users across various platforms. As a result, videos are increasingly becoming a key component of digital marketing campaigns .

Creating video content may take more time than static imagery or text. Still, the benefits of video advertising cannot be overstated when it comes to your social media advertising. Boosting awareness, engagement, traffic, and conversions is what we all want, after all. This feature will examine the nature and benefits of animated advertisements for businesses.

What Is An Animated Video And Why Are They Important

Advertisers are increasingly using animation to reach their target audiences, and there are many factors why animated commercials are so effective. One of the most important reasons for animated promotional videos is that they are both entertaining and informative . Today's consumers are less interested in listening to ordinary promotional messages and prefer to watch videos that tell compelling personal or brand stories. The answer to that is an animation ad or promotional animation.

Animated videos allow you to experiment with various styles and effects : There are no limitations to your imagination when introducing your brand, its products, and your ideas. Animated commercials are used in advertising by many companies because of this reason.

Regarding social media video marketing, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are currently the most popular platforms, but they aren't the only ones. Despite their effectiveness, many marketers still don't fully understand how to use videos on social media for business. If you weren't aware of social media video's rapid growth, take a look at the rising numbers below.

Mobile devices are used to view 93% of Twitter videos.
Within the last three years, YouTube views of branded video content almost doubled.
Video tweets have a 6x higher chance of being retweeted than photo tweets .
Video marketing on Facebook receives 10x more comments than regular videos.
80% of Instagram users say that Instagram Live influences their purchase decisions.
Approximately 400 million people are active on Instagram Stories every day as of 2020.
80% of marketers report satisfaction with animated social media video ads' ROI.

Benefits Of Using Animated Videos For Your Social Media Marketing Strategy

Animated advertising videos offer many benefits and are an excellent marketing tool. Your business can benefit from animation adverts for various reasons, but the main one is that these videos allow you to establish a common language with your customers .

With video becoming one of the most popular media formats, featuring animated video advertisements in your product launch is the perfect approach to getting your message out to your market. Read on to discover how your business can benefit significantly from animated video ads , or contact us today if you would like to know more.

Stand out with creativity

The usual forms of advertising and promotional speeches are getting old. A fresh, creative approach is what people are looking for. You can use animation videos to demonstrate your team's creativity and innovative thinking . This type of advertising has no lengthy explanations or product pitches so viewers won't get bored. Rather than distracting and boring the audience, it captivates them and draws their attention to the brand. You can add more energy and creativity to your videos with motion graphics videos , in particular.

An animated video simplifies a complex message

It is easier to communicate with customers using animated videos since they can be used to convey even complex business concepts and marketing messages. Animation helps you break complex ideas into small, easy-to-understand scenes and situations .

Animated videos are especially beneficial for industries that operate complex information assets and data. These include finance, education, healthcare, and crypto-trading , as they require special knowledge with backgrounds that are potentially unpalatable to the average consumer.

It's an effective marketing tool

Online advertising has been transformed by commercial animation. Companies that use animated ads have improved their audience engagement, customer acquisition, and lead generation . Animations provide highly appealing content that slows down scrolling, so people pay attention to the brand's message .

By entertaining users, animated videos help brands attract attention and increase loyalty . As a result, conversions will increase because loyal users are more likely to purchase.

Animated videos are cost-effective

The production of animated explainer videos is actually very affordable, despite what many entrepreneurs might think. Due to the lack of additional fees associated with hiring artists, renting locations, etc., animated videos are much more affordable than live-motion videos . The entire video story is produced in one studio when it comes to animated videos.

Additionally, animated videos can be used in various marketing, brand-building, and promotional contexts. Therefore, investing in an animated advertisement will be valuable since you will receive a versatile solution that will open up many marketing and public relations opportunities for the brand.

Their content flows consistently

Animated videos provide consistency for presenting information and explaining concepts to viewers. Communication and education are effectively accomplished through it. Animated commercials can help educate customers about your products and services or help them resolve their problems.

This is especially important for start-ups since it allows them to introduce their projects before a product launch. It will grow target audience engagement, spread information about a product, and create a buzz around it . All of these factors will determine the success of a product launch.

They help spread the word on social media

Social media allows you to share posts instantly, which is one of their main advantages. An appealing animated video can generate thousands of reposts within moments of publishing, enabling you to reach the largest audience possible.

The biggest challenge with sharing is knowing exactly who your target audience is and making your content as accessible as possible. The answer to this issue is to put your focus on creating content that people will want to share . Provide topics people can relate to, reflect upon, act upon, or find useful; viewers will be far more likely to share your video.

Get Started With Your Marketing Video

If you want to discuss how a marketing video can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Improving Your SEO and Online Marketing Presence With Video

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 10:04:48 GMT

The use of video marketing can significantly enhance your SEO strategy . When used correctly, video content will help your website rank higher in Google search results, as websites displaying video content are more likely to rank higher than those without it. Studies show that 85% of marketers use video to boost SEO , and websites with video content rank 53 times higher on Google than websites without it.

In order to maximise conversions and exposure through your video marketing strategy, it is essential to understand a few best practices. Having relevant text posts and images on your website can increase your search engine rankings, but different types of video content can give your business an edge over the competition .

There are many benefits to using visual content for SEO, and the overall value of using video for any purpose cannot be overstated. Read on for more information about SEO video marketing , or check out how our video production services can help you improve your online marketing presence.

What is Video SEO?

In Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Google determines whether your content is worthy of being seen by others . The search engine uses a set of rules to decide which content is ranked higher on the first page of Google. You can expect fantastic results if you follow the rules , make Google happy, and make website visitors happy.

Video marketing can help with that. In 2020 alone, consumers watched a record number of films totalling 23,000 years worth of video - that is undoubtedly a lot of time spent watching videos. Video SEO relies on aligning your internal content strategy with the priorities of search engines. Although we don't always know what Google is looking for, we do know that video is a powerful SEO tool .

As with wr itten content and SEO, video marketing and SEO go hand in hand : they are two sides of the same coin. In the same way that you optimise blogs for search, you should also optimise videos for search . Neglecting video SEO could result in fewer views and a lower return on investment.

How to improve your SEO using high-quality video

Video can be a potent SEO tool if you create high-quality content focusing on a particular goal . However, producing top-quality video, no matter how good it is, isn't necessarily a website's saving grace.

You can think of it as a cycle. When your video is optimised for search engines, it will rank higher in search results, allowing it to reach a broader audience and lead to more people clicking your link . On the other hand, if your on-page content is not of high quality, visitors will not stay on your site very long.

Fortunately, this is not a problem if you plan your production strategy well.

Here are some tips to help you succeed in your video marketing efforts and boost your ranking on SERPs . If you would like additional assistance from our team of experts, don't hesitate to get in touch with us.

Plan how to optimise your video content

It is critical to ask yourself the following question before recording your video: are you creating content that is relevant to your audience? Your video's context can be understood by search engines and used to determine if your content is relevant to searchers' queries.

It would be best if you start by identifying what search intent you are aiming for and then make sure your video uses those terms. In the same way, you would write a blog, you should produce videos based on your audience's interests . You can gain more insight by focusing on search intent during the planning process.

After identifying the intent, conduct keyword research to identify related search terms and incorporate those terms into your video. It is crucial to understand the intention of the search queries to determine which keywords are the right ones to use . Keywords are still important and need to be tracked, but first, you must understand the intent of the search queries.

Make your video's thumbnail, meta title and meta description stand out

Have you ever skipped over a book or a movie because the cover didn't catch your eye? Videos are no exception. A video's "book cover" consists of three main elements: its title, its description, and its thumbnail .

Give each element careful consideration, putting yourself in your audience's shoes. What is important to them? How could they be motivated to take action? Remember to create a compelling meta title and meta description for your video.

Search engines like Google use search result interactions and page engagement to determine a site's value: Are people clicking your links? Do they stay on your page, or do they leave right away? Do they spend a long time on your page? For a successful video, you should first develop a hypothesis about your audience's needs based on your available data, test it, and then implement it.

Choose the video positioning on the page and its purpose

Deciding the video's content and purpose will determine where it will appear on the page and on what platform. Let's say you want to insert multiple videos on one page. The most compelling video should be displayed first if that is the case. Video indexing by Google is limited to one per page, and Google prefers videos that appear first .

Choosing the correct video placement is crucial and determines if your visitors will be able to access your content and watch it to completion. For example, it is unlikely that your readers will go all the way down to your video if it is buried beneath a long content piece such as a blog post.

Moreover, choose a video hosting platform that suits your needs. If driving traffic and attracting new leads to your website is your primary goal, you should only upload the video on your website. Alternatively, if you want to raise brand awareness, you can consider multiple hosting options, such as YouTube or Vimeo.

Create a video that contains CTAs

Marketing calls-to-action (CTAs) are written instructions designed to trigger an immediate response from the audience. This is usually done with imperative verbs, such as "download now" or "subscribe now", commonly used when communicating.

To avoid l osing viewers, you need to engage with them in a manner that matches the preferences of your target audience by using the right call-to-action at the appropriate time .

Your pages should include video transcripts

Search engines can't watch video content, but they can process and understand the dialogue in a video. Nevertheless, a video transcript should still be included on the page where your video is hosted . This will help search engines figure out what the content is about when they crawl your video.

On some websites, the transcript is housed within a collapsible module, while in others, the transcript is made available as a text-based guide. Either option is acceptable, depending on the context and purpose of the video.

Remember that video transcripts provide context for search engines that helps them understand the content better . Consequently, your video will be accessible to a larger audience, culminating in a higher ranking.

Consider the video's length

Ensure that the duration is kept in mind. Our attention span tends to be short, so it is recommended to stay between 30 and 90 seconds for videos . You want your viewer to be intrigued by your content and keep watching for the remainder of the video. Make the first few seconds count .

It is essential to consider the video's length. Keep in mind that video lengths and specifications vary depending on the platform when posting videos to social media platforms.

Make sure your video is educational

If prospective customers have questions about your brand, services, products, or industry, educating and empowering them will make their buying decisions easier .

Answering their questions establishes your authority and enables you to gain credibility . As a result, search engines start to rank your pages higher. Your product pages may benefit from a Q&A video or a demonstration of your products in action. Additionally, you can use video to provide an alternative to reading long texts on educational pages like your blog.

Explainer videos are ideal for this purpose as their inspiring visuals can convey an organisation's values and personality and even showcase its products or services. It has been shown that explainer videos increase the conversion rate of pages by as much as 80% when used on websites.

Get Started With Your Marketing Video

If you want to discuss how a marketing video can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

The Future of Video Marketing Content

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 09:55:17 GMT

Video has been the most popular way to distribute content to consumers for years, and social media has only enabled this medium to grow. Creating engaging and original content is the ultimate goal of any professional marketer since it has the power to make or break your business.

Research by companies such as Deloitte have shown that digital content engagement has grown exponentially since the coronavirus pandemic . Video content is a powerful tool that can help you stand out from the crowd; therefore, marketers are developing new ways to reach existing and prospective customers . From TikTok and Instagram reels (short-form videos) to live-streaming platforms and YouTube, top video marketing trends entice customers and result in growth.

What are the benefits of video marketing?

Within the past two decades, video has transformed from a slow, static medium to one that is now fast, social, and more immediate than ever, thanks to live-streaming.

The following are a few reasons why we believe that video is the future of content marketing and how the top video marketing trends entice customers and result in growth.

The power of video humanises your brand

People are more likely to connect to visual content than written content . YouTube's rise in popularity is proof of this claim, as many entrepreneurs realised that posting informative visual content gives them a deeper relationship with their viewers. Video establishes the old adage: show don’t tell .

Visual content can easily be used to tell people your brand's story and let them get to know you and your company, thus thrusting your brand above the competition. In order to establish a relationship with their audience, brands aim to create online video content that humanises them and brings them closer to their viewers. Through the medium of quality video content, people are more likely to be emotionally motivated to make a purchase from that brand.

The use of videos makes your content easier to digest

Readers can be discouraged by long articles. In spite of providing relevant information and key facts, lengthy written content can be overwhelming. The solution is video content . Many global brands are using this technique, and in addition to providing well-written and informative posts, they also include short videos summarising the key points.

Video presentations provide a visitor with an easy way to learn what to expect before reading a complete article. A video emphasises and highlights the main points of a piece while providing in-depth solutions. As a result, the audience will become more interested in the subject.

Conversion rates are improved by video

The impact of visual content on conversion rates is not merely a myth. Statistics indicate that embedding videos on landing pages can increase conversion rates by up to 80% . The addition of a video to a landing page will extend visitors' stay on your website. If you can capture their attention with entertaining content, they'll also be more motivated to explore the rest of your website.

In addition to the video, include a call-to-action or an inspiring message to encourage visitors to get further involved with your website and brand, possibly turning a simple visit into a successful conversion.

Videos are more entertaining and shareable

If a video is fun to watch, your visitors will want to share it with their friends on social media , increasing awareness of your brand and giving it more personality in the process. Visual content that is unique and fun will create positive shared experiences for your viewers and their peers. It will benefit your brand by making it more likely for them to return to your website or convert to being customers.

What future developments can we expect in video marketing?

Videos are the most popular and sought-after type of internet content , and video marketing allows businesses to reach and engage with customers in today's digital era. To help brands take full advantage of this increasingly helpful tool for reaching and capturing target audiences, we have outlined a few predictions for the future of video marketing.

Short-form videos will gain traction

In order to keep their viewers' interest, brands will continue to present them with crisp messages that capture their attention. Ultra-short videos will be more common and highlight key product features, capture micro-moments of customer interaction, and share sneak peeks to build consumer interest. In addition, the production of the same video in different dimensions can be incredibly beneficial to optimise the video's marketing across various platforms and channels.

Video content in story format will soar

It is estimated that more than 500 million people use Instagram Stories daily . In comparison, Snapchat only has 280 million daily active users. Statistics show that in 2022, 70% of Instagram users watch stories daily and 86.6% of Instagram users post Stories. In addition, Instagram Stories are used by 36% of businesses to promote their products, and 25% of Gen Z and Millennials use stories to find products and services . These numbers speak for themselves about what an important role video content in story format plays in the daily lives of millions of potential consumers. This is why brands should invest in such video content in order to stay ahead of the competition and remain relevant.

AI and data will dominate video marketing

The use of technology will be critical for predicting which options will be most impactful as brands increasingly integrate products directly into video content. Data will increasingly drive content strategy and optimisation while the pace at which video content is produced continues to accelerate. Using artificial intelligence, brands can quickly gain insight and optimise partnerships with creators/influencers, maximising their investment return. Furthermore, AI-driven analytics can help marketers adjust their video marketing strategy in real-time, based on consumer preferences and the performance of different videos.

Conversions will be driven by soundless videos

Videos provide visuals and audio experiences; isn't that what makes them so popular? Yet, marketers have an increasing trend to create videos specifically for silent viewing . Using a video editor, you can now present silent videos across many social media platforms, especially in Story format. These edits will facilitate more visual communication despite the absence of audio . By doing so, the product will likely appear in consumers' social media feeds, leading them to demo the product and purchase it.

There will be a surge in interactive videos

It is predicted that interactive videos will become more popular in the future as they are more relatable and shareable. By allowing users to exercise control over the content, your marketing message is amplified, and the users become more aware and engaged . In addition, interactive videos can be tracked, so you can accurately analyse the paths taken by the consumer to gain a greater understanding of what impacts conversions. You can also motivate your customers to purchase your product or service and help promote brand recall by designing an interactive video thoughtfully.

Get Started with Your Video Marketing Content Today!

What are you waiting for? If you’d like to get started with video marketing content, head over to our quote form to give us an idea of your vision. If you want to learn more about our animated video production services, you can read more on our website , or check out our portfolio to view our video examples for a range of industries across the globe!

If you want to discuss how an animated promotional video can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Back to the Beginning with Sarah Irwin

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 09:00:08 GMT

For this edition of Back to the Beginning, I talked with Sarah Irwin – Squideo’s newest Video Producer! Despite being the penultimate newbie, Sarah has a lot of insights about our team. From tentacle tattoos to masterpiece artwork, read on for a deep dive behind the scenes.

I’ve been asking everyone to choose a question for my next interviewee. Callum was the last person I spoke to and he told me you’re a great artist and you love tattoos! His questions was what tattoo are you getting next – if any? And would you ever design a cool Squideo-themed tattoo (for you or anyone else on the team)?

Great question! I have just booked in to get my left arm worked on, with my right arm starting to fill up, I figured I may as well make a start!

I think a tentacle design would look pretty cool, maybe a detailed tentacle holding a play button – in our brand colours of course. Funnily enough, Ben asked me at my first Squideo meetup if I would ever get the logo tattooed…name a time and place and I’ll be there!

You studied with Callum and Hannah during college. Since you were doing Graphic Design and Illustration, you must have considered a career in the creative sector. But did you ever think the three of you would end up working together?

Not at all! Hannah and I went off to university when Callum started here. I kept in touch with Callum, and me and Hannah ended up at the same University in town. But with us all doing such different things (Hannah with game design, me with illustration and Callum doing animation) I didn’t ever think we could end up back together.

Before I joined Squideo, you were the newest member of the team. What was it like coming aboard during the pandemic?

So, I joined Squideo when everything was getting back to normal and the rules had been totally lifted for the last time. It was odd for me as I had never worked from home before, but the gang gave me some tips and the regular communication helped a lot with the transition.

Like me, you never saw the old Squideo offices. What do you like about remote working? Or do you think we’re missing out on something?

I enjoy remote working, but after hearing what everyone got up to in the old Squideo offices, it makes me wonder what it would be like for us all.

Honestly, I think the best part of remote working would have to be how it makes us all communicate more than I think we would in an office…plus always being home for deliveries is a bonus!

I learnt about Squideo’s pet fish from Ben and Callum. Do you think having an office pet would be fun if we ever stopped being remote? Or do you think we’d never get any work done (especially if Hannah brought Cody in)?

That’s a tough one! I think having a dog running around the office would be great! However, I think we would all want to move our computers to the floor so we could be as close to it as possible. If we were to have an office pet, I think I would vote for something like a lizard or a tortoise – they’re independent but there for a stroke if you’re on a break between jobs. Plus we could take it in turns looking after it over the Christmas holidays.

During your Squid Squad video, we got to see a cameo of your gaming prowess. What do you like to play and have you got any recommendations for me?

In all honesty, my boyfriend is the gamer and I’m the one who has to have it on the easiest mode possible or else I get fed up with losing [laughs]! I like short burst games at the minute, like ‘Fall Guys’ or ‘Fortnite’. Recently, we played a two-player game called ‘It Takes Two!’ and that was really fun, I highly recommend that one!

We inadvertently followed each other on Instagram [laughs]. Your artwork profile and my photography profile. I absolutely love your designs. Do you remember when you started drawing, and when did you start selling your work?

I drew a lot as a child, I was always making my own magazines with scribbles all over the pages. It wasn’t until I was in school studying Art & Design that I started fully exploring and experimenting with my artwork style.

I set up my first Etsy shop when the pandemic first hit. I was selling all sorts of crafty bits, but when I listed a product called “little pick me up cards” for £1, the shop blew up. I made something that was small and easy to make - plus it was great for people to send to each other in lockdown - just to let them know they’re thinking of them. I closed that shop when I started working here as I wanted to focus on transitioning to a full-time job and it was only originally something to keep me creative during lockdown. I’ve recently opened a new shop and I am loving it again.

Squideo produces a huge range of video styles, which means our Producers often get the opportunity to play around and experiment with new designs. Do you have a favourite project that you’ve worked on for Squideo?

Ooh, I think my favourite video, so far, would have to be the ‘Interlink 360 Discover Piper Strategy’ video. I have a small obsession for neon lights and this style looked like neon light pipes, plus it was one of my first videos learning new skills.

So far, everyone I’ve interviewed – Ben, Hannah and Callum – have jobs that get them involved in all the stages of video production. What’s it like as a Producer? I write the script, Hannah or Ben do the storyboard, and then…

…Then we take all of that and bring it to life, kind of like Frankenstein. Producing the first version of a video is probably my favourite part of any project. I don’t know about everyone else, but I always get excited when I see a storyboard for a new video and my mind goes mad with ways I can animate it.

We’ve been able to stay in touch as a team really well (despite working remotely) through regular online meetings and the occasional staff outing. Last time was a trip to the bowling alley; where do you want to go next?

I know an escape room has already been mentioned, so, I would suggest Go Ape at Dalby forest! I have been before and it is great fun ziplining through the forest. Unless you’re scared of heights – then don’t look down!

There’s been some wild ideas of an international Squideo outing. Ben wants to take the ferry to Amsterdam. Hannah would love a trip to Disney World and Callum threw Australia into the ring. If money was no issue, where would you want to go?

Definitely Iceland to see the Northern Lights!

Finally, it’s your turn to choose a question. My next profile will be for our Account Manager: Adam Shelton. Can you think of something good for me to ask?

When I first met Adam, I found out that he is the one who drives the Squideo van. So, my question to him would be - With the company rebrand, are you planning to re-wrap the van with the new colours etc and also, does the Squideo van have a name?

Check out our next post to hear from Squideo’s Account Director, Adam Shelton.

Back to the Beginning with Callum Major

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 08:00:01 GMT

For this edition of Back to the Beginning, I talked with Callum Major – the person who keeps Squideo running! Squideo’s Production Manager has been with Squideo since 2017 and knows a lot about the company’s history. From focusing Focus music to vlog ideas, read on for a deep dive behind the scenes.

I’ll start with the question Hannah chose for you during her interview last week. If you could only listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

I would have to go with an obscure (?) song, “Hocus Pocus” by Focus. Unironically it makes me super focused. If I ever have a lot on my plate (which is a lot of the time), I put this song on and it instantly gets me in the zone! It also was used in one of my favourite films ( Baby Driver ) for a really cool action scene!

When I spoke to Hannah, she said you met while studying a Graphic Design and Illustration course at college. When did you become interested in the subject and did you know you wanted a job in this industry?

I always loved art at school, even though I cannot draw to save my life! When it came to thinking about a career, some form of art just made sense as it’s what I enjoyed most. I wasn't picky, as long as it was in the industry. I tried a few different projects independently before landing the job at Squideo.

You’ve been at Squideo for five years (although when you first started it was still called Fifty Squid)! Did you do anything to celebrate the milestone? And what has kept you on the squad all these years?

[Laughs] I'm still waiting on the plaque; it must have got lost in the post? I kid, I love the people here. I have met some great people past and present, and as you mentioned, even work with some of my friends! It’s a good atmosphere to work in which I think is really important.

The company went remote in 2020. What do you like about Squideo going remote? And is there anything you miss about the old offices?

I miss the old office! Remote working has a few benefits, but I definitely miss seeing the team every day and having a laugh. Although I usually work at Ben's once a week.

I asked Ben about the old offices and the fish: Ink and Squidge. I want to believe him when he says only one of them crossed the rainbow bridge. Can you verify his story?

Sadly, Ink met his untimely end on my birthday. It really killed the party vibe! As for Squidge, he went to live in another bowl, but we haven't had a postcard in a while. I hope he's still out there swimming!

If we ever ended up in a physical office again, do you think another pet would be a good idea? Or are we setting ourselves up for heartbreak? A lot of the Squid Squad have their own pets already, maybe it would survive this time.

As the person who regularly cleaned out Squidge's tank, I can say an office pet probably isn't the best idea! Although if (hopefully) we end up back in an office, it'd be great if it was pet-friendly. I'll hopefully have a dog by then and I'll be sure to train it up so they can help with production.

Before becoming the Production Manager, you were a video producer for Squideo. Is there anything you miss from your old job?

Yes, I miss the creativity! The range of projects here means that no day is the same. You can use a range of styles and techniques on all the different videos. I would turn up, put my headphones on, and the day would fly by! I do enjoy looking over the producers work now though; we have developed a lot over the years.

What is one of your favourite projects that you’ve worked on at Squideo?

There's been so many! One that comes to mind is a video we did quite a while back for Network Rail, as it was a big collaborative effort. My favourite independent project would have to be Crunch. Really bright colours, cool assets, and creative freedom. A producer’s dream!

You manage the production timeline for everyone on the team, schedule the meetings and keep us on track. Which Squid Squad member is your star pupil and who’s the rebel?

[Laughs] I can't answer that! All of our producers are star pupils and give it their all. Instead, here’s a summary: Adam’s been here the longest with me, and is like my Padawan. Hannah joined at a very busy period and adapted almost instantly like I knew she would. Lesley joined after we began working from home and hardly needed any training (she should actually be teaching me at this point). Then, Sarah is our newest producer, who does a great job picking up new skills.

In terms of rebels, we don't currently have one, although there have been one or two in the past... [laughs].

We’ve been able to stay in touch as a team really well since going remote, through regular meetings and occasional staff outings. Last time was a trip to the bowling alley; where do you want to go next?

I have heard rumbles of Amsterdam for 5 years now. It needs to happen; I have a vision of editing a really cool Amsterdam trip vlog that needs to become a reality!

Like you say, Ben wants to take a ferry to Amsterdam one Christmas. Hannah also wouldn’t say no to Disney World (I suspect she’d love it). If money was no object, which international destination would you pick for a Squid Squad holiday? Don’t choose Amsterdam – we’ve already had Amsterdam [laughs].

A trip to Australia would be amazing, although I don't think I could put up with Ben's on-the-spot made-up songs for a full plane trip. Especially a flight that long. If money is really no object in this scenario, I'll fly there in my own jet!

The next interviewee for the Back to the Beginning series is Video Producer Sarah Irwin. According to Hannah, the three of you were at college together, so can you think of a good question to ask?

Sarah's a great artist, and she loves tattoos, so my question would have to be what tattoo is she getting next – if any? And would she ever design a cool Squideo-themed tattoo? I hear Adam is wanting to get some ink…

Check out our next post to hear from Squideo’s newest Video Producer, Sarah Irwin.

Back to the Beginning with Hannah Bales

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 15:22:59 GMT

This week, I chatted with one of Squideo’s finest: video producer Hannah Bales. She’s been with Squideo since early 2020 – I know, what a time to start – and in that time we couldn’t imagine the company without her. From dreams of Disney to pet cameos, read on for a deep dive behind the scenes.

I thought I’d get the hard question out the way first. Life is on the line, you have to decide. Mickey Mouse or Minnie?

Like Walt Disney said, “It was all started by a mouse”. That’s Mickey Mouse in my eyes. So I have to choose Mickey. Out of those two. I think you should’ve mentioned Oswald and Ortensia, the real Disney power couple.

Any client who ever video conferences with you must learn pretty quickly that you like Disney (given Cogsworth and Lumiere are in the background of your office). Did your love of Disney inspire you in any way to go into video production?

100%! I’ve always enjoyed doing anything creative, and having the chance to animate videos is an absolute dream.

You knew Squideo’s production manager – Callum – before you joined the company. How did you two meet and when did you join the team?

We went to the same school and college. Me, Callum and Sarah all did Graphic Design and Illustration together at college. We did a taster animation session there too. I would always see posts on social media of Squideo and I would always be so jealous of Callum for having such an awesome, fun job. Then one day he got in touch and recommended I apply for a position. I then started in early 2020.

Of course you weren’t the only one to join the team! Everyone at Squideo loves a pet cameo – can you tell me a little about yours?

Crazy Cody, as we like to call him, is our Dalmatian. He loves to try and be involved in client calls. Fun facts:

His right eye is half blue, half brown.
Cody is the same height as me when he stands on his hind legs.
He is very intelligent and has learnt hand gesture commands (as Dalmatians are known to sometimes become deaf).

Getting to work from home must be an advantage as a pet owner. What else do you like about Squideo’s remote office? And is there anything you miss about the old offices?

Pros:

I can play Xbox and have cuddles with Cody on my dinner break.
My partner works shifts, so even though I’m working, I still see him more often than I would otherwise.

Cons:

I miss seeing everyone in person.
Not leaving the house much.

What is one of your favourite projects that you’ve worked on at Squideo?

I always love working on GoGirls! It’s such a great cause and we produce lovely, calm, informative videos for them. I also really enjoyed working on Steelshield as it was classic cartoon fun.

You get involved in both the storyboarding and production of our videos. Which job do you prefer doing?

That’s a tough question! Overall, I am grateful that I get to meet the clients and also see the project go through most of the process. If I had to choose, I guess it would probably be the production side, as I love animating and getting any opportunity to learn new animation skills and techniques.

Our clients can get very involved during the scriptwriting and storyboarding stage, but don’t see much after that until the first video draft is produced. What goes on behind the scenes of making these videos?

There is so much that goes on behind the scenes. As a Creative Director and Video Producer, I can be working on multiple projects, at any stage of the process. All of us work really hard to create the best videos, whilst also improving our own skillsets and helping Squideo become the best it can be! There’s a lot of teamwork involved and everyone plays a part. So even if you only see one or two of us throughout the process, just know that everyone has contributed something.

Did you learn about video production on the job, or did you study graphics or animation at school?

I worked really hard in Business and Art at school, and then in college I worked on a course called ‘Graphic Design and Illustration’. On this course we explored lots of different types of media (including animation). I also did a photography course alongside that. I then did Game Design at University, and I taught there too for a little bit. I’ve worked alongside some really creative friends. And I’ve always followed a creative journey.

We’ve been able to stay in touch as a team really well since going remote, through regular meetings and occasional staff outings. Last time was a trip to the bowling alley; where do you want to go next?

Disney World… just kidding (but I wouldn’t say no). I would love to have a Squideo Party – food, drink and also play some Night Quest, curtesy of Ben.*

*Night Quest is a drinking game invented, designed and managed by our Creative Director, Ben Underwood. Check it out!

Ben had a wild suggestion of the Squid Squad taking the ferry to Amsterdam for the Christmas holidays. Which would mean crossing the North Sea in winter. Who do you think would be the first Squid to turn green?

I feel like one of the guys. They always set funny challenges for each other and most of the time they include hot sauce or spicy food. [Laughs] I don’t think that would mix well with a ferry over the North Sea!

Finally, my next profile will be of our Production Manager and your friend: Callum. Have you got any good question suggestions?

If you could only listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Check out our next post to learn about Squideo's production schedule as I sit down to talk with our Production Manager, Callum Major.

Case Study: Enclave

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 12:01:04 GMT

Explainer Video Case Study

Enclave: Secures connectivity for fast-moving teams through a simple, secure, private Zero Trust Overlay Network.

Providers of everyone’s favourite straight-forward Zero Trust Overlay Network, Enclave create zero-fuss, zero-trust network connectivity between systems anywhere on the internet, without opening any of your firewalls, adding edge devices, or changing your infrastructure.

They came to Squideo for a video explaining their intuitive solution.

Check out their video and read the Case Study below:

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your project requirements.

"As a company operating in a highly niche market, we identified the need for a simple explainer video that outlined the top level of what we as a company do; Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)."

What made you look for a video production agency?

"We’re still very small in size, with less than 10 full-time employees, meaning our internal resources are quite limited in creating the content we needed at the output level we were expecting."

How was it working with Squideo?

"We had quite a few changes and tweaks throughout the process, but nothing was too much trouble and the team have been happy to use both their creative expertise and work with our team to integrate our own vision. We always got a same-day response from Ben which was brilliant, and he was extremely helpful (and patient) with anything we threw at him!"

Did you get the video you envisioned?

"Absolutely, as a marketer I can be all-too fussy about the quality of the content we put our name to, but I am incredibly happy and proud to have such a polished video in our repertoire! The wider team are thrilled with it and we can’t wait to work together on some more targeted content with Squideo."

A big thank you to Claire Fox at Enclave!

Secure Connectivity for Fast-Moving Teams

Enclave send regular newsletters with product updates, blog posts, and company news. Join their FREE mailing list today and receive fantastic advice about online security, VPN servers, Zero Trust networks and so much more.

Back to the Beginning with Ben Underwood

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 10:00:01 GMT

I sat down with Ben Underwood – Squideo’s Creative Director – at the start of this month to learn a little more about the history of Squideo and how it became the company we know today. From childhood shenanigans to an interesting branding choice, read on for a deep dive into our company’s past and get a preview of what’s to come.

How did you and Adam meet and when did you decide to start a business together?

When we were five on the playground. We used to live quite close together. We started little schemes with each other. Like, school dinners were 95p and we found a way to get the 5p by charging the other kids to play on Adam’s yo-yo. Then we got a camera and took photos of local cats, then used those to make a calendar and sold them to the girls at school.

We both went onto different things after high school and didn’t think we’d be working together again. Then in 2015, I’d been on a trip to Japan and when I came back I got the idea to start a video business. Adam had broken his leg in a motorcycle accident and asked if he could get involved.

The company was originally called “Fifty Squid Limited.” What made you change it to Squideo?

The idea was it was a fifty-pound video – squid to rhyme with quid. We thought of it like McDonalds, we were just assembling it from pre-created content; we wanted customers who wouldn’t usually be able to afford videos to come in, choose what they wanted from a menu and walk away with a video. That got us a few clients, but the videos started to look quite similar. Which is when we decided to rebrand and switch things up.

The original logo had a squid in it. Did the squid ever have a name? And what made you choose a squid as your emblem?

No, it didn’t. We always meant to do that! I think the idea first came because it rhymed with quid, and the service would cost fifty pounds. Also, squids are intelligent. I think.

Did you think you’d be a business owner when you were younger?

I thought I would be self-employed, as I never really liked having a traditional career with a boss, but I didn’t think I’d hire other people. Which was weird to get used to. Although our team is quite tight, I like to think I’m just one of the team with the final word [laughs].

How has Squideo’s services changed over the years?

As I said, it was a very basic idea at the start. Almost a make-your-own video. The client would choose the style they wanted – modern, corporate – the colours, the music, then we’d put it together for them. Like McDonalds – they don’t make the ingredients on-site they just put them together. But it didn’t take long for our productions to look very similar and we wanted to make them a lot more professional. That’s when we changed our production process. Our original clients didn’t even have to chat with us; they’d make the choice online, upload a script, and we’d send them the finished result.

What is one of your favourite projects that you’ve worked on at Squideo?

A couple of years ago we did some projects for the NHS, which we still do, but when we started I found I really liked those projects that had a clear public benefit from making them. Like our recent video for Chron’s & Colitis UK. I know people are going to watch that, learn something, and maybe it’ll make a difference.

Squideo went fully remote in 2020. Is there anything you miss from the old offices?

Definitely the camaraderie and getting to see people every day. We used to have a regular tournament to see who would make tea for the day; we’d throw tennis balls and whoever’s rolled the furthest would end up on duty. Fun stuff like that.

And whatever happened to Squideo’s pet fish – Ink and Squidge?

Oh, man! Well, one of them… [EMILY: Crossed the rainbow bridge?] … yeah, I think it went down the toilet. The other one went to another business that was in the same office building as us. Once we were down to one fish we realised it wasn’t really worth the expense and time to maintain the tank.

What advantages has remote work brought to the company?

A lot. Obviously it saved us costs, but the commute was a big one. If everyone in our company was having a 30-minute commute to the office, doing that both ways, then that’s 8 hours in total our staff has lost. It just frees people up; we can run errands during our lunch break, and get outside.

And the technology boom post-COVID?

Yeah. We didn’t see a lot of clients in person even before the pandemic, apart from some people who weren’t really comfortable with the technology. But now, everyone knows how to use at least one video conferencing platform. And that has really freed us up to work with clients from anywhere in the world.

We’ve been able to stay in touch as a team really well since going remote, through regular meetings and occasional staff outings. Last time was a trip to the bowling alley; where do you want to go next?

I think an escape room currently has the most votes. That’s been a popular request. Although, Callum’s mentioned going driving on a proper range, and maybe having a full game of golf. I’ve always wanted us to do a Christmas trip to Amsterdam. I used to go on that years ago, using the ferry, so that’d be great.

Escape room next, probably. Providing we have a few good months!

I took a deep dive into Squideo’s social media accounts before we met and I have just one more question left from those; do I want to know what happens in the Squideo van?

[Laughs] In the van . A friend of Adam’s was wrapping cars and vans, so we thought it would be a cool marketing technique. Like people would see this orange van and think, that looks cool I’m going to check it out. Not sure it really worked. Adam mostly used it to take motorcycle parts to the scrap heap. We did rebrand it and he still has it; it’s just about hanging in there.

Finally, can you give us an insight into where Squideo is heading and what projects you have on the horizon?

We’re working a lot with different NHS trusts and local authorities which we’re keen to pursue. For the team, I don’t think we want to expand massively past a couple more people. I like the level we’re at, I just want us to build more brand awareness.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Just that we’re always looking to expand, to reach new clients, and keep our service affordable while retaining quality. I’m really happy with how to company has grown, we’ve worked with some amazing people over the year, and I hope we keep it up for a long while to come.

Check out our next post to learn about our video production process as I sit down to talk with our Video Producer, Hannah Bales.

How Infographics Can Bring a Business to Life

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 15:45:23 GMT

In the digital age, conciseness is just as important as accessibility. It is easy to overload customers with information. An infographic – a visual representation of data or knowledge – is the perfect way to distil your message for any audience. Infographics use minimal text combined with visual representations such as data and pictures. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, an infographic is worth ten times that. Infographics can be used to convey any information, such as your company timeline, key statistics, or your founding aims. It is not a novel gimmick either; infographics have been used throughout history and continue to be popular today.

In this article, we will explore some of the uses of infographics, the benefits of including them in your marketing strategy, and examine some of Squideo’s favourite examples.

What can an infographic be used for?

Like pictures, infographics are easily shared and can be repurposed over and over again. From a social media post, an infographic could be repurposed for an annual report or added to a corporate video. They provide a quick overview of any topic and simplify complex processes. Here’s a few examples:

Present research or survey data with a percentage focused infographic
Summarise a report with an infographic of key statistics
Compare or contrast two or more options with a dual list infographic
Simplify employee onboarding with an infographic staff hierarchy
Raise awareness with an infographic highlighting key issues affecting a community

How to make an infographic

A simple infographic is easy to make using any design platform, like Canva or Adobe. First, decide what information you want to present. You should focus on one main topic, such as your achievements over the past year. Once you have chosen a topic, decide the best way to display this. If you have data, condense this into two or three graphs rather than lengthy sentences. Finally, ensure an easy flow from one image to the next. An infographic should be like a storybook, leading the audience on a journey.

Our favourite infographics

For inspiration, look at some of our favourite infographics and learn what makes them effective and how a similar graphic could give your business a boost.

The Global Carbon Budget: World Resources Institute

When the subject is as serious as global warming, it is important to get your message right. The World Resources Institute used a mixture of headlines, text, animation and graphs to concisely show its audience the issue, the consequences, and potential solutions to global warming. This clever design has a gradual background change to replicate travelling through the Earth’s atmosphere, a fitting choice given its subject.

Soldier Fatalities: Poppy Field

This strikingly simple infographic uses minimal text, but this doesn’t detract from its ability to create a poignant message. Poppies are used to represent a timeline of global wars and the cost of human life in each. The stems of these flowers connect to a line graph axis with the matching date, and the size of the flower head matches the total death count. For an organisation created to commemorate the centenary of WWI, this infographic perfectly summarises the organisation’s aims and message.

For a professional quality infographic to rival some of these fantastic examples, Squideo’s talented team of graphic producers can create an infographic that perfectly condenses your brand into a single image and uses visual elements to help get your message across to your audience.

To find out more about our infographics and other graphic design options, get in touch with the team today.

The 8 Best Website Explainer Video Examples of 2022

Thu, 05 May 2022 14:57:40 GMT

When browsing websites, you’ll find that many organisations feature an explainer video to fast track the explanation of who they are, what they do, and how they can help you.

As video is currently the most viewed content format, organisations can guarantee the video will be watched by prospects, especially if the rest of the page is full of text.

Videos don’t just tell you a message, but through inspiring visuals, they give an insight into the organisation’s values, it’s personality, and can even show off the product or service they’re offering.

In fact, explainer videos are so effective on websites, they can increase a page’s conversion rate by up to 80%!

So, here’s our 8 of our favourite website explainer videos of 2022:

1. Simba

Simba created a short explainer video for their website to showcase their hybrid mattresses. This explainer video explains the technology of the mattress and why it’s so comfortable through a mix of animation and stock footage. This lets you see the materials and structure inside the mattress, while the animated elements provide an insight into their brand personality.

2. Tropicana

Tropicana created this short explainer video to promote their fresh orange juice product. As Tropicana are a well-known brand and has a well-known product, they don’t need to explain what it is, they just need to remind you that they’re there! This video does it perfectly, by featuring a woman taking a sip of Tropicana in the morning and feeling like she can conquer anything.

3. Xero

Xero created this website explainer video to explain the main features and benefits of their accounting software. In this website explainer video, Xero has gone against the grain, avoiding the serious, corporate style of accounting and utilising bright colours and comical elements to create an enjoyable video. Using a series of close-ups, humour and screenshots of the software, this video isn’t just informative, but it’s entertaining and engaging – well done Xero!

4. Buffer

Buffer is an online software that helps content creators and businesses get further insight into their social media accounts and make posting easier. They created a website explainer video to highlight the problems current social media account managers face and show how Buffer helps to solve the problems. The video is extremely aesthetically pleasing to watch, with a clean colour palette and smooth transitions.

5. BOSH

BOSH is a plant-based brand created by two chefs who create vegan recipes to share with the world. Rather than writing all their recipes in text, the BOSH team leveraged video to captivate and build a loyal audience through social media. They have featured their recipe explainer videos on the homepage of their website to let users who exactly what they do and show off the recipes they can expect in their cookbooks.

6. Guinness

Guinness created this website explainer video to promote their new product, Microdraught. In this explainer video, they use the classic Guinness branding we know well, with the dark background and big, bold text. They mix in live-action filming of the Microdraught being used with the animated liquid background to create a video that doesn’t just educate you on the product, but makes you feel more connected to the brand.

7. Better Space

Better Space used a website explainer video to promote their wellbeing app. Using a simple illustrated style, the video tells the story of Jess, who is struggling to sleep, and her work is suffering from it until her employer implemented better space in the company to provide employees with ways of feeling better. Better Space re-created its app in the same illustrated style for style consistency, without losing the educational elements.

8. Squideo

We couldn’t mention the best homepage videos without mentioning our own! Our talented team at Squideo created a fantastic website explainer video to outline the main features of our animated explainer video company and what we offer. We stuck closely to our brand colours to help it become recognisable to new prospects and outlined our service in less than a minute!

If you feel your website is missing an explainer video...

get in touch with the Squideo team today to find out how we can help you.

Why Sales Videos are Essential for Business Growth

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:44:23 GMT

Selling a product or service is key to generating revenue and increasing those sales numbers can have a positive impact on your business growth.

Many businesses use digital channels to reach their target audience through tailored marketing campaigns, delivering different messages depending on where prospects are in the sales funnel.

However, HOW you deliver your sales messages can have a direct impact on the first impressions of your audience.

Boring your audience with long realms of text to educate them on the benefits of your product and service can cause users to leave your website or landing page, which is why businesses have turned to video.

Sales video s help to support your message, showing your audience exactly why your product or service solves their problems.

Video is interesting to watch and portrays your brand’s characteristics. A stand-out sales video can help prospects remember you, so you’re front of mind when they’re ready to buy, making it a perfect form of content to help generate sales.

It’s known that featuring a video on your landing page can help to increase your conversion rate by up to 80%, so it’s certainly worth investing in an animated sales video .

At Squideo, when we create animated sales videos for businesses, we focus on the ‘why’.

Why should your audience watch the video?
Why does this product or service solve problems?
Why does your audience need this?
Why are you different from competitors?
Why should they take the next step in the sales funnel?

We’ll delve into what makes your product or service a necessity, pull out your main USPs, key features, and benefits, and highlight these in the video, leaving your target audience full of excitement.

We work with you to produce a competitive sales video based on proven advertising principles. Our sales videos are the perfect way to pitch your sales offering to an audience of prospects.

Our videos are created bespoke to you, are delivered in around 6 weeks and we have a cost-effective pricing structure, allowing you to generate an attainable ROI.

Case Study: Nine Dots Development

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:43:02 GMT

Explainer Video Case Study

Nine Dots Development: Helping organisations develop their managers and leaders to become exceptional at their roles.

Nine Dots Development came to us looking to raise awareness around their organisation, to help break the stigma around apprenticeships, and to show how anybody in any role within any organisation can benefit from the exciting professional learning and development opportunities they offer such as apprenticeships, private training, free webinars and more.

We created videos surrounding their target audience persona, Susan, with an existing character design already implemented within their own branding. We loved how these videos turned out and Nine Dots have been back to create several more with us!

Check out the videos, meet Susan, and read the Case Study below:

What do you use your videos for, and how has the feedback been on them so far?

"The first video we had made by Squideo was a company explainer video that we are planning to use on our website, in onboarding sessions, and in marketing. So far, we have used it as a tool to introduce ourselves at the start of the free webinars we run and have found it extremely useful.”

Did you find the process ok when producing your video content?

"Working with Squideo has been an extremely smooth process - they keep to deadlines, are prompt with communication, and always take our feedback on board."

How have the final videos compared to your expectations?

"The final videos surpassed our expectations - we had never had an animated video created and weren’t sure what outcome to expect so we did a lot of research into different animation companies and we’re glad we went with Squideo as the videos are of excellent quality and fit into our branding perfectly."

Do you have anything else you'd like to mention about working with us on projects?

"It’s always a joy working with Squideo, all of the team are so friendly, helpful, and good at what they do, and we look forward to commissioning more videos through Squideo."

A big thank you to Sabina Kacinova - Nine Dots Development

Developing Yourself and Others

Every two weeks, Nine Dots delve into a new real-life problem that many teams are experiencing in organisations like yours. They analyse the root cause behind these struggles and provide expert tips and advice through free articles, podcasts, videos and webinars, to help you lead better tomorrow.

Join their FREE mailing list to receive insightful content delivered directly into your inbox!

Creating an Animated Video Marketing Strategy

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:03:06 GMT

Animated video production takes time, planning and dedicated research to produce a video that brings the conversation to a more personal level and resonates with your audience. With the help of a professional animated video, you can generate content that engages viewers in a way that other types of video content cannot.

The great thing about animated video production is that it can be used for virtually any purpose, whether that be to create customer service videos , promotional videos , explainer videos and much more. The possibilities are endless, and animated videos can present a unique opportunity for brands just like yours, whether that be increasing awareness, engagement, leads, conversions or building a rapport with your target audience.

If animated video production is something you’re interested in, you might be thinking, what are the steps in video production? We know it can be a little overwhelming with a lot to take in. Well, as an animated video production company, we’re here to tell you exactly how our animated video production process works to create an outstanding animated video. Let’s dive in!

What is an Animated Video?

Animated video is used within a video marketing strategy to market products or services to a target audience. They are created using motion graphics to achieve an artistic result that conveys a key message or story.

Due to their versatility, animated videos can be combined with other styles of videos such as live-action or stock footage to create an end result that is truly unique.

Animated videos can be distributed throughout your website, blog, email campaign, social media, search ads and social media ads and can work great alongside influencer campaigns and endorsements.

The Benefits of Animated Marketing Videos

Animated videos have the power to captivate your audience like no other and can be powerful when explaining complex concepts that would otherwise be easily misunderstood. They can encapsulate your brand mission in a quick and easily-digestible format for whatever type of purpose you intend it to be used for.

In terms of SEO, online video marketing can increase organic traffic as search engines favour video content, so much so that videos are 50 times more likely to organically rank in Google compared to text-based results . Studies show that using videos on landing pages can also increase conversions by up to 86% . Besides helping your website rank on relevant searches, videos can even make your snippet more eye-catching, meaning that searchers will be more likely to click through to your website.

Not only do animated promotional videos significantly increase the time your audience spends on your page, but they can also provide a great return on investment compared to other marketing streams. As online video is also the fastest-growing method of advertising on the internet, they are ideal for keeping audience members engaged in a way that’s simple and easy to digest.

Although there is a multitude of ways you can improve your SEO, a video helps by lowering your bounce rates, creating quality backlinks, and increasing click-through rates by driving organic traffic from search engine result pages (SERPS). So, if you have a video, use it on any page that’s relevant - it really can make a significant difference to your website traffic and overall results!

Types of Animated Video

If you think an animated marketing video might be right for you, you should firstly think about the various types of animated videos to choose from, including 2D animation, 3D animation, stop-motion animation, and much more.

When you come to us, you can tell us exactly what you want, and we can make the magic happen, or if you’re a little unsure, we can guide you through the entire process.

2D animation , in particular, is a powerful tool in telling your story, showing your products and explaining your services in an engaging and entertaining way. Interest in 2D animations continues to soar, with more businesses choosing 2D animations for their video marketing strategy.

Just some of the many benefits of using 2D animation for your business include cost-effectiveness, quick production time, and ease of editing and updating in comparison to live-action videos.

At Squideo, we specialise in producing creative 2D animation videos that fit your exact marketing goals. 2D animation videos are fantastic for:

Promoting or presenting a product
Explaining a service
Demonstrating complex software
Communication of your brand values/message
Data and statistics presentation
Training employees

With the use of dynamic animation, interesting characters, and vibrant colours we can provide an enticing 2D video that people will engage with and will help you achieve the goals you set.

Uses of Animated Video

Animated videos are used in a wide variety of industries, with many different types of videos suitable for a range of purposes and uses. Below we’ve listed just a few of the most common video types and their uses.

01. Advertisement Videos

Advertisements must be attention-grabbing in order to attract new customers. To work effectively, they need to be memorable and to show off your brand in a way that sticks with the viewer. That’s why advertisements are typically between 30 to 60 seconds long and are usually distributed through television, online paid advertisements or as a landing page video for your website.

02. Product Videos

Product videos show your product in action and the winning features that your audience should be aware of. They are designed to showcase the beauty of your product and sell it to your viewer while setting you apart from your competition. They can help to increase confidence in your product in as little as 30 seconds and can be shared through your website, email, social media or other forms of paid advertising.

03. Social Media Videos

Social content videos are short video clips created solely for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and many other platforms. Of course, it’s absolutely vital to prepare a social media video marketing strategy to ensure your social media animated video performs well. As video posts on social media get 48% more views compared to any other social media post, they are a fantastic way to stand out from the crowd and spread your message.

Animated social media videos are fun, playful and engaging enough that users will want to interact and share with their contacts. Our recommended video lengths for each social media platform are as follows:

Facebook: 1 minute
Instagram: 30 seconds
Twitter: 45 seconds
LinkedIn: 30 seconds
YouTube: 2 minutes

04. Explainer Videos

Explainer videos are used to present a product, service, or business idea in a compelling and efficient way that builds trust and gets your message across. They can teach your audience more about your brand, product or service and are perfect for introducing your offering in the most engaging and informative way.

Explainer videos are typically three minutes long, giving enough time for your viewer to understand what your company does and why that matters. These videos are finished with a strong call to action that urges viewers to act, whether that be to sign-up , subscribe , try for free , learn more , or talk to us .

A fantastic example of a bold, powerful call-to-action is a video we created for Rix to showcase their Expensemate software.

The animated video explains how the software can aid businesses in keeping track of employee expenses. The call-to-action, ‘ Try it for free with 30 days no card fees ‘, reinforces the risk-free nature of the free trial in an engaging and compelling way.

05. Testimonial Videos

Want to make an animated video that really resonates? Testimonial videos are a strong method of advertising your product by shouting loud about positive experiences that your satisfied customers have had using your brand, product or service.

As word-of-mouth is even more effective than other forms of paid advertising, it’s a great way to influence buying decisions with honest reviews that increase your credibility. Animated video testimonials tend to be between 30 seconds and two minutes long, whether that focuses on one happy customer or multiple satisfied customers.

Create a Video Marketing Strategy

In order to further engage with the right audience, it’s vital that you create a video marketing strategy before committing to your project. One of the biggest obstacles to creating a successful video marketing campaign is a lack of effective strategy.

An online video marketing strategy is essentially a roadmap that outlines your goals for your animated video so that your end video addresses real business objectives. So how do you launch a video marketing strategy that increases engagement and gets you more results?

We've put together a list of points to take into consideration.

01. Define Your Marketing Goals

Try to think about which of the objectives (listed below) are most important to you, and then start with one or two. Consider the purpose of your video and how you intend to use it to reach these goals. Your video marketing goals will allow you to better focus on your video production marketing strategy and align this with your objectives.

Some popular goals of video marketing include:

Increase sales revenue. Increase the average value of customer orders or the number of sales with a product video that gives buyers quality information and converts prospects into customers. Product videos are a fun way for the public to gain more insight into what you have to offer.
Increase brand awareness. Get the word out about your company and your product offering with a video that tells a story. By using how-to videos and short, memorable content for social media platforms, you can increase your brand awareness.
Increase website traffic. Bring more traffic to your site and boost your discoverability with video fit for SEO marketing. As Google favours video content over regular content, implementing video on your website is a sure-fire way to put your website on the map. These are often in the form of product videos, testimonials and business overviews.
Increase online engagement. Facilitate word-of-mouth marketing with content that encourages users to engage, interact and share with their followers. Increasing online engagement can build a sense of community and security that you are trustworthy and relatable. We recommend short promotional videos with an emotional appeal that tells users something interesting about your organisation.
Increase leads. Drive traffic to your website and encourage viewers to initiate conversations around your product or service using video. This could include inspirational videos that give advice or present an exciting interview that engages potential leads.
Nurture existing leads. Build relationships and promote trust with existing prospects that aren’t yet ready to buy. You could get the best results from explainer videos , product demonstration videos or brand videos that reinforce relationships with buyers at every stage of the sales funnel.
Increase conversions. Turn your traffic into revenue with a compelling call to action that converts customers. Choose from product videos, explainer videos or demo videos to enhance every stage of the marketing funnel.
Improve customer understanding. Get your name out there and imp rove customer understanding of what you have to offer. This can be in the form of a how-to video or one that addresses the frequently asked questions your target audience has.

02. Research Your Target Audience

Now that you’ve thought about what you want to achieve with your animated video, you now need to think about the audience you want to watch your video content.

Learn about what your audience likes, what they need, their budget and what their pain points are in order to best connect with them. It’s best to be very specific and concise with your audience by creating a research-based buyer persona that depicts a target customer to find out more about the people you’d like to connect with.

You can then map out the buyer journey to identify their path to purchase and how your video content fits into this path. Once you’ve decided on the target audience that your content speaks to, you can then figure out the type of video best suited to your strategy.

03. Decide What Kind of Videos You'll Make

Consider where your video will fit into the customer journey and marketing funnel and how you can achieve your goals through your video. You should take some time to discuss the video styles and types that are best suited to reaching your target audience.

Depending on the stage in the customer journey, this may constitute what achieves the most engagement, reach, or what drives the most leads or conversions.

04. Decide on Content Uses

Is your animated video designed for social, or would you like it to be used on your website? At this stage, it’s a great idea to think about how you intend to use your content and then decide where you want to post it.

Common uses of video marketing include:

Website (landing pages, blog pages, product pages, etc.)
Social media
YouTube
Inbound and/or outbound marketing campaigns
Content for sales representatives to distribute

05. Set a Video Budget

You might have a big vision in your head, but without the proper budget, it can be difficult to achieve it. If budget is a big restriction, you can talk to us about different aspects of your project, and we’ll try to find the most cost-effective solution that works for you.

Animated video production can range anywhere from £70 to £7000 per 60 seconds depending on the type of video production you have in mind. Our quotes are ultra-competitive and are designed to be the most cost-effective solution for your project.

In addition, we’ll give you an exact quote breakdown before we carry out any work.

06. Create Your Video

Now for the exciting bit - bringing your vision to life and creating your long-awaited video.

There can be a million and one things to consider when creating a marketing video, so we would always recommend seeking an animated video production company to take you through all of the steps and produce a video that keeps your goals and objectives in mind.

Using a video production company also means that you can save a fortune on video equipment, editing, insurance, costumes, and make-up while saving time not having to film your own video. Best of all, you won’t need to hire your very own camera crew!

07. Measure Your Performance

Analytics is a key component of every video marketing strategy and is exactly what you should focus on after distributing your video. There are various ways to measure the success of your animated video campaign, which will differ from goal to goal. Try to focus on tracking metrics that are relevant in determining whether you’ve accomplished your goals.

As an example, your KPIs might include measuring:

Views
Clicks
Impressions
Unique users
View-through rate
Watch time
Calls
Email signups
Sales
Return visits
Social engagement

While it’s great to have KPIs, it’s crucial that you convert these into accurate and reliable metrics to calculate your return on investment (ROI). However, many businesses struggle to measure return on investment (ROI) for their video marketing campaigns.

The first thing you’ll want to do is implement tracking on your video. This will help you analyse the impact your video has on your users. For example, you can learn whether they stopped watching at a certain point or if your video they converted. From this, you can calculate a return on your investment.

08. The Timings of Animated Video Production

Like most things in life, all good things come to those who wait. That’s why our average turnaround time is six weeks for standard delivery, which meets the industry average. With that being said, if you’re looking to have your animated video produced in a shorter timeframe, we do provide priority scheduling with delivery in as little as three weeks.

Please note that any turnaround time we give will heavily rely on your feedback and the rate at which sign-off is given at each stage of the production process.

The Video Production Process at Squideo

Step 1: Project Outline

The most important step in creating animated videos is your needs and objectives. Why do you need this video, and where do you plan on using it? Simply fill out our quote form and tell us about your project or idea. We’ll ask you for key information to send you an ultra-competitive quote as quickly as possible. You can upload a full brief or send us a vague idea to inspire us - it’s really up to you. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can with a quote breakdown with various options that we can discuss with you.

Don’t panic if you aren’t too sure what you’re looking for - we can talk you through your objectives and take the lead with the creative ideas.

When we send you a tailored quote breakdown for your project, if you're happy to proceed, we’ll set up a kick-off call to get things started with our Production Manager.

Step 2: Kick-Off

Our Production Manager will reach out to you to schedule a kick-off meeting to discuss your project in detail. They will become your point of contact throughout the production of your animated video and will be the person you can reach out to at any time with questions, concerns or changes.

At this stage, we’ll discuss your tailored production timeline and introduce you to our Creative Director, who will be on hand to discuss visual ideas. Every marketing video starts with a conversation about an idea. This is why our talented team will discuss your vision and take the time to learn as much about your product, service, or issue as possible.

You can expect to receive samples of voiceovers to accompany your animated video. Voiceovers are an important aspect of animated video production and can go a long way in effectively delivering your message to your target audience.

With a wide selection of samples in our library, you can choose from a variety of artists that suit your message. We’ll also discuss any music that you want to play during the video to reflect the tone of the video, without overshadowing the voiceover and content. We can even feature custom characters to bring life to your animated video.

We’ll also answer any questions you may have, which will help us understand what you’re looking to achieve and how you’d like to achieve this. Tell us your vision, and we’ll have the corporate style to match, whether that’s professional, informal or something in-between.

If you need your animated video quickly, you can choose our priority scheduling option for a faster production turnaround, subject to availability.

Step 3: Producing a Script

A powerful animated video should have a well-thought-out script to keep the viewer interested in the most creative way possible. If you already have a script, we can skip this step; if not, no problem!

You can provide us with a script, or we’re more than happy to create a unique script specifically for your video. We’re here to help! After all, you may know what you want to get across to the viewer but are not really sure how to say it. Our in-house copywriting team has helped hundreds of businesses get their message across using a professionally written script from your brief.

Step 4: Storyboard

Now for the exciting part - bringing your vision to life with your very own storyboard! We will create a storyboard to give you an overview of the storyline. We’ll add detailed animation notes to each section of your script to outline our creative ideas for each scene of your video. Feel free to input as much visual direction as you like; we can fill in the gaps or take the creative reigns entirely.

Step 5: Style Guide

We will create a style guide for your review, so you can understand the look and feel of the video. Our team will send you over some visual concepts to have a look through. Don’t worry if you have lots of changes; we give you one free set of unlimited visual revisions to the first draft of your style guide.

Step 6: Drafting

Finally, we can get to work! Our talented team of designers will begin with the first draft of your animated video, with your goals and target audience in mind. We’ll give you one free set of unlimited visual revisions to make sure you are happy with the initial draft. If they’re not quite what you envisioned, we’ll re-revise the specified changes again in your second draft.

Step 7: Sign-Off

When you’re happy with the video, you’ll receive a commercially licensed MP4 file, a thumbnail image and any alternate versions. You’ll have commercial rights, and you’ll be able to distribute this wherever you like, for as long as you want.

If you’d like to request further changes after sign-off, the great news is that we will keep your editable file for 24 months after you have signed the project off.

Get Started With Your Animated Video Strategy!

What are you waiting for? If you’d like to get started with animated video production, head over to our quote form to give us an idea of what you envision.

If you want to learn more about our animated video production services, you can read more on our website , or check out our portfolio to view our video examples for a range of industries across the globe!

If you want to discuss how an animated promotional video can benefit your business, get in touch with the Squideo team today!

Back to the Beginning

How Much Does an Explainer Video Cost in 2026?

A Global Pricing Breakdown Across 45 Video Agencies

The Real Price Range: £296 to £20,000+

Pricing Transparency

How Video Agencies Structure Their Pricing

Where Agencies Sit in the Market

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What Drives The Cost Difference?

Creative Depth

Animation Complexity

Script Development

Revision Policy

Geographic Market

Where Does Squideo Sit?

Minipip Case Study

How Animated Training Videos Boosted Efficiency and Engagement

Universities Are Using Animated Video to Share Research Projects

Why Use Animation for Academic Research?

A Useful Tool for Early Career Researchers

Case Study: Making Complex Cancer Research Understandable

Breaking Down the Science

The Result

Collaborating with Academics to Turn Complex Research Into Clear, Compelling Videos

Some of the key discovery questions we explore with every academic client include:

Ready to Animate Your Research?

Pitch-Ready Product Videos That Help You Get Funded + Free Template

Why a Great Product Video for a Pitch Deck Can Change Everything

The Benefits of Product Video in Your Pitch Deck

What UK Investors Look for & How Video Supports It

How to Make a Product Video for Your Pitch Deck that Works

Unicorns & Startups That Raised Funding Using Video & Visual Storytelling

Build Your Pitch-Ready Video Script in 5 Steps

How to Use This Template:

Pitch Video FAQs

5 Ways to Turn Confused Visitors Into Customers in 60 Seconds

1. Hold Attention Instantly: The 10‑Second Rule

2. Cut Through Overload by Simplifying Complex Ideas

3. Build Trust Quickly Without Walls of Text

4. Seamlessly Guide Viewers to Take Action

5. Multiply Touchpoints, Multiply Conversions

Summary Table

The Top 5 Animated Ads of 2024 and Why They Worked

Why Animated Ads Dominate in 2024

Top 10 Animated Ads of 2024

#1. Microsoft ﻿

#2. Barbour Christmas Advert 2024

#3. Duolingo

#4. Samsung Biologics

#5 Just Eat x The Joy of Everyday

What We Can Learn from These Ads

The Future of Animated Videos: 2025 and beyond

Unlock Expert Insights: How Explainer Videos Can be Used in the Construction Industry

Understanding Explainer Videos in Construction

Explainer Video Applications in Construction

Construction Video Explainer Examples

What are the benefits of explainer videos?

Improved comprehension and retention of complex information

Reduced training time and costs

Enhanced client satisfaction

Best Practices for using explainer videos in the construction industry

Key Takeaways

How to Choose the Right Type of Animated Video for Your Startup

Importance of animated videos for startups

Understanding Your Goals and Audience

Matching Video Types to Specific Startup Needs

Animated Product Videos

Animated Service Videos

Animated Software Explainer videos

Animated Training videos

And finally…

How Crowdfunding Companies are Leveraging Animated Videos to Attract Investors

Overcoming Crowdfunding Challenges

The Rise of Animated Videos in Crowdfunding

Benefits of animated video content for Crowdfunding success

Tips for Creating an Impactful Animated Video for Crowdfunding

In conclusion…

Nonprofit Video Marketing: 5 Strategies to Increase Conversions

Step 1: KYC - Know Your Customer

Step 2: Tell Not Sell

#1. Microsoft