How does an explainer video company work

Whether in education, in the business sector or in research: More and more companies want to communicate their topics in a comprehensible and target-group-oriented manner and are calling on professional help to do so. A look behind the scenes of an explainer video company.

What is the best way to break down complex topics to their essence and explain them as comprehensively as possible? An explainer video company deals with this question every day. But how is an explainer video actually created? In the following, we have briefly illustrated the phases that an agency goes through when creating an explainer video.

Introduction & Brainstorming
Conception
Graphics & Illustration
Voice-Over
Storyboard & Animatic
Animation
Sound-Design
Final Compositing

On a window front of an explainer video company is a glowing blue sign consisting of the phrase "What is your Story" in capital letters.

An oil painting can be seen, in which turquoise, white, black and red paint has been used to create an impressive abstract world. In its composition, this picture evokes associations with an aquarium.

1. Introduction & Brainstorming

In a kick-off meeting, an explainer video company wants to get to know its customers and their projects. All information, approaches and ideas are discussed and compiled together. Perhaps the first conceptual approaches are already available or there are references that the agency can use as orientation. If there are no exact ideas in advance, this is no problem. The agency is happy to provide ideas that can be derived and developed based on the CI and objectives of the customer. Agencies like to use mood boards to initiate suitable directions. This ultimately results in the appropriate explainer video format.

A speech bubble made of green paper can be seen in this image, which is the result of yellow index cards being pushed together. In the speech bubble you can see three folded index cards, which, in the form of three dots lying next to each other, symbolize the spoken text of an explainer video company.

The top view shows a venerable typewriter standing on a wooden table. To the left of it lies a book. Above the book is a half-drunk cup of coffee. To the right of the typewriter lies a writing pad and on top of it a smartphone. This illustration is meant to illustrate the conception phase of an explainer video company.

2. Conception

Idea, objective and format are set. Now the audiovisual concept can be developed. For this purpose, the agency works out a script in close cooperation with the customer. Basically, this is a written record of exactly how the finished explainer video will be structured in the end and what it should look like.

3. Graphics & Illustration

Based on the defined idea and the planned look, the explainer video company creates so-called style frames, which reproduce the key images of the video in detail. Here, still images of some key scenic moments are used to give the most accurate idea of how the finished film will look.

4. Voice-Over

Usually, explainer videos need a voice-over to guide the viewer through the video. This is often “spoken” by an employee or an artificial intelligence as a test, but sometimes also by a professional speaker at this point. This is because the spoken text and the speed often determine the basis for the visual structure. Often several speakers are used. In addition to the classic off-screen narrative voice, voices for the characters shown may also be necessary. This usually results from the conceptual phase.

In close-up you can see a storyboard drawn in black and white, which is very often used by an explainer video company.

5. Storyboard & Animatic

The script and the visual objectives have now been worked out. Now the first step is to bring the video to life. To do this, a storyboard (visual script) is developed in which the video is visually broken down scene by scene, frame by frame. In addition to the key images, the images in between are also sketched out here. In the next step, the agency creates a so-called animatic, i.e. a first sketchy version of the video with all the already fixed shots from the storyboard. This gives a sense of flow and rhythm. Due to the sketchy approach, it is still very easy to make changes to the structure, exchange or replace images / graphics at this point.

6. Animation

Script, graphics, voice-over and animatic have been finalized. This is the starting point for the animation and at the same time often the most time-consuming part of creating an explainer video. All developed characters and graphic elements are now set in motion and the video is brought to life.

A digitally generated virtual space in 3D is displayed. This consists of blocks throughout. The interior of the scene is strongly illuminated with red-yellow light. From the outside, cold light partially falls into the interior. The scenery is strongly reminiscent of outer space.

7. Sound-Design

The appropriate sound for an explainer video should not be underestimated. Sound design adds emotional depth to the story being told and creates immersion. The music must be chosen correctly and the sounds used must correlate with the visuals, i.e. form a unity. Sound design plays a significant role in whether a video appeals to us emotionally and thus remains in our heads (ears).

8. Final Compositing

In this phase, all the layers created for the video are combined into a finished video. This is where the video gets its desired final look and feel. Effects are added if necessary or color grading is performed to give the video the optimal color style.

Against a black background we look at a structure consisting of yellow and red blocks, to which two question marks are attached. Around the square structure is an additional transparent block, which emits yellow neon light that is reflected on the floor.

Et voilà – the film is finished and ready for screening!

High-quality explainer videos are always the product of good planning and careful execution. Each of the production phases listed here accordingly contributes an important part to this and should always be taken into account during the work.

Do you also need an explainer video that conveys your core messages or your subject matter in a convincing and understandable way? We will be happy to assist you and provide you with customized communication solutions. If required, we can also take care of successful marketing.

Feel free to contact us – we look forward to getting to know you and your project.