Business communication is evolving.
If you want your message to stick, you must engage your audience visually. Many successful companies are turning to business animation to boost their communications. This expression simplifies complex ideas and makes corporate messaging unforgettable.
From startups to Fortune 500s, companies use animation to train employees, explain products, and market their brands.
But what is it, and how can you use it for your business? Let’s dive in.
What is Business Animation?
Business animation involves using animated videos for internal and external corporate communications. By combining visuals, motion, and storytelling, animated videos make information more digestible, memorable, and impactful, helping companies connect more effectively with employees and customers.
Companies use animated video production for:
- Explainer videos that break down complex products or services
- Training videos for onboarding and professional development
- Marketing and brand storytelling to connect with audiences
- Investor presentations that simplify data and concepts
- Internal communication to keep employees informed and engaged
Video animation styles include whiteboard animation, motion graphics, and 2D animation.
Why Business Animation Works
Did you know 88% of marketers consider video essential to their strategy?
That’s because video isn’t just engaging; it’s scientifically proven to boost retention and understanding.
- 93% of communication is non-verbal
- People remember 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they read, and 80% of what they see and do.
- Recall after a meeting is 6x greater when the information at that meeting is presented verbally and visually (as opposed to only verbally)
And the best part? Video animation is cost-effective, scalable, and reusable across multiple platforms.
Types of Business Animation (And When to Use Them)
Video animation for business isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are different styles, each suited for specific corporate needs. Let’s break them down:
2D Animation: The Classic Explainer
2D Animation works with hand-drawn, raster-based digital 2D animations that bring characters, colors, and scenes to life with fluid movement. By blending illustrative storytelling with dynamic visuals, it creates engaging, whimsical animations that capture attention and immerse audiences in compelling narratives.
Best for:
- Product or service explainers
- Employee onboarding videos
- Animated marketing videos and social media ads
Here is an example of a 2D explainer video we made for CTAA:
Motion Graphics: Clean Dynamism
Motion graphic animation utilizes vector-based illustrations with smooth transitions, dynamic movements, and engaging transformations. This style creates a sleek, more corporate look, ideal for professional presentations, branding, and high-quality visual storytelling.
Best for:
- Presentations and reports
- Financial and tech industries
- Marketing storytelling
Check out this motion graphics video we created for Zirc Dental:
Whiteboard Animation: The Teaching Tool
Have you ever watched a hand sketch out ideas while a narrator explains? Whiteboard animation videos make complex topics feel approachable and easy to digest. They are not the classic corporate video production, and that’s why they stand out and work wonders.
Best for:
- Educational and training content
- Thought leadership pieces
- Internal corporate messaging
Here is an example of a whiteboard animation video we did for ForestryWorks:
Case Study: Bringing Mobility to Seniors with 2D Animation
Let’s analyze what occurred when creating the CTAA 2D explainer video (first example above). What was the challenge, and how did we approach it?
The Challenge: Making Transportation More Accessible for Seniors
Navigating public transportation can be overwhelming for many older adults. Complex schedules, multiple payment systems, and a lack of real-time updates challenge mobility. The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) aimed to solve this problem with its Mobility as a Service (MaaS) app.
The challenge was explaining this innovative solution clearly, engagingly, and accessible to their audience.
The Solution: A Friendly, Engaging 2D Animation Video
To communicate the benefits of the MaaS app, CTAA partnered with our team to create a bright, approachable, and easy-to-follow 2D animated explainer video.
Using illustrative characters, vibrant colors, and smooth animation, the video walks viewers through a day in the life of a senior using the app, showing just how simple it is to find a ride, schedule a trip, and pay within seconds.
What made this animation effective?
- Clear storytelling – A step-by-step journey made the app’s features easy to understand.
- Relatable characters – Seniors saw themselves reflected in the animation, making the content more engaging.
- Concise messaging – Instead of lengthy instructions, the video distilled key benefits into a digestible format.
- Eye-catching visuals – The whimsical, friendly animation style kept viewers hooked from start to finish.
How to Integrate Animation Into Your Business Strategy
Thinking about adding business animation to your company’s communication toolkit? Here are a few ways you can start implementing this format:
Use Animation for Employee Training
Forget boring PowerPoints. Animated training videos make onboarding engaging and easy to retain.
Boost Marketing with Animated Explainers
Capture attention and increase conversions with animated explainer videos for your products or services.
Simplify Data-Heavy Content
Make financial reports, internal updates, and industry trends digestible with motion graphics.
Enhance Live Presentations
Add animation to corporate speeches, webinars, and investor meetings to engage your audience.
Ready to Elevate Your Business Communication?
Whether you need training videos, animated explainer content, or a high-end corporate video, business video animation is the secret weapon your brand needs.
At The Sketch Effect, we create visually stunning, strategically crafted animations that simplify complex ideas, engage audiences, and drive results.
Contact us today to start your business animation journey.
