Explainer video production is a multi-step process that involves more experts than one.
Typically, an explainer video production team comprises of a Scriptwriter, Storyboard Artist, Illustrator, Animator, Voiceover Artist and Sound-Effects Artist. Each of these six role players uniquely contributes to video production.
Here’s a step-by-step description of the Video Production Process.
Step I: Understanding Client Brief
The first step of the explainer video production process involves going through client’s brief (a questionnaire filled by client), for understanding his/her business entity and video requirement. Usually, it is the scriptwriter who goes through this process. In case of doubts or queries, an interaction between the scriptwriter and the client is arranged.
Step II: Research and Brainstorming
After all the relevant information has been gathered from the client, a secondary research (if needed) is conducted, for better understanding the business. The brief is explained to the storyboard artist and to the animator. After both of them have understood the brief, they sit with the scriptwriter to visualize the video storyline, decide on characterizations & other visual elements, and finalize on how those elements would be animated. Once everything is decided, the video script is crafted.
Step III: Scripting & Voiceover
Based upon discussion, the explainer video script is crafted and sent to the client for approval. Typically, a 60-seconds explainer video script contains 150-160 words. This script acts as the ‘armature’ around which the video is sculpted. On approval, the script is recorded as a voiceover, which at a later stage, is placed as a background narration in the explainer video.
Step IV: Storyboarding & Illustration
”A storyboard is a graphic organizer in the form of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence.”- Wikipedia
Basically, storyboarding involves sketching the scenes of the video, frame-by-frame. Storyboarding is done on the basis of the final script. Once storyboarding is done, it is sent for client’s approval. On approval, the storyboard goes through illustration (colorization), and once again, it is sent to the client for approval.
Step V: Animation and Sound Effects
Once the fully-illustrated storyboard is approved from the client, the animation process gets started. This process of course, consumes a lot of time as it isn’t a simple job to bring static storyboard characters/elements to life. The animation is done based on the final voiceover, thus ensuring proper synchronization between the audio and the visual.
Eventually, the animation and voiceover are integrated together to form the video. To this video, sounds effects are added. The sound effects enhance the overall video quality and contribute in creating subtle humor.
The final video is sent for approval.
Step VI: Delivery
On approval, the final video along with its source files is delivered to the client. As per the client’s requirement, the video is delivered in ‘mov’, ‘avi’ and/or ‘mp4′ format(s). This is how the explainer video production process ends.
To Conclude
If you are planning to get an animated video produced, then you should keep in mind that no matter what explainer video style you choose to have for your video, the production is time-consuming. Therefore, in order to have a high-quality video, the production team should be given enough time to conceptualize and produce it. Pull off an amazing video and experience its benefits!