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Learning 2D Animation Principles for Beginners

Learning 2D Animation Principles for Beginners 2d animation services

Things you need to know before getting down to your studies.

Whether it has been your childhood dream or you understand the meaning of animation in the prosperous industry of video content and digital marketing, learning 2D animation is a breathtaking journey and a perspective way to get new skills or get a valuable addition to your resume.

The development of various software and digital technologies made learning 2D animation both more available and sought after in the modern world. And while more and more content creators and brands understand the importance of engaging and digestible video content, 2D animation offers almost limitless possibilities to create, engage, draw attention and, of course, sell.

From short videos to full-time movies – 2D animation has its application in so many spheres of business and industries today that its knowledge has become a key demand for various specialists who are willing to work with visual content, design, and development.

In this article, we shall have a general overview of 2D animation – its types, production and post-production stages, and perspectives in our rapidly digitalizing world.

Types of Animation

Before getting down to mastering the art of animation, it is important to have a general understanding of different types of animation and their peculiarities. Knowing and distinguishing those types will help you determine preferable learning programs, software, and your perspectives on animation.

Traditional (Hand-drawn) Animation

This is the 2D animation we all know and love. Our favorite Disney characters and lots of other childhood heroes have been created with the so-called hand-drawn animation.

The name comes from the production process itself – the characters and numerous frames in traditional animation are drawn by hand. Back in the day artists were using paper and pencils, drawing each cartoon frame-by-frame and then transferring the images on acetate sheets for painting.

Since the beginning of the 1990s, traditional animation has become much less analog as frames can now be scanned and colored digitally instead of using acetate sheets. Paper and pens were also replaced by various planchettes and tablets with touchscreens and digital pens. However, the main feature of traditional 2D animation – drawing by hand – remains its distinctive feature and punch line.

CGI (Computer Generated Imagery)

Also known as 3D animation, CGI has granted us beloved characters from world-famous studios. Making objects look almost alive, CGI animation takes creativity to a whole new level, allowing it to bring to life any possible character or action, no matter how alien or wild it may seem. The same principle is used while creating video games and action movies.

While creating CGI animation, you will use a character rig – a digital marionette that will help you position your character and define its movements in the given space. The software produces certain keyframes for every move, and the animator continues to reframe them until the image starts to look natural and life-like.

CGI animation is quite a complex process and it usually involves several experts. Each of them deals with a certain character or scenery features, textures, light and shading, and various other elements.

Flash Animation

Another type of 2D animation, Flash is a combination of traditional hand-drawn techniques with the features of 3D animation.

The characters in Flash animation have those traditional 2D looks and look pretty hand-made. However, unlike in hand-drawn animation, an artist may use a technology similar to rigs from 3D technology.

In other words, Flash animation allows an artist to change the position of the character or develop his move without the need to re-draw the whole scenery.

Flash animation became popular at the beginning of the 2000s and skyrocketed after the technology was purchased by Adobe in 2005. Today it is simply impossible to imagine animated video content or web design without a certain load of Flash animation.

Getting down to work – preproduction of storyboard.

Preproduction is the key stage of any animation project. Before getting down to actual work it is very important to have a clear blueprint of the upcoming work. At this stage, you will determine which resources you will need to bring the concept to life and estimate the production time.

In case you are creating a project for a customer, pre-production is the moment when you can check that your vision of the upcoming project aligns with the customer`s demand.

Pre-production usually consists of the following stages:

  1. Briefing/debriefing
  2. Concept determination
  3. Visual development
  4. Storyboard
  5. Motion storyboard

However, storyboarding might be the most thrilling part of the whole pre-production process. It allows you to imagine and explore the whole universe that you are going to create with your animation.

Storyboarding allows a director to check the idea, see if it looks probable and all the details of the upcoming action check out. In other words, a storyboard is a sketch that represents the whole story and demonstrates its contents and development.

Preparing the Scene Animation – bringing a new universe to life

If storyboarding gives you a schematic understanding of where and how your future characters will live, scene animation is the ultimate embodiment of this imaginary land that will determine all the details and atmosphere within your animated project.

Although the process itself is a subject of the whole course on animation, here we shall describe the main stages of this process.

  • Concepting – Although concepting is quite a schematic image of the upcoming scene, the more detailed you make it, the easier it is later on to create the final image. The sketches created at the concept stage will become a guideline for every animator involved in the process.
  • Arranging the work frame – whether you are working alone or with other animators. It is important to establish a determined work pipeline. From choosing software to arranging the files – the more restricted and clear the work frame is, the more efficient the overall process will become.
  • Pre-visualization – it is a very rough scene presentation that will give a clear understanding of how the overall scenery will look and develop in the final variant. Sometimes animators also put schematic images of characters and other objects in the scene at this stage to demonstrate proportions and make necessary adjustments, if needed.
  • Modeling – depending on the desired result, you may need various details in your scenery. Modeling allows you to create several variants of the same object or various objects of the upcoming scene, that will make the overall impression and create the atmosphere.
  • Populating the scene – at this stage, you define the placement of various objects in your scene and place certain “joining” elements, if needed.
  • Additional characters – once you create an outdoor scene, adding some characters in the background makes the overall picture more livable. Birds, insects, background characters, or cars – all those elements turn a schematic image of a scene into an actual atmosphere.
  • Composing – This is the final stage, where you bring all the designed elements together into one scene and bring it to life. At this moment you see the final scene image and can understand whether some elements need adjustment or maybe eliminated not to overload the scene.

Understanding the traditional principles of animation. Is Disney’s legacy relevant in today`s 2D animation?

Introduced in the 1980s by Disney animators Ollie Johnson and Frank Thomas, those principles describe the key guidelines of how any character should be animated to create a life-like impression on viewers.

Although the technology of 2D animation has evolved greatly since those ideas were introduced, they will never lose their significance. Understanding them an animator may easily give believable features of a living creature to any object – from a geometric figure to a plant or rock.

1. Squash and stretch

As long as our brain accepts and interprets gravity unconsciously, the movements of an object that should be determined and restricted by it are crucial for the acceptance of the scene. The main embodiment of this principle is bouncing off walls or jumping. However, it is very important to observe the volume and physical features of the object to make its moves live-like.

2. Anticipation

This effect prepares a viewer for what is going to happen next by observing the common ruler of physics or behavior. Just like you would bend your knees before jumping, anticipation is a feature that helps you see the movement of the object and story development more probable.

3. Staging

It is important to focus a viewer’s attention before showing the development. Staging allows one to point out the character that is about to take an action or demonstrate his intention.

4. Straight and pose-to-pose action

Those are animation techniques that will determine the overall atmosphere and action. Straight-ahead action demonstrates the first and the last action frames with all the frames in between. This is a more realistic life-like presentation of movement. Pose-to-pose is a more schematic and “jumpy” image when a character goes straight from one position to another.

5. Follow-through and overlapping action

This principle demonstrates the concomitant movements of a character while it is moving from one point to another.

6. Slow in and slow out

The way that a character stops is also important. The best way to illustrate this principle is to imagine how a car moves and stops. Gaining speed is a graduate process as well as stopping.

7. Arc

Another movement protocol that coincides with the laws of physics and characteristics of an object. It makes the movement more natural and the overall scenery probable for a viewer.

8. Secondary action

Just like in real life, every action causes contraction, animation often uses secondary objects to support the overall impression and make motion life-like.

9. Timeline

Another principle is based on physics. The movement of the object should be determined by its physical characteristics. If it moves in space faster or slower than it would have in real life, the overall action will look unnatural.

10. Exaggeration

As much as all those principles are aimed at making the action more realistic and life-like, exaggeration is important as it does not let animation become a boring too-realistic image.

11. Solid drawing

Even while dealing with 2D animation, it is important to understand the drawing principles and the possible existence of an object in a 3D reality

12. Appeal

Quite a subjective, this principle dictates that every character needs to be appealing to a viewer. The effect is reached by granting a character distinctive personal features or certain behavior patterns. In other words, even a non-living object, once animated, should be relatable to a viewer.

Animation production – when the magic happens

Now, that you have gone through all the theoretical preparations, passed the pre-production phase, and have a clear vision of the upcoming 2D animation, it is time to go through the production process.

It may be pretty complex and involve the simultaneous work of several people or performed individually. However, the main production stages are:

  1. Storyboard
  2. Audio
  3. Animatic
  4. Layout

Here is a brief explanation of the process. Once the script is written and the storyboard is built, animators start to create a detailed design of the scene and place characters in it. Then there comes the work on the sound. Except for the voices and dialogues of the character or narrator, there may be a need to create background audio. Sounds of street or nature make the overall scene more lively and believable.

Then animators start to join the image of a character with his voice and behavior pattern by carefully drawing out every move and mimics. Then the layout is created – at this step, a director determines the position of the camera, angles, lighting, and shades that tie all the images into one common scene.

Once all the stages are passed, the actual production begins. From now on every animator has a clear vision of every frame and can work on the details carefully, bringing the overall concept to life.

Post Production – the final touches

Post-production is the process that allows us to calibrate all the elements of the overall animation project, give some final touches, and add special effects that will finalize the overall picture.

Post-production includes:

  • Final editing of the visual image
  • Audio editing – adjustment of dialogues, background sounds, or music and adding sound effects
  • Dubbing – once the image is perfect, there is a possibility to add voices or synchronize alternative voice acts in a different language
  • Distribution – from now on the project is ready to be transferred to the customer or be distributed on offline and online platforms.

Animation is a thrilling and perspective industry that will never lose its relevance. Evolving and developing 2D animation managed to adopt modern technology and become an integral part of modern video content and pop culture.

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Master the most powerful marketing tool of the century

Master the most powerful marketing tool of the century 2d animation services in united states

A step-by-step guide to video marketing

In a world where online presence becomes the only possible presence for so many businesses, the importance of the digital market simply can not be overrated. Therefore quality and engaging content become the determining factor in the race for customer attention. The most recent research shows that people find video content the most attractive and engaging nowadays. This explains the growing popularity of such platforms as Facebook or YouTube compared to the recent leader on the market – Instagram, which is still more about photos than video clips.

Videos are much more fun to create, watch, and share with friends and family. It means that video content has more chances to become viral than the most popular tweet or blog post. It provides marketers with basically free and limitless promotion opportunities.

All those factors explain how video marketing has turned from another promotional tool into a separate powerful industry. It has gathered the world’s leading marketers and business analysts with top content creators and is now changing the whole concept of promotion.

Video marketing takes over

“The simplicity of genius” – this ancient expression might be the best explanation for the growing influence and popularity of video marketing. Basically, it is promotion through video content. And this simple definition is fraught with endless possibilities. The thing is, you can promote anything through videos and apply to any kind of auditorium. Whether you are launching a new product or trying to raise awareness on some matter; your potential customers are middle-aged housewives entrepreneurs – you are always able to create efficiently-selling content on any topic and for any viewer.

The forced relocation of most businesses to the digital space during the Pandemic of COVID-19 became one of the boosting factors for Video Marketing. Today, when the dust started to settle, we see that those companies who have recognized the potential of video marketing and devoted a special place for it in their anti-crisis strategies, show the best survival rates and even manage to benefit from the rapidly-changing market. At least 92% of marketers today acknowledge the efficiency of video content marketing.

Combining the best features of fundamental advertising with the newest trends in social media, video marketing takes promotion to a whole new level.

In this article you will find an easy-to-follow guide that will help you make the first steps of inefficient video marketing that will instantly enhance the online performance of your business, leaving competitors far behind.

Stop selling a product and start selling ideas

Let`s face it, the modern consumer is pretty overwhelmed with commercials. Moreover, all the marketing strategies that we know today have exhausted themselves. People start recognizing commercials even when you try to wrap them into any kind of informative or educational content. Video marketing provides brand-new opportunities. From now on, whether you operate in the B2B segment or address a specific auditorium of consumers, you can set the tone of communication, engage, and inspire before starting to promote a product. The creation of a certain atmosphere and settling the mood is the ultimate marketing superpower. And video content allows you to do it almost effortlessly.

Here are some tips that will help you set the right tone from the very beginning and engage your desired auditorium.

  • – Go Live. Peaking behind the blinds has always been the ultimate fetish. Social media has provided us the opportunity to follow our friends, relatives, and even celebrities 24/7. Today brands may adopt and benefit from this feature by allowing the audience to take a look behind the scenes. Not only does it make businesses more humane and relatable, but this open policy significantly raises the credibility of the brand. Once people see what exactly they are paying for, they are much more open to offerings. Live videos may be scheduled or spontaneous. Anyway, you should first study your auditorium, its habits, and the time when potential customers are most likely to surf social media and keep to this schedule.
  • – Add video to E-mail newsletters. The necessity and efficiency of e-mail marketing have become an object of discussion more and more often today. However, video content may revive your e-mail newsletters and make them more efficient. It is only important not to load your e-mails with big and heavy video files, but insert a short and engaging video that will inspire follow the lead and visit your website or marketplace. However, the time has come to switch to an e-mail marketing platform that offers video email marketing features.
  • – Use 360 videos. Originally introduced by Facebook, the 360 video feature is a perfect example of immersive and interactive video content. Not only does it engage, but gives a viewer a feeling that he controls the situation, not having to watch whatever you show, but being able to look around and manage the experience. This is another feature that takes the imposing out of the equation, creating personal relationships between a customer and a brand.
  • – Tell a story. While live videos allow you to engage a viewer in a conversation, storytelling provides you the scene to send your message directly and exactly the way that you want. Whether you create a mini-series or a short video, make sure that is not only informative but entertaining and makes viewers look forward to the next posts. A clear and friendly tone spiced up with a healthy dose of appropriate humor will certainly do the job.

Now let`s analyze the scene. These are the most prosperous platforms for video content marketing today.

Instagram- IGTV

Being the largest social media platform, Instagram was the very first social media that put visual content over text. Unlike Facebook and Twitter which back in the day were mostly concentrated on words, Instagram put an image in the first place. Today the developers of Instagram work hard on the video marketing feature by providing an opportunity to upload long videos through IGTV and even monetize on them. Maybe not the fastest-growing, but still the most recognizable platform today, Instagram is a powerful promotional tool. It is important to note that this platform is mostly dominated by certain influencers today, therefore the newly-introduced joint-live and collaboration features might be the distinctive feature of Video Marketing on Instagram.

YouTube

When we talk about video content, YouTube might be the first thing that comes to mind. Started as hosting for short funny videos, mostly epic fails and adorable cats, today YouTube has replaced Television for numerous users. Full of useful and engaging content, YouTube attracts millions of users every day. Having a YouTube channel gives you access to the biggest auditorium worldwide.

Facebook

Maybe not the trendiest platform today, Facebook still manages to accumulate the largest amount of data-tracking tools and engagement rates. It is constantly developing its video content features, becoming one of the most significant platforms for video content today.

Tik Tok

Whatever was considered social media for kids a couple of years ago turned into a powerful video content platform today. Its growth rate has left such mastodons as Facebook and Instagram far behind. TikTok might be the perfect choice when you are addressing a younger auditorium or aiming for viral video content.

Cross-Posting

Choosing one platform and settling there won`t result in Facebook still managing to accumulate the largest amount of data-tracking tools and engagement rates. Coverage is everything here. Therefore you should use the whole potential of your video content by applying the cross-posting strategy. Basically, it is posting video content on various platforms, adjusting it to the peculiarities of the audience that you may mostly find there. Cross-posting is a great feature to grow the engagement of your social media profile. However, it might be hard from the very beginning to find your unique type of expression and create equally efficient content for different platforms. Here are several tips that will help you benefit the most from the cross-posting strategy:

  • – Think before turning on the camera. The auditorium of TikTok differs from that of Facebook. Therefore, it is useless to post the same video content everywhere and think carefully, whether the video you are about to create is appropriate and understandable for those users who are most likely to see it on this platform.
  • – Consider restrictions. Every platform has its peculiarities and restrictions. While YouTube allows you to upload an hour-long video, TikTok will give you only several seconds to express yourself entirely.
  • – Attention to detail. Different platforms have different engagement rates and schedules due to the peculiarities of their auditorium. While Instagram is mostly active at late night hours and in the morning, while the afternoon is its official dead hour, Facebook may provide you with a larger auditorium at lunchtime.

Size matters. Collaboration with micro-influencers

When it comes to collaboration, most businesses may think that the larger the follower base of an influencer is, the more efficient will be the whole video marketing campaign. Practice shows that this is not entirely true.

Micro-influencers, those who don`t have a seven-figure auditorium may be much more useful than the recognized insta-celebrities. The fact is, people already understand that most (if not all) content of famous influencers is all-commercial. Therefore they trust the information received from them not more than a TV ad. Micro-bloggers vice versa have a much higher credibility rate. Moreover, they are usually more engaged with their followers and pay more attention to the quality of their content.

Here are the main benefits of collaborating with micro-influencers:

  • – They are more affordable and willingly provide access to their content for smaller businesses
  • – Social media is not their main source of income, therefore their recommendations look more natural and sincere
  • – They have a higher engagement rate as they constantly communicate with their followers through DM and comments
  • – They produce the relatable “next door” impression, making their commercials more trustworthy for people

You don`t have a second chance to make the first impression

Your videos may be high-quality, engaging, and informative, but it is no use if no one clicks on them. The craft of creating a viral and intriguing title is the key to the success of any video content.

Here is what you need to know about efficient titles:

  • – Keywords. To make your audience find and enjoy your video content, you should know what they will be looking for. Keyword research allows you to create a viral title that will draw attention and encourage people to share your content. There is an important trick: while researching the keywords never aim for the most popular requests. It will only place your content in a highly competitive field, decreasing its visibility. The middle layer of request popularity is what you are looking for.
  • – Make it clear. It may seem pretty hard to create content that will be intriguing and clear at the same time. However, your viewers need to understand from the very beginning what they are going to look at. The biggest mistake here is luring misleading titles – this only leads to a wave of hate and dislikes that may lead to blockage of your account.
  • – Value of words. While browsing the internet, people tend to look for specific content. If you indicate that your content may somehow solve their problem or make their lives better, you have more chances for engagement. Words like tutorial/DIY/How To/Explained/Tips&tricks are the most valuable ones and give you more chances to go viral through shares.

Brevity is the soul of wit

All marketers know that an average customer decides in about 2 seconds whether an ad is worth clicking on. Video content also has its engagement limitations. Depending on the character of your content and the specifics of your audience it is usually between 6 to 12 minutes. However, the first two minutes are crucial to engage a viewer, inspire, and deliver the main idea.

Of course, it is up to you to decide how long your video is supposed to be. Sometimes it is impossible to provide all the information in just 12 minutes and sometimes there is simply no point in pulling the action for more than 2 minutes. However, video portals also have their restrictions, which are mainly based on the preferences of the target auditorium.

By the way, the specifics of your auditorium are also important. Research shows that the average attendance rate of a modern internet user is around 12 seconds and decreases dramatically once you address a younger auditorium.

Nobody said it is going to be easy, and video content is the hardest one to create. With its growing popularity, it is now becoming one of the most competitive fields. However, the ongoing trends and statistics demonstrate that from the point of efficiency, video marketing is simply next to nothing. If you are looking for a trendy marketing tool that will boost your online presence and performance, video marketing is what will revolutionize your idea about marketing in general.

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Adjust your Marketing Plan and Benefit from the Crisis!

Adjust your Marketing Plan and Benefit

Steps to take during COVID-19.

Some might say that it has been a rough year! Indeed, hardly you may name any industry or business that has not been affected by the Pandemic of COVID-19. But in contrast to the panic that swept the market several months ago, today we see that some businesses seemed to pass the darkest hours with flying colors. Moreover, not only didn`t slip into oblivion, leaving unemployment and debt behind, they seem to have become even stronger! And we don`t only talk about the “Essential” industries like food, media, healthcare, and pharma. On the one hand, their raise is pretty predictable in the current situation. But at the same time, they have suddenly found themselves in an unprecedentedly competitive atmosphere and also had to adjust their marketing strategies.

So let alone construction, entertainment, manufacturing, travel, transportation, and numerous other business segments that due to their nature have suffered from quarantine restrictions and social distancing! But even among them, today we see not just survivors, but bright examples that due to their timely action and ability to adjust marketing tactics during COVID-19 seem to have grown stronger, enriched with the new experience. We all know that a sage constantly observes others and learns from their mistakes and experiences. Observation has always been named among the most efficient tools in any marketing strategy. So let`s have a detailed bird`s eye view of the most efficient marketing tactics applied during the pandemic and see how they have worked until now and whether they will be relevant in the post-Coronavirus market.

What is a marketing strategy and why does it need adjustment?

Marketing strategy is a combination of tactics that defines how your business will communicate with the target audience and encourage it to make a purchase generating your revenue. It can be imagined as a navigator app that shows your current location and directions to the destination. And just like during traffic, operating on a live market, you are constantly influenced by outer factors that don`t depend on you but affect your journey greatly. the Pandemic of COVID-19, social unrest, recession, and natural disasters that happened this year are exactly those factors. If you are traveling with a navigator, you may receive warnings and work out alternative routes. Otherwise, you risk getting stuck in a tremendous traffic jam or even a horrific accident.

That is why marketing strategy, no matter how thought-through it might be from the very beginning, has to be constantly adjusted. This was true before when marketing tactics were modified according to consumers` purchasing phases. But today, both businesses and consumers don`t have a clear vision of the future and have to combine a habitual lifestyle with the imposed precautions.

That said, the marketing strategy adjustment today differs from the one we might have been used to until now. Here are the top 11 steps you want to take today to adjust your marketing plan to the ongoing situation. Moreover, if you manage to react timely and adopt the new rulebook, you have a strong chance to benefit from the current situation and become a part of the fundamental forces of the post-Coronavirus economy.

Explore the new demand

The worst mistake you can make now is to start thinking that nobody needs your service in the current situation. Remember, demand does not disappear, it simply reconfigures. And so should your offer. For example, social distancing does not mean that people don`t need clothes. But the demand for lounge clothes and underwear today is as high as it has never been before. While outdoor apparel had to step back. In other words, instead of investing in more aggressive promotion of whatever you have to offer, re-stream your efforts into learning what the consumer needs. People still want to make a purchase and they need your help and direction today more than ever.

Animation Foundation: Drawing Cartoon Characters

Sell relevance, not the product itself

In a time when people are anxious and worried about their health, jobs, and education, they are constantly looking for solutions. The only chance to sell anything today is to persuade a consumer that your product is a solution to the topical problem. Therefore the promotion tactics are changing now focusing on relevance more than the product itself. Determine the pains of your target auditorium: anxiety, insecurity, boredom – and start persuading that your product is the solution.

Offer payment plans and options

Since we`ve been moving towards a cashless economy for quite a while, online payment options are not a novelty today. But considering the ongoing situation and financial insecurity of consumers, it is time to take a new step and offer payment plan variations. Payment plans significantly reduce the financial burden in a short perspective, becoming a strong psychological motivation to make a purchase now, without having to postpone it for better times. So eventually a business gets a chance to boost up the conversion even though consumers are aiming at cutting down their spending.

Communication is the key

Staying in touch with your audience becomes a crucial survival factor. When newsfeed is overflown with blood-thirsty information about bankruptcies and collapsed businesses, it is crucial to let people know that you are not just alive but doing great. Despite the traditional reminding effect, sharing news about your business, demonstrating that you continue working, and making your customers happy are effective credibility factors. People want to associate themselves with winners – those who don`t collapse and keep operating under any circumstances. This will have a positive effect in the future. A company that managed to push through the Corona crisis will be much more valuable in the eyes of a consumer than any newbie.

Use Social Media Future Marketing Tool

Being an ultimate surrogate of human interaction, social media has experienced its rebirth today! For some people, it is a way to stay in touch, for others – an escape from reality and a grim feed of television and radio. Moreover, social media is surely turning into a global marketplace. The new features that appeared after the last update of Instagram only prove it. So, if you`ve been neglecting social media until now, today is the day to create a business account. Targeted commercials, engagement through direct communication, and the ability to reach potential customers worldwide – are the undeniable benefits of social media marketing.

Online presence becomes the only presence

No matter how powerful, social media should not be the only stream of your digital marketing efforts. Since the world is forced to move online, even such traditionally offline industries as restaurants, entertainment, etc started to settle in the virtual space. The principle is simple: online presence becomes your only kind of presence. And while in the real world, you have been restricted by the physical borders, rent prices, or working hours, digital space wipes most of those restrictions up. Arranging a website, creating SEO-friendly content, Product Animation Videos, Customer Interactive Videos, and Advertising the brand with the help of animation videos, webinars, and e-books – those are the marketing tools of the new world.

Make customers a part of your marketing strategy

People love to be involved. They also like to know that their opinion is valued. You may use these traits and kill several birds with a single stone – audience incorporation. By welcoming your consumers to be a part of the adjustment process you benefit in several different ways:

  • – get the relevant insights about the demand
  • – demonstrate your care and appreciation
  • – stay in touch with existing and potential customers
  • – optimize your marketing budget by saving money on research
  • – receive a lot of precious data about your customers and those who are somehow interested in your product and service.

E-mails, social media accounts, or any kind of feedback information received through the survey become the foundation for a further digital marketing strategy.

Become a part of the recovery process

The true nature and policy of any company are revealed during critical periods. And at times of recession and social unrest, businesses, no matter how big they are, attract the most attention. Social responsibility becomes a crucial factor that may build the image of your brand and determine future development. The inner and outer policies of the company and its willingness to support the community and contribute to the recovery process became powerful marketing tools during the Pandemic of COVID-19. Pivot your marketing tactics on serving the community and the greater good. Volunteer work, collaboration with local authorities and other businesses, as well as demonstrative workforce preservation efforts, have turned from an indulgence image-shaping policy into a part of marketing tactics.

Learning 2D Animation Principles for Beginners

Investigate your sales funnels

The importance of sales funnels for a successful marketing strategy cannot be overrated. However this year the rules of the game have changed so much that even such a powerful tool may have stopped working properly. The time has come to take a closer look at your sales funnel, analyze, and re-evaluate the data. Make competitive analysis your priority as whatever step you may be willing to take now, might have already been taken by a similar business. Everybody makes mistakes nowadays and anybody may have unexpectedly hit the jackpot. Taking this step, analyzing and re-evaluating your sales funnels, is exactly what separates you today from gaining or losing at least 20% of revenue.

Capitalize on competitors` decay

Online Ads are the ultimate tool of any modern marketing strategy. And when they are created and targeted correctly, they become extremely efficient. But the thing is that online ad networks base their activity on the Cost-per-click principle. Therefore, the bigger the competition in the segment, the more value the ad gets. This competition is created by small businesses and therefore because of the collapse and decreased activity in this segment, online ads cost much less today. Moreover, this leads to the unprecedented growth of the ROI of paid ads today! This increase gets up to 71% making paid ads as advantageous as they might have been only when just appeared several years ago. The market has already started the slow but sure restoration, therefore this tendency will not last for too long. But if you haven`t considered paid ads before, today may be your last chance to benefit the most from them without too much investment or effort.

Sell Knowledge

Knowledge is power – that is what we have always been told. But today the value of knowledge is as high as it has ever been before. Here are only several benefits of integrating an educational program into your marketing strategy during COVID-19:

  • – You keep on selling. When you can`t sell your physical product, start selling  your experience and knowledge about it and its application
  • – You stay in touch with the existing consumers and gain new ones
  • – You collect information about customers that may be used in various marketing planning later on

Things to avoid in your Marketing Planning during COVID-19

So now, that we have discussed the most efficient steps that you may take today in your Marketing Strategy, the time has come to discuss the most common mistakes made by various businesses during this period. The benefit of overviewing the situation today is that we have enough data to understand what works and what may turn into a disaster. Many quite traditional and habitual actions that have been an essential part of marketing planning only a year ago, have turned into gravestones for numerous businesses this year. Other actions looked like pretty innovative unconventional solutions but in fact, turned out to be impulsive steps that only brought businesses closer to the cliff. Here are the key “Don’ts” of marketing planning during COVID-19.

Continue living as if nothing has happened

Some companies decided that pretending that nothing is happening and sticking to the marketing plans that have been working perfectly until now will advantageously differ from their, competitors. First of all, customers reacted to such politics with great sensitivity, accusing businesses of neglecting. Also, it is quite obvious that recession, unemployment, and financial uncertainty – all those natural outcomes of the Pandemic have influenced the demand and purchasing ability. Those factors are crucial for any kind of marketing strategy and ignoring them has naturally led to a breakdown.

Increasing the commercial intensity

Another marketing extreme that has led many businesses to disaster this year, was an inadequate increase in inactivity. Yes, this might have worked before when sales went down due to such factors as growing competition or the inability to catch up with the trends and demand. But in the situation when customers don`t buy either because they are trying to cut on their spending or don`t feel the need for your product, aggressive marketing strategy with extensive commercials, e-mail newsletters, and constant and impulsive reminding about yourself, have caused nothing except for irritation and range. Remember, customers, are not that stupid. They can tell when someone is simply trying to sell them something and can easily see through even the most sophisticated and multi-leveled PR stunts.

Dying dramatically

The most common mistake made by businesses in their marketing tactics during COVID-19 is emphasizing their mystery. In other words, overwhelms consumers with messages about the devastating state and close bankruptcy. These tactics are faulty for several reasons:

  • – The “Closing” sales are cheap and quite an old trick that has been worn out by retail and does not work that well today
  • – In many societies, independent businessmen are associated with wealth. So no matter how small your business might be and what kind of losses you may experience, a person who might have just been fired because of the overall recession, won`t feel sympathy for you
  • – We are all in the same boat and everybody is coping with the same issues. Marketing strategy is taking action, not imposing your product forcefully.

Unfortunately, Coronavirus may be here to stay. Those measures that we take now to adjust our marketing plans may not be a temporary fix, but a permanent practice that will change the way we look at marketing forever. Quarantine restrictions have changed the whole concept of consumption, making numerous businesses re-adjust their activities or become irrelevant in the way they have been operating until now. But despite the overall devastation, it is important to understand that any kind of change or consternation is a chance to get a freshman to look at a situation or strategy and re-evaluate habitual actions and policies.

As for the overall market, the current situation will appear to be a perfect indicator of which business models and marketing strategies are versatile enough to be efficient in critical situations. After all, when the dust settles, we shall witness an unprecedented renovation of the whole market, offline and digital, which inevitably follows any kind of global consternation. The phase of struggle and invention of temporary fixes is over. The next few months will represent a new period in the marketing industry – global restoration and establishment of new principles and patterns.

Explainer Video Makers

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How to release your animation videos on OTT platforms?

Release animation videos on OTT platforms, 2d and 3d animation

When you want to go beyond your YouTube channel, grow your business, or reach more people, think about opting for an OTT streaming solution or app. Taking into account the popularity that OTT platforms have gained, they have become an ideal tool for launching animated videos and achieving success in the audiovisual industry.

Future of the Animation Industry

Considering the importance of YouTube when it comes to video sharing, you may never have thought of posting your video content anywhere else. But, at some point, you may realize that it’s time to go further when uploading your content. Maybe you want to increase your audience and your fan base, or you only want to spread your content across multiple platforms to boost your business in the future. Whatever the reason is, an OTT streaming service is for you.

Investigate

Although there are many expensive OTT solutions, there are also many OTT companies that have already developed technology for you. In these cases, what you should do is investigate which is the ideal one according to your target audience and find out what options it offers you to broadcast your animation videos. Here are some options that you can consider:

Vimeo

Vimeo: Established from the beginning as the video hosting site for creative artists and independent filmmakers, Vimeo now offers OTT solutions to creators. Available services include monetization options, analytics, and custom applications distributed on distribution devices such as Roku, iOS platforms, and Xbox.

Roku

Roku: You can develop your own channel to distribute through the store of channels and devices connected to this streaming company. It also offers self-hosting services and gives you different options for launching your own Roku channel.

MAZ

MAZ: Maz distributes more than just videos and has a self-titled content logistics system that can help video creators showcase their content to the right viewers. Besides, it gives you the possibility to release your animation videos in mobile applications available for IOS and Android.

These are just three of the platforms that you can consider for your launches. Every year, especially in India, new OTT platforms are born. How to release your animation videos on OTT platforms Find the ideal one for you and get the most out of it!

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How OTT platform play major role in growing of India Animation Industry?

How OTT platform play major role in growing of India animation industry

2018, 2019, and 2020 have been years of OTT explosion in India. One of the factors that drove the popularity of these platforms is high-quality original content, as well as updated marketing strategies, new partnerships, surprising distribution deals, innovation, and increased consumer insight.

Growth Rate of OTT

The numbers indicate that growth will continue for the rest of the years. The OTT sector in India is expected to reach Rs 24 billion in 2121, and the country’s video streaming industry is predicted to be valued at INR 11.97K Cr by 2023.

Consumption of Video Content

Consumption of regional content has played a key role in this growth. Its demand has become bigger and bigger, and, according to KPMG estimates, the consumption of video in regional languages reached 95%.

New OTT Platform

There are also new players entering the market every year. Many of them have also expanded their spaces to regional language productions, which has made many Indians consider them as the first choice when watching videos or movies.

OTT Platform and Animation Industry Relation

Animation has also driven the use of OTTs and vice versa. The animation and visual effects industry in India has been steadily gaining acceptance and has projected Indian talent abroad. In 2016, according to KPM reports, the animation and visual effects industry grew by 16.4 percent, and the number has become increasingly high thanks to the demand for animation content for the Indian market through platforms and OTT applications.

Big global players like Amazon Prime and Netflix have signed exclusive content licensing agreements with several Indian studios and continue to vigorously seek to partner with Indian studios to create more children’s content in Hindi and other regional languages.

Now, more and more children are using OTT platforms to watch videos, and local animation is a favorite not only for children in India but in the world. It is another fact that has led OTT platforms to play a major role in the growth of the years of OTT explosion.

OTT platforms and animations complement each other. The growth of one drives the growth of the other.

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The Evolution of Animation: From Entertainment to Business Videos

Evolution of Animation

Many of the adults of this generation grew up watching cartoons every Sunday morning. There were many stories and alternatives that captured their attention and won their hearts. Besides, the animated images were able to expand their imagination and fill them with curiosity and enthusiasm. However, now, the concept of animation is much broader, and the industry has faced numerous changes in a short time.

A little history

The evolution of Animation has been around for many thousands of years. Murals, ceramic creations, and the popular phenakistoscope are examples of how old this technique is. Then, much closer to the 90s, the first animated films began, but these were made with simple and primitive devices.

Later came hand-drawn animation with Cel Animation. In 1914, at the John Bray production house, producers and artists created the first series using animation techniques.

Winsor McCay also produced Gertie, The Dinosaur. Then a young animator named Walt Disney appeared. He played a pivotal role in the animation revolution.

Steamboat Willie was the first animated feature film to be made entirely with the hand-drawn animation technique. It was made in 1928. Then came the significant debut of Mickey Mouse and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. At this point, animated movies managed to become a popular form of entertainment.

People not only remembered the characters but also their stories, their appearance, and the way they moved. The animations were recognized by everyone around the world. Stop-motion also began to be used as another of the predominant techniques in the traditional era of animation evolution.

The Computer Age

At the end of the 60s, the computer revolution began, and motion graphics made their way. The first computer-animated films were basic, but they changed the way people made animation. In 1967, the first computer-generated animated films were created. It was Hummingbird, which featured 30,000 images and 25 motion sequences.

In short, that was the time when frame-by-frame animations of 2D characters could be done entirely on computers, giving graphic artists more control to produce more varied content. It was key in the growth of animations as a form of entertainment. Some quite popular movies were born, such as Sword in the Stone (the first 2D animated movie in the history of 2D animation), The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, and The Aristocats.

Animation for Entertainment

Now, computer animation includes not only 2D graphics but also 3D elements that are put into motion using montage or frame-by-frame techniques. These techniques enabled producers and animators to create and render faster and also led them to use animation not only to produce television series and movies but also to create branded storytelling and web series.

Computers promoted the development of 3D animation. The studios created 3D models or characters using geometric shapes in a 3D coordinate system. Then they gave it life and movement. By then, the public had a lot of alternatives for 2D and 3D videos or feature films for their entertainment.

Animation for Brands and Businesses

Brands such as Apple, Hubspot, Dropbox, Coke, and more started using animated videos with characters and moving graphics to tell the story and trajectory of their brand. In this way, animation entered the narrative of conventional brands to revolutionize the way in which they advertised and addressed the public.

Usually, brands divide animation into two techniques: traditional frame-by-frame and stop motion, and modern animation with motion graphics and 3D computer animation.

There are also many brands that create characters to show how people can benefit from the product or service that they offer. Moreover, many brands are currently using CG motion animation to create animated videos with sound and voice-over. Such videos may not be character-driven, but they usually have various types of graphics.

Finally, this decade, we can see how many businesses, companies, brands, and content producers are creating animated videos using the latest technologies, such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and 360-degree video technology. All this is in order to provide you with quality visual experiences, create consumer attention, and become the trendsetter. The evolution of animation will be in a different dimension in the future.

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Points to be considered when Creating Educational Videos

Points to be considered when creating educational videos best 2d animation services

Educational videos are quite popular nowadays, as they help viewers delve deeper into a topic or find a well-defined solution to a problem. Therefore, they are considered essential tools to achieve success in several areas such as eLearning, marketing, and even for HR professionals in companies.

Creating educational videos is not that difficult, but you will need to consider certain significant points in order to obtain satisfactory results. These are:

1. Planning of the educational video

Before starting the production of your video, you must take into account what are the steps you must take to achieve your goals. Analyze the content you want to create, define the type of video of your choice, and brainstorm possible story scenarios and strategies that can help you spread it successfully.

2. Educational video script

Once you brainstorm and write it down in your notes, the next thing you should do is organize them. A script describes everything that will happen and will compose the video, including images, dialogues, music, and effects, among others, so take this stage seriously. Think about the story you want to tell, consider all possible scenarios, make your viewers laugh, and give them something of value.

3. Educational video storyboard

You cannot forget the graphic part if you are creating an educational video. A storyboard is your best ally to visually represent the message you want to convey through each shot of your video. You can do it through a digital program or by hand. Pick the best format while making sure to finish it because it is quite necessary to get a good educational video at the end.

4. Creation of educational video

At this point, there are certain aspects that you should consider. Avoid cognitive overload, as viewers can become overwhelmed and bored by watching a huge amount of content that they will not be able to process. You can also add interactivity and make your educational video very professional. With these two characteristics, people will love it!

So, are you ready to create the perfect educational video? Remember to consider these points and get incredible results!

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Benefits of Using Animated Nursery Rhymes With Your Child

Benefits of Using Animated Nursery Rhymes With Your Child 2d animation studio

Do you remember the Nursery Rhymes? When we were kids, they were quite popular, and we used to spend hours listening to them -although now it’s hard to believe. With the advent of the Internet and smart devices, many people thought that their popularity would decline. However, the reality is somewhat different.

These resources are still widely used today. But, they have also been transformed. As a result, we have animated nursery rhymes. Do you recognize them? Do you understand how positive they can be? Read this post and discover not only what they are but also the benefits of using animated nursery rhymes with your child.

Benefits associated with the use of animated nursery rhymes.

Nursery rhymes can become great allies when it comes to the development of oral skills and listening awareness in children. These pieces of music can enhance pre-literacy skills. Therefore, they are considered a very important pillar of their cognitive development. Besides, when these are animated, they also improve other types of skills, such as sight and concentration.

In this way, we can say that their contribution to the construction of language and the consolidation of learning is undeniable. Moreover, it can offer other benefits such as those described below.

They promote the development of phonetic awareness.

Animated nursery rhymes teach children to identify and pronounce words, as well as recreate sounds. These musical pieces are usually full of expressions, words, and interjections that children will hear and repeat.

This will help them repeat those sound groups that may be difficult for them. Therefore, they will improve their speech and their ability to express themselves through words. In addition to this, they also promote good intonation and correct pronunciation.

They favor the understanding of concepts.

Using animated nursery rhymes not only helps children identify words but also encourages creative development. Children develop vocabulary bases by coming into contact with sounds from the time they are babies.

But, they need more stimulation to help them understand abstract concepts. For this, animated nursery rhymes are ideal. The words used in nursery rhymes help children develop language understanding. Moreover, if they are animated, they can also help them establish a much stronger visual-auditory relationship. In this way, they will be able to associate sounds with images and improve communication and listening.

They build memory and articulation.

As the name implies, animated nursery rhymes come with rhymes. Also, they are usually made up of groups of words and sounds that are not found in frequent expressions. When children come into contact with these sound patterns, their brain receives the information that they need to begin classifying words according to their structure.

Consequently, this fact becomes a precursor to written language. Through this classification, your child will be able to differentiate syllables, identify words that begin with the same sounds, and recognize words that rhyme.

They develop social skills.

Many children’s songs, in addition to being fun, can be sung in two segments. Therefore, teaching children to identify the parts of songs to sing and how to connect with another to repeat the words can support them in developing positive social routines.

Likewise, animated nursery rhymes also show stories where one or more characters coexist, revealing a broad scenery of social relationships. Therefore, children will be exposed to different stimuli that will benefit the way they bond with others.

They improve listening skills.

Watching animated nursery rhymes not only improves the way a child can communicate with others and engage in conversation but also improves their listening skills. Nursery rhymes often tell a story. Thus, children will focus on the plot and pay attention to it.

Having children take an interest in a story is very beneficial. The main reason is that, through them, they can learn significant lessons about conversations, take turns, lose permission, and they can also become good listeners.

Other reasons why nursery rhymes are very helpful for children’s development.

  • – The rhymes are short and repeated. Thus, children will be able to tune in to words and sounds not once but several times.
  • – They help children to recognize individual sound units, that is, phonemes.
  • – Nursery rhymes repeat similar sounds in an organized fashion, a fact that does not happen in everyday conversations. In this way, they will learn to classify words according to their structure and the relationship that letters have with each sound.
  • – They develop sensitivity to language. Thus, children will be ready at 5 or 6 years to think and recreate the sound sequence of a complete word.
  • – Animated nursery rhymes also foster a love of stories, books, and reading, which can also have many benefits for children’s intellectual development.
  • – There are dynamic and interactive animated nursery rhymes that promote participation and movement. In this way, if physical actions are combined with rhythm, the brain receives stimuli to develop coordination.

Conclusion: Should I bet on Animated Nursery Rhymes?

As you can see, animated nursery rhymes not only provide all the advantages of songs and verses intended to entertain children but also combine all the benefits associated with sound compositions and animated stories. In this way, they become a fun and dynamic way to promote the construction of essential skills that children need for their growth and intellectual development.

Since our childhood, these musical compositions have been one of the primary tools for parents and teachers. However, very few people really understand why. In this sense, it is essential to realize that whatever children come into contact with can influence their evolution as a human being and their cognitive, motor, and social reinforcement.

Whether you are raising your child or want to learn the best teaching practices for future family members, understanding the functions and benefits of animated nursery rhymes can be very helpful to you.

Therefore, we invite you to deeply analyze the information provided in this post and take advantage of those songs that we used to listen to in our childhood.

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Why Nursery Rhymes Animation plays a vital role in the e-Learning Industry?

Nursery Rhymes Animation

Nursery Rhymes are those songs full of rhymes and verses that we used to listen to when we were children. But each of them is much more than just a piece of music. For years, they have been the perfect tool for teachers and tutors looking to improve children’s education.

In this decade, the traditional Nursery Rhymes have been transformed, and they have brought us the Nursery Rhymes Animation. They are the same songs but with all the advantages that animated videos can offer. Besides, they play a vital role in the e-learning industry, and there are several reasons to support it.

Fight attention deficits in distance classes.

E-learning is gaining more and more popularity. Therefore, institutions and teachers have to opt for quality content that helps them provide classes suitable for younger children, capturing their attention, and meeting school goals. It is part of what Nursery Rhymes Animation can do.

Through them, teachers can make children feel interested and execute the activities of each lesson. Moreover, they represent a much more fun way to explain a topic.

Influence children’s language.

Experts have shown that Nursery Rhymes exert a positive influence on the language of young children, especially when they are animated. Several of those factors that make this possible include repetition of sounds, rhymes, and stories.

Likewise, Nursery Rhymes have unusual combinations of sounds that they do not hear in everyday life, so they can help children structure a much more complete language in a more fun and effective way.

Image-sound-word relationship.

Traditional Nursery Rhymes are very helpful in helping children create a concept about what they hear. However, this benefit is optimized in Nursery Rhymes Animation. By containing video or animated images, children will be able to relate each sound or word to each image.

It, consequently, helps them improve their vocabulary, develops creativity, and engages them with stories that they can hear and see.

Nursery Rhymes Animation makes meeting educational goals quite easier, even if there are no face-to-face classes. They are also great for getting kids to engage more quickly with class content.