Creating animated videos is a powerful way to engage your audience and communicate complex ideas. Fortunately, there are many animated video maker tools available to help you bring your ideas to life, regardless of your budget or skill level. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best animated video maker tools that can transform your content and help you create professional-quality videos quickly and easily. Let’s dive in!
What is an Animated Video Maker?
An animated video maker is indeed a software tool designed to help users create animated videos, but it does more than just that. This tool eliminates the need for extensive video editing skills by providing user-friendly functionalities that simplify the process.
It offers users the flexibility to create a vast array of video content, ranging from marketing material to educational resources.
The Best Animated Video Makers
Animated videos are an excellent tool for engaging your audience and promoting your business. Whether you’re considering videography business ideas or seeking a fresh approach to brand promotion, here are 15 of the top animated video makers you can find online:
| No. | Animated Video Maker | Key Features | Limitations | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Canva | User-friendly interface, vast template library, easy customization | Limited advanced design features | Free basic version, paid plans available |
| 2. | Biteable | Simple interface, pre-made templates for explainers and social media videos | Limited customization options | Free trial, paid plans available |
| 3. | Renderforest | Easy-to-use, used by major media, over 200 templates | Lacks device visualization and customization options | Free version with watermarks, various paid plans |
| 4. | Animaker | Cloud-based, six video styles, Full and Lite modes, auto lip-sync | Requires internet connection to use | Free basic version, paid plans available |
| 5. | Powtoon | Customizable pre-made templates, royalty-free music, integration with top sites and apps | May be over complicated for beginners | Free basic version, paid plans available |
| 6. | Filmora | 2D and 3D animation, color correction, audio mixer | More complex than some other options | Free version with watermarks, various paid plans |
| 7. | FlexClip | Affordable, vast media library, designer-made templates | Limited character customization, lacks advanced animation tools | Free basic version, paid plans available |
| 8. | Animatron | 500K royalty-free clips, voiceover import, keyframing | Advanced features may be difficult for beginners | Free basic version, paid plans available |
| 9. | FlipAnim | Simple UI, easy online animation creation | Limited functions | Free to use |
| 10. | Vyond | User-friendly, professional templates, customizable features | Higher pricing than other solutions | 14 days free trial, paid plans available |
| 11. | Moovly | Variety of animation styles, 1 million royalty-free media assets | Interface may be clunky | Free full-featured version, paid plans available |
| 12. | Wideo | Versatile, user-friendly, pre-animated templates | Only animations up to 30 seconds are free | Free basic version, paid plans available |
| 13. | Doodly | Whiteboard animation, custom drawing paths | Limited asset library, no support for voiceovers or lip-sync | One-time purchase available |
| 14. | Voki | Enhances engagement through animated presentations and virtual discussion forums | May lack comprehensive features for non-educational use | Basic version is free, paid plans available |
| 15. | Flipsnack | Turns PDFs into interactive online flipping books | Limited to flip book format | Free basic version, paid plans available |
Canva
Canva is a top animated video maker, offering a user-friendly interface, a vast template library, and easy customization. What is Canva? It’s one of the top graphic design apps available online, and it also offers video and animation features. Its drag-and-drop and editing tools make the program easy to use for beginners and experts alike.
Biteable
Biteable offers a simple, easy-to-use interface and pre-made templates for explainers and social media videos. Users can adjust scenes and add personal touches for customized, professional-looking content.
Renderforest
Renderforest is a user-friendly animated video maker utilized by leading media organizations, offering a range of pricing plans and more than 200 templates. Nonetheless, Renderforest does not provide device visualization and customization features.
Animaker
Animaker is a cloud-based platform with six video styles for creating high-quality, studio-like animated videos. Animaker video infographics offer Full and Lite modes, auto lip-sync, extensive facial expressions, and integration with various platforms.
Powtoon
Powtoon is a web-based animated video maker that offers a vast collection of customizable templates and royalty-free music. The Powtoon for business feature seamlessly integrates with popular sites and applications, making it perfect for content creators, marketers, and corporate professionals.
Filmora
Filmora is an editing software that allows users to create 2D and 3D animation by adding keyframes to a white plane. It also provides color correction and an audio mixer to enhance video quality. Available for free on Windows and Mac.
FlexClip
FlexClip is an affordable online animated video maker that offers a vast asset library, designer-made templates, and video tools. However, users cannot fully customize characters and lack advanced animation tools.
Animatron
Animatron is an online program for creating explainer videos, animations, and HTML5 banners. It offers an asset library of 500K royalty-free clips, voiceover import, keyframing, and a library. While advanced features may be difficult, it saves money on expensive software.
FlipAnim
FlipAnim has a nice, simple UI and enables easy online animation creation. However, its functions are limited. Users can modify the pen tool, size, and color, add pages, and adjust speed. It also supports transparent animations and zooms in/out.
Vyond
Vyond is an intuitive animation software designed for producing high-quality animated videos. It provides a wide range of templates and customizable options, though its pricing is higher compared to other online alternatives. A 14-day free trial is available.
Moovly
Moovly is a cloud-based video animation maker that offers a variety of animation styles, including doodle and cartoon and has over 1 million royalty-free media assets. It offers a full-featured free version and integrates with Shutterstock. Its interface may be clunky at times.
Wideo
Wideo is a versatile, customizable, and user-friendly content creation platform, allowing for video animations and presentations with pre-animated templates. However, only animations up to 30 seconds are free, requiring a paid license for anything longer.
Doodly
Doodly is a desktop application designed for producing whiteboard animated videos featuring a distinctive drawing hand. It provides customizable drawing paths, automatic alignment of video duration, and the convenience of offline video creation. However, it has some limitations, including a restricted asset library and a lack of support for voiceovers or lip-syncing.
Voki
Voki is an educational tool for teachers and students that enhances engagement through animated presentations and virtual discussion forums. Basic Voki is free, while the paid version offers more functionality.
Flipsnack
Flipsnack is a free flip book maker that turns PDFs into interactive online flipping books. Customize with design and branding features, add interactive content and track performance. This is ideal for marketers, designers, and business owners.
Our Methodology to Choose the Best Animated Video Makers
Choosing the best animated video makers requires a focus on usability, quality, and versatility, especially for small business owners who may not have extensive experience in animation. Here’s a look at the criteria we used to select the top options, rated on a scale of one to ten, with ten being of utmost importance:
- Ease of Use (Importance Scale: 9/10)
- User-friendly interface.
- Quick learning curve, suitable for beginners.
- Cost-Effectiveness (Importance Scale: 8/10)
- Affordable pricing plans.
- Good value for money, considering the features offered.
- Quality and Versatility of Animation (Importance Scale: 10/10)
- High-quality animation outputs.
- A wide range of styles and templates to choose from.
- Customization Options (Importance Scale: 9/10)
- Ability to customize animations to fit brand identity.
- Flexibility in editing and modifying templates.
- Asset Library (Importance Scale: 7/10)
- Extensive library of images, icons, characters, and music.
- Export Options and Formats (Importance Scale: 8/10)
- Variety of export formats.
- High-resolution output options.
- Integration Capabilities (Importance Scale: 6/10)
- Ability to integrate with other tools for additional functionality.
- Support and Resources (Importance Scale: 7/10)
- Access to customer support.
- Availability of tutorials and learning resources.
- Review and Collaboration Features (Importance Scale: 5/10)
- Tools for team collaboration and feedback.
- Performance and Speed (Importance Scale: 6/10)
- Fast rendering times.
- Smooth performance, even with complex animations.
Based on these criteria, we compiled the above selection of animated video makers that balance functionality, ease of use, and cost, making them suitable for small businesses aiming to create engaging content for marketing and brand storytelling.
Animated Video Makers: Key Features
Key features of animated video makers typically include:
- Pre-made templates: These are pre-designed video layouts that users can choose from. They significantly cut down the time spent designing a video from scratch and provide a professional look and feel to your content.
- Custom animations: This feature allows users to create unique animations that align with their branding or message. They can customize characters, backgrounds, and other elements in the video to make it truly their own.
- Audio editing tools: These tools allow users to add, edit, and mix soundtracks, sound effects, and voiceovers. Good audio can enhance the overall quality of the video and make it more engaging for viewers.
- Drag-and-drop interface: This intuitive design feature allows users to easily add, remove, or rearrange elements in their video. It’s as simple as clicking on an element, dragging it to the desired location, and dropping it into place.
- Text-to-speech functionality: Some animated video makers come with text-to-speech features, allowing users to convert written text into spoken words in their videos.
- Collaboration tools: These tools let teams work together on video projects. Users can share drafts, leave comments, and make edits in real-time.
- Integration with other platforms: Many animated video makers can integrate with social media platforms and content management systems, enabling users to directly upload their videos to these platforms.
- Export and sharing options: Users can export their videos in various formats and resolutions. They can also share their videos directly from the platform to their desired destination.
Animated video makers are often used for video marketing materials, explainer videos, or other types of content that require visual storytelling to effectively communicate complex ideas.
Why Are Animated Videos Useful for a Small Business?
Animated videos can be a powerful tool for small businesses looking to improve their marketing and education efforts. Here are some ways animated videos can be useful for a small business:
Animated Video Presentations
An animation video is great for creating engaging video presentations that can help businesses explain complex topics in a visually appealing way.
With animation, businesses can create a unique animated video that captures the essence of their brand and conveys their message effectively. Animation projects can also be cost-effective, as they require fewer resources than live-action videos.
Educational Videos
Animated educational videos are a great way for businesses to provide valuable information to their audience in an engaging and fun way. Businesses can create educational videos to teach their customers about their products or services, how to use them, or how they can benefit from them.
This can help establish the business as an authority in the industry and build trust with its audience. These are also among the most popular types of YouTube videos.
Create Explainer Videos
Explainer videos are a great way to introduce a new product or service to potential customers. With animation, businesses can create engaging and informative videos that showcase their product or service in action.
This can assist potential customers in grasping how the product or service functions and the advantages it offers them.
Whiteboard Animations
Whiteboard animations are a specific type of animated video that can be useful for businesses looking to create engaging educational content.
With whiteboard animation, businesses can create a video that appears to be drawn on a whiteboard, providing a unique and visually appealing way to present information.
This type of animation can be particularly effective for explaining complex concepts or processes in a step-by-step manner.
Top Features to Look Out For in an Animated Video Maker
When it comes to selecting an animated video creator, there are a few key features that can make all the difference. Here are the top features to look out for:
Free Stock Videos and Video Clips
An animated video maker with a library of free stock videos and clips can help you save both time and money. These resources enable you to incorporate additional visual elements into your video, enhancing its engagement and effectiveness.
Animated Video Templates
Using pre-made templates can help you create professional-looking videos quickly and easily. Look for an animated video creator that includes a range of templates that you can customize to match your brand and messaging.
A Range of Animation Styles
Various animation styles can effectively communicate different moods and messages in your videos. Choose an animated video maker that provides a variety of animation styles, ranging from 2D to 3D, so you can select the ideal style for your project.
Ability to Use Your Own Images and Media Files
An animated video creator that allows you to use your own images and media files can help you create a video that truly reflects your brand and messaging. This feature can also save you time and money, as you won’t need to create or purchase additional assets.
Animated Characters
Animated characters can help you create a more engaging and relatable video. Look for an animated video creator that includes a library of pre-made characters that you can customize to match your brand and messaging.
Sound Effects
Sound effects can help bring your video to life and create a more immersive experience for your audience. Look for an animated video creator that includes a library of sound effects that you can use to enhance your video.
Voice Over Capabilities
A good voiceover can add personality and emotion to your video. Look for an animated video creator that includes voiceover capabilities, allowing you to record your own voiceover or choose from a library of pre-made options.
Integrating Animated Videos into Your Marketing Strategy
Incorporating animated videos into your marketing strategy can significantly enhance your brand’s visibility, engagement, and conversion rates. Here are steps and tips to effectively integrate animated content into your marketing efforts:
Understand Your Audience
Before creating animated videos, it’s crucial to understand your target audience’s preferences, problems, and the platforms they frequent. This knowledge helps tailor your content to their interests and needs, ensuring your animated videos resonate and engage effectively.
Define Your Goals
Clarify what you aim to achieve with your animated videos. Goals can range from increasing brand awareness, explaining complex products or services, and launching new offerings to driving traffic to your website. Setting clear objectives guides the content, style, and call-to-action of your videos.
Choose the Right Type of Animated Video
Select a style of animated video that aligns with your message and audience. Explainer videos, animated infographics, and storytelling animations are popular formats that cater to different objectives, from educating to entertaining your viewers.
Optimize for Each Platform
Tailor your animated videos for the platforms they’ll be shared on. Social media videos should be short and captivating within the first few seconds, while videos for your website or presentations can be longer and more detailed. Consider platform-specific constraints like video length, aspect ratio, and autoplay features.
Leverage SEO
For videos hosted on your website or platforms like YouTube, use SEO best practices to increase visibility. Include relevant keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags. Transcripts and closed captions can also improve accessibility and SEO performance.
Promote Across Channels
Maximize the reach of your animated video by promoting it through all your marketing channels. Embed the videos on your website, share them on social media, incorporate them into email marketing campaigns, and use them in digital advertisements. Encourage your audience to share the videos to tap into their networks for even greater exposure.
Measure Performance
Track your animated video’s performance against your defined goals. Metrics like views, engagement rates, click-through rates, and conversion metrics can provide insights into what works and what doesn’t, helping you refine your future video marketing strategies.
Future Trends in Animated Video Creation
The landscape of animated video creation is continuously evolving, with new technologies and trends shaping the future of how we produce and consume animated content. Here are several trends and technological advancements to watch:
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
AI and ML are revolutionizing animated video production by automating tasks such as character animation, lip-syncing, and even scriptwriting. These technologies allow for more personalized and dynamic content creation, making it easier and faster to produce animated videos tailored to specific audiences or scenarios.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
VR and AR technologies are starting to influence animated video creation by providing immersive and interactive video experiences. Businesses can utilize VR to produce 360-degree animated explainer videos, while AR can integrate animations into the real world, boosting customer engagement through interactive marketing campaigns.
Interactive Animated Videos
Interactive videos that allow viewers to make choices, interact with the content, or explore different story paths are becoming more popular. This interactivity increases engagement by making viewers active participants in the narrative, providing a personalized video experience.
Real-time Animation
Advancements in real-time rendering technologies are making it possible to create and broadcast animated content in real time. This opens up opportunities for live animated broadcasts, events, or presentations, where audiences can interact with the content as it’s being created.
Emphasis on Inclusivity and Diversity
There’s a growing trend towards creating animated content that reflects a wider range of cultures, identities, and experiences. This inclusivity not only broadens the appeal of animated videos but also strengthens brand values by showcasing a commitment to diversity and representation.
Eco-conscious Production
As sustainability becomes a priority for businesses and audiences alike, the animation industry is exploring eco-friendly production techniques.
Digital animation offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional film production, with software and hardware companies working to reduce the environmental impact of their products.
Staying abreast of these trends and technologies is essential for marketers, animators, and businesses looking to leverage animated videos. By embracing innovation and anticipating future developments, creators can produce animated content that captivates, engages, and resonates with increasingly sophisticated audiences
Is it Hard to Create Professional Animated Videos?
Creating professional animated videos requires time, effort, and skill. However, with the right tools and resources, even beginners can create high-quality animated videos that effectively convey their message.
What Equipment is Needed to Create Animated Videos?
To create animated videos, you’ll need a computer or mobile device, animation software, and a graphics tablet or mouse. A good microphone and camera may also be useful for voiceovers and live-action elements.
The Bottom Line
With the right animated video maker tool, you can create engaging and professional-looking videos for your business or personal use. Whether you need to make explainer videos, training videos, or any other type of video project, these tools offer a variety of video styles to choose from. With a bit of creativity and practice, you can create impressive animated videos that effectively convey your message.
Animated Video Maker FAQs
How do I Make an Animated Video for Free?
To make an animated video for free, you can use online tools such as Animaker, Powtoon, or Biteable. These free video editing platforms offer a range of templates, graphics, and animation tools to create professional-looking videos without any cost.
How do YouTubers Make Animated Videos?
YouTubers can make animated videos by using animation software or online tools that allow them to create, edit, and animate different elements. There are many YouTube niches where creators can then use their creativity to make engaging videos for their channels.
What is the Easiest Tool to Make Animated Videos?
Canva is one of the easiest tools to make animated videos as it offers a user-friendly interface with pre-made templates and drag-and-drop functionality. Users can easily customize their videos with graphics, text, and animations.
Is it Important to Create Animated Content for Social Media?
Yes, creating animated content for social media is important as it can grab the audience’s attention, increase engagement, and help brands stand out in a crowded feed. Animated content is also shareable, making it an effective way to reach a wider audience.
Image: Envato Elements
This article, "Animated Video Maker: Top Tools to Transform Content" was first published on Small Business Trends
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