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If you’re browsing the internet to learn about the best explainer videos and want some inspiration, then you’re in luck.
In this article, we’re going to talk about what explainers are, why they’re so awesome, and then we’ll list our pick of the best explainer videos to inspire you.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into it.
What is an explainer video?
Explainer videos are short marketing videos that can be used to convey a message in a succinct, engaging, and easy-to-understand way.
Explainers can be used to promote your company’s products or services and are also effective when it comes to pitching ideas.
This type of video content is often used as a part of online marketing strategies and can be used in the buyer’s journey.
What is the basic structure of explainer videos?
The structure of an explainer video can vary depending on what your end goal is.
Normally, the videos can be broken down into the following basic steps:
- The problem – Define the problem and acknowledge the audience’s pain points
- The solution – Present the audience with a relevant solution
- How it works – Provide a simple demonstration of your product or a brief explanation of your service.
- Value proposition – Make the benefits crystal clear.
- CTA – A clear call to action.
Why are explainer videos so effective?
According to a 2020 video marketing statistics report, 83% of people agree that a product/service explainer video helps them in making a buying decision.
Here are some benefits of using explainers to drive your point home.
- Keep your audience hooked: With short explainer videos, you can engage your audience and keep them interested till the very end.
- Simplify complex ideas: The best explainer videos make difficult or complex ideas/products easy to understand.
- Boost conversions: Humans love dynamic, visual content. Therefore, explainers can boost conversion.
- Sharable: Explainer videos can be engaging; thus, have a high chance of being shared on social media.
- High ROI: Well-made explainer videos are well worth the video cost.
- Strategic use cases: An explainer video can be produced for each stage of the marketing funnel
All of the reasons highlighted above make explainer videos perfect for pitch meetings, too.
The best explainer videos
Now that you have the what and why figured out, it’s time to look for some inspiration.
Our pick of the best explainer videos includes a variety of styles.
We’ve put our selections into two categories: live-action and animation.
We hope they’ll get your creative juices flowing and help you come up with ideas for your own video.
Best animated explainer videos
Web XD
First up, we have a 3D animated video explainer we made!
For this video, we wanted to stick to a cool color palette and introduce our main character, Cue!
The video shows how Web XD makes Cue’s life easier and we see our character go from a state of panic to relaxation.
If you liked the video and want to look at more of our work, check out our portfolio.
Headspace
We love this 2D animated video introducing Headspace.
The adorable character designs remind us of Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends!
In under two minutes, the video does a great job of helping the viewer understand how the app works.
Intapp
This is a whiteboard animation explainer we made for a SaaS platform.
Our team had a great time brainstorming concepts for this one.
If you’re in the market for an explainer video, feel free to hit us up. We’d love to help.
Talk with a video strategist
Tech Insider
Tech Insider’s video is very informative and fun to watch.
It does a great job of sparking the viewer’s curiosity and holds the viewer’s attention with mind-boggling facts about the ocean, its depth, and mysteries.
The video is longer than 3 minutes and goes against the ideal explainer video length, which is 60 to 90 seconds.
This hasn’t hurt the video’s performance, though, because every bit of information is useful.
TripleBlind
This animated explainer we made for our client is a combination of 2D and 2.5D animation. The transition between the two styles keeps things interesting for the viewers especially when the topic is as serious and complicated as cyber security.
Google Drive
We’re jumping into 3D animation territory here.
This Google Drive explainer looks so modern and minimal. We love the calm vibe.
Skedaddle
Here’s a 2D animated explainer video we made to help our client connect with their prospects.
We wanted to build a narrative that the target audience could relate to.
Panorama9
Taking a dry topic and turning it into something interesting is an art form.
That’s something this video does really well.
Panorama9 pitches itself in a unique way with 8-bit style animations that transport you back to your childhood Nintendo days.
Dropbox
This one-minute video perfectly describes what Dropbox is; how you can use it, and its benefits.
We love the simple design and smooth animation.
Fun fact:
Dropbox isn’t new to using explainer videos.
When they were first starting out in 2007, they abandoned using Google Adwords to reach their prospects because it was too costly ($300 per customer acquired).
They decided to try something else.
First, they started a referral campaign to attract customers and encouraged users to share their service via e-mail and social media.
In return, the company offered people space for free. After that, they created a home page focused around an explainer video.
Learn more about this story and other startups that found success with explainer videos in our post.
Zarmoney
Here’s another one we created for a SaaS platform.
In this video, we start with the company’s why—its purpose.
It shows that the service was brought into existence because it solves a genuine problem.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a great tool for SEO. This video does a great job conveying the value that the service has to offer.
We love the cute character designs in this one.
Medium – Dear Internet
Medium’s Dear Internet… video evokes an emotional response and improves the company’s brand positioning.
The art style is reminiscent of the 1960s which makes it stand out from other explainer videos.
Spotify Promo U.S. Launch
Spotify’s zany video is one of our favorites. It does a great job of letting the viewer know what the app is all about and stays true to the brand vibe.
Microsoft
This video helps Microsoft communicate the value of Windows 11 to prospects. The visuals and upbeat narration work well for the brand.
AquaHALT
Here’s another video we made for a client. It’s so simple and gets the job done. We love it when explainers are to the point and get the point across.
Purina
Explaining what a pet food is made of and how can your pet benefit from it, is not an easy job. Purina does this so well with the help of engaging illustrated animations.
The video is only 30 seconds and yet it explains all the amino acids, vitamins, and minerals present in the pet food.
Bravo Pay
Going from one shot to another with perfection is an art. This explainer video not only did that but also delivered! We love the different backgrounds in this one.
Jaggaer
Sometimes it’s alright to go above the traditional 1 minute length for an explainer video. This video from Jaggaer is almost 3 minutes long but it does not bore you and keeps you engaged til the end.
Meet Asana
The best part about explainer videos is that they have room for creativity. You don’t have to stick to certain rules, instead, you can go crazy with experiments. And this video is proof of it.
It used a unique style of animation and did a great job of explaining the service.
Best live-action explainer videos
DollarShaveClub.com – Our Blades Are F***ing Great
Dollar Shave Club nails it with this brilliant video. It explains the product in an edgy and humorous way, shows the brand’s personality, and keeps viewers hooked throughout.
The company’s approach resonated well with the target audience and paid off big time. The video has more than 26 million views on YouTube so far.
Slack WFH
Collaboration tools like Slack helped teams communicate when lockdown and social distancing became the norm.
The video shows all the useful features that people can use to stay connected and motivated while working remotely.
Dissolve
Dissolve is a stock footage company and in this video, they mock the fact that many corporations use their footage in a manipulative way.
It’s a playful jab at the prevalent hypocrisy and has been received well.
PayPal – People Rule
The video has the best of both worlds and combines live-action and animation. It so entertaining and memorable because of its messaging and execution.
This was part of PayPal’s ‘People Rule’ campaign and it highlights how the company gets rid of people’s everyday worries.
So Yeah, We Tried Slack…
Slack makes it on our list again with this fun video.
Slack’s live-action video is laced with humor and does a great job of explaining how the platform combines multiple features in one app.
TripCase
TripCase is an itinerary management app that allows travelers to stay connected and updated on their trips.
A lot of articles online have praised the startup for its fun video.
Notarize
It takes skill to make something as mundane as notarization exciting for the viewer.
This brilliant explainer is a testament to the fact that adding humor can go a long way.
DonorPerfect
Our team had fun making this explainer video. It is a blend of live-action and animation. The live-action part gets the information across while the animated part keeps the audience hooked.
Lyft
Lyft was working on self-driving vehicles. They made this video to showcase the work and technology used in making such vehicles. It’s great that they explained each step in the process with clarity.
Ecosia
This next video from Ecosia uses humor to get viewers’ attention. It explains how using the browser means you’ll be planting trees.
The video is not only relatable but also uses great cinematography which makes it more effective. Everything about this explainer video is perfect, from the audio to the shots and colors.
Moved.com
Moved.com helps people with moving and makes the experience better for them. This video from them explains their services with a touch of humor.
They provide options for different assistants in an area and the people moving get to select their moving assistant based on ranking and cost.
That’s a wrap
It’s safe to say that explainer videos deliver high value and should be a component of your marketing strategy.
Pro tip: if the video’s messaging can stir up emotions and make the viewers think, they will be more likely to take the desired action.
And to get your messaging right, we encourage you to understand emotional appeals. A lot of the examples we mentioned used humor to great effect.
You can also learn tactics from the various types of propaganda ads and use those in an explainer video, too.
If you want to stay up-to-date on all things video, connect with us on LinkedIn!