Animation Explainers

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I run corporate development for Notable Systems. This encompasses all of our sales and marketing efforts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Animation Explainers?

We needed an animated short which succinctly described our product and value proposition.

What were your goals for this project?

To create a clear and concise video which explains what our software does, and the value it can deliver to potential customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We researched online and found Animation Explainers. They provided us with a competitive quote and we thought highly of their previous work.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Animation Explainers helped us storyboard the script for the video and then put all of the actual animation together. We went through several rounds of edits and revisions, which was very helpful in delivering a final product that we think is fantastic work.

What was the team composition?

We worked closely with Jessica at animation explainers, who managed the project and coordinated with their internal designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The video has been instrumental in helping us approach new prospects and demonstrating the value of our software during the sales process.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We worked seamlessly with Animation Explainers.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their responsiveness was remarkable - they turned our edits to the script and video content around within days. This helped to streamline the project and we were able to hit our key dates for delivery.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No - we found Animation Explainers very professional to work with and are extremely satisfied with the final product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior executive assistant at the University College Dublin. I’m part of the department that's responsible for widening student participation. We work with underrepresented students to make sure they have equity of access to degree programs at the university.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Animation Explainers?

We have a relatively new part-time program. We wanted to clarify our message to improve our student recruitment efforts. We needed to get the message out there about our program.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped with our messaging, which we thought we had sorted out. We initially wrote the scripts for the two videos based on a brief that another agency provided. Animation Explainers rewrote the script, clearing up any jargon to make the content more catchy.

They sent us a link to their portfolio for us to review. We picked out a couple of videos we liked as a team and then left the process to Animation Explainers. Their team sent us a storyboard in a PowerPoint. We didn’t have to ask for many changes. 

What is the team composition?

I was in contact with Aaron (Co-Founder).

How did you come to work with Animation Explainers?

I googled animated explainer videos and their website was the first result. Even though they’re based in the Isle of Man, they also have an office in Dublin. We felt that it would be helpful to have a local partner.

I sent them an e-mail, which they responded to within the hour. We chatted about the project and then their team came to our office the following week.  

How much have you invested with them?

The two videos cost €5,000 euros (approximately $5,600 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We sent them a quote request in February 2020, and we wrapped up the project in June. The global pandemic slowed the project because the university closed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We're happy with the videos, especially our outreach team, which works with schools and NGOs. They’re able to show people the videos to highlight our program.

The content also raised awareness internally, helping us to ask different schools within the university to offer more classes through our program. People can watch a video about our program instead of reading about it, which is helpful. They'll help with our summer recruitment initiatives.

How did Animation Explainers perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicated via e-mail. When we requested changes, we got a reply the same day. If we wanted a new version of the storyboard, it was sent back within a week. Animation Explainers was quick.

Their team was also patient with us. There were a couple of times when one of my team members requested that I ask Animation Explainers for a superficial change to the voice over. There weren’t any problems, and the process was stress-free.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Animation Explainers wanted to do well, which made the experience more pleasant. Whereas other companies told us that they didn’t have time for our project, Animation Explainers was enthusiastic about the opportunity.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were happy with the experience. There were a couple of times when we asked for a change and then their team left out one or two of them, so we had to ask again.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go into the engagement with an open mind. Trust that they’re creative professionals. Allow them to take some ownership over the project because that led us to a better end product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an employee engagement, positive psychology, and well-being organization called Inkel Health. We design and develop employee engagement programs using coaching as a framework for development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Animation Explainers?

Our elevator pitch didn’t cut it. We felt animation along with speech in a video would better capture the essence of our organization than a phone call or email.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Animation Explainers wanted to hear our story and arranged a conversation via Zoom. Following the conversation, we developed an agreement to work. Their team wanted us to capture our story in a written format including where the company was founded and why it was founded. They listened to why we do this work from start to finish.

Their team captured our story in a video within 2–3 weeks. The video included voiceover, background music, and animated characters with different mannerisms. Once we launch the video, we'll market it on LinkedIn and other social media channels.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Aaron (Co-Founder & Project Manager).  

How did you come to work with Animation Explainers?

Animation Explainers reached out to us over LinkedIn at the right time. We were in the market for an animated explainer video. They provided a list of their previous work within our sector, which was helpful to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €3,500 euros (approximately $3,900 USD) on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We collaborated between May–June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Everyone who viewed the animation thought it was brilliant. The video tells the story that we wanted to portray as a company. Everything about the finished product was great.

How did Animation Explainers perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was excellent. Their team didn’t have any problems with revisions, making changes until we were happy.

We dug into their drafts. While there weren’t weaknesses, we constantly improved upon the strong aspects of the animations. We like that we continually improved draft by draft.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We didn’t encounter problems, so it was nice working with Animation. Their team understood our organization.

Aaron and his team were relaxed. There wasn’t a moment that stressed them, even when we went back and forth with changes. Their team constantly offered support.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While the price was high, I believe that we’ll reach a return on our investment once we go to market. We had a grant, so I didn’t push them on the price for this project. For future work, I’d definitely push them a little bit. However, my gut tells me that this project will be well worth the investment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t rush the process because it’s a big investment. It’s important that you put the work into the project and explore your options. Animation doesn’t have a magic wand where they produce the vision of your service offerings. vision. Spend time on the background music, voiceovers, and content to create a succinct story that relates to your audience. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing for an invoice finance company. We work with small- and medium-sized enterprises in Ireland, the UK, Canada, and US. We provide SMEs with early payment on selected invoices so they can manage their cash flow effectively, and/or get working capital to grow their business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Animation Explainers?

In some markets, invoice finance is very established and well-known, like in the UK, but other markets aren’t as familiar with it. We were trying to provide a short and succinct video that would educate the target audience on invoice finance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a chat with them about what we were looking for and they came back with a script and an animated video. We worked with them on that.

In our initial meeting, we realized that we needed an animated video, plus assistance with tutorial-style videos on our portal. We have an e-invoicing portal for our clients and we get a lot of questions. We hoped these videos would support customer self-service.

Animation Explainers was very good at directing us to meet our various objectives. We created the two tutorial videos, and then they did the animation video.  

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Aaron (Co-Founder) and he had a team working for him.

How did you come to work with Animation Explainers?

They could have reached out to me on LinkedIn.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February–April  2020. It was very quick from start to finish.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The tutorial videos are on our portal, but we don’t track how often they’re being used. Anecdotally, they’ve been well-received. Our client management team has noticed that the videos are helping people on the portal. We use the animation video as a sales tool, and our salespeople find it to be very useful.

How did Animation Explainers perform from a project management standpoint?

We shared documents to review on Google Docs. They had quite a good system — they have a shared document system that includes the script, a prototype video, and accompanying pictures. We were able to make recommendations and change pieces of the script on the system.

Aaron was very responsive and calm. Whenever something needs to be done, he just gets on with it; there’s no fuss. It’s very easy to work with him.

We had a few meeting in the office, but we also used Zoom because of COVID-19.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was very easy to work with them. They were very quick to pick up the concept and what we were looking for. The scripting that they prepared was very good. It was clear they knew what we needed and worked efficiently to get it done.

I certainly plan to revisit this partnership in the future to see what else we can do together.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was happy with their service and the outcome.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a good idea about what your objective is in the first place so you can communicate it clearly. When you’re working with companies that aren’t subject matter experts in your industry, you need to be as clear as you can about what you’re trying to achieve. If you prepare on your end, the entire project will be easier.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Genezen Labs is a contract development and manufacturing organization. We manufacture viral vectors and do cell transduction for companies that are developing cell and gene therapy drugs. I’m the chief commercial officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Animation Explainers?

For our marketing, we attend and sponsor at a lot of conferences so that we’re able to talk to gene and cell therapy companies. COVID-19 prompted the movement of many in-person conferences to a virtual format. We found out that a couple of these conferences in May would be moving online. We needed to develop some content quickly that wouldn’t take the place of our typical human interaction but would provide a nice overview for people, even if they weren’t meeting with us one-on-one.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We chose their two-minute animated video product. We knew we wanted animated, since with COVID, producing videos that required video equipment and people wasn’t going to work. 

We wanted to do a pretty digestible overview of the company that would go over what we’re about and our history. Then, we wanted to do a deeper dive into more of the science behind our capabilities that we can offer clients. Animation Explainers split the two-minute video to cover both of those topics.

It was a collaborative effort. They had a nice framework for their animators to put the video together, but we definitely had the vision of what we were looking for. They did one draft, and then we had the opportunity to make revisions.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Jessica (Business Development Officer) throughout the project.

How did you come to work with Animation Explainers?

Someone from their company had reached out to our CEO on LinkedIn, and it piqued our CEO’s interest. He passed it along to me, and it really went from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $3,700.

What is the status of this engagement?

It was really fast, which was one of the biggest selling points of getting this done. We initially connected on April 13, and we had the video by Friday, May 8, 2020, so it was less than a month.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The videos were very helpful for our virtual exhibit booths. I could tell the videos were viewed. I followed up with people, and they seemed to understand what we did and were about. We knew going into the project that we would want to repurpose the videos and post them on our site and social media, so it’s a product that has uses beyond that initial need for virtual conferences.

How did Animation Explainers perform from a project management standpoint?

My contact Jessica contributed a lot of legwork to make it happen because we were on a pretty tight timeline. I was very appreciative of her really walking through a lot of things, such as what was effective and what wasn’t, because we’d never done an animated video before. She was very available and responsive. She could answer any questions or go to the people that we needed answers from.

Jessica also really dug into what we were trying to do. Nobody that you would work with in this sort of situation knows the science as well as we do, so we needed to think about how we wanted to explain that, but Jessica really took what we had and filled it out because she knew what her animation team needed from us. We communicated via email and Google Docs. It was pretty low-tech, but it worked fine.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We realized several weeks after receiving the video that we had made an error in what we had asked them to put in it. I went back to them and asked them to change it, and they didn’t charge for additional revisions. We appreciated their speed and reasonableness, as well as the ease of working with them. We also really like the product; we think it turned out very well in the sense of professionalism and what we were looking for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing really stands out; it was a pretty positive experience for us. We did have to ask for more diversity in our video just as far as the stock people that they included, but that was pretty minor.

Any advice for potential customers?

I’d say that going into it, you need to decide what the goal of the video is. Then, work with their team to storyboard and get their input. Jessica let us know how many words usually fit into a minute-long video, and she showed us how to split the video effectively. Utilizing their expertise but coming with your own vision is a good combination. They’re really good at executing your vision.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of the company and we built a marketplace for investment ideas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Animation Explainers?

We hired them to build an explainer video for our platform that will showcase the system, its core USP and how the technology applies to both sides of the marketplace - buyers & sellers.

What were your goals for this project?

we wanted a clear and compelling, compliant video that can address all stakeholders.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I reviewed several companies and their work and professionalism stood out.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

I brought them a script that was then re-done in partnership with them. Having them take time to go thorough what I put and how it can be better relayed per explainer video language and structure was extremely helpful.

They didn't just take my script and make it, which should have been a disaster. They were also good about listening to the edits which included using some different screens and then getting them in play.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They had a great process and system for communication. I will use them again.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Im extremely pleased. As the founder I notice everything and they did an exceptional job. Great company to work with. A tier 1 marketing firm as me who made the video after I shared it.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Great working relationship.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are an overall great company to work with. Timely and professional.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I'm really happy with the process and outcome - I will 100% use them again.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Business Development Manager WP Tech Support

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Animation Explainers?

We wanted a clear & concise explainer video that highlights the services we offer as a market leading Wordpress support & web development company

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to aid with increasing brand awareness, sharing the video via our social channels & email outreach

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Animation Explainers were referred to us by one of our clients. After some research we reached out and began discussions with Aaron & Dylan

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

Once we'd decided upon working with Animation explainers they were very detailed in understanding our business and our goals for the end video

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Great response times to feedback and edits in a very professional 7 timely manner

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

As this was a brand awareness exercise we were very happy with the engagement & feedback the video received

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

very smooth process with excellent communication from start to finish

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Exceptional knowledge of their industry. We got a great product at a very competitive price, on time and on budget. Highly recommend

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are very satisfied and look forward to working with Animation explainers again

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in the estate office of a university.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Animation Explainers?

The project was around COVID-19. I saw a video on someone’s Instagram page, which I thought would work well with our students and people on campus.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We discussed the concept of the video but they also adapted the video's content as new information about the virus came out. They provided the animated video in two formats. Their team made one version for our website and specific social media platforms such as Twitter. They made the other video suitable for Instagram. The video detailed symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do such as who to call if you have symptoms. Their team included our name and logo on the video.

What is the team composition?

I had one main point of contact at Animation Explainers.

How did you come to work with Animation Explainers?

I saw some of their work and decided to bring them on board.

How much have you invested with them?

Animation Explainers provided this video pro-bono because it was about a national crisis.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project in March 2020. I will do business with them again in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The video was for our students, staff, and community. Our audience paid attention to the video. In regard to Twitter, we got a lot of retweets.

How did Animated Explainers perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was unbelievable and provided fantastic project management. St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday in Ireland, but I was able to talk with them several times that day. The fact that anyone would talk to me on a holiday, give me their cell phone number, and discuss the changes that we needed to make was exceptional.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Animation Explainers were extremely professional and provided absolutely personalized service. I couldn’t have asked for anything better than what we got.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not in the slightest.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t doubt the process. You’re dealing with really good people.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CEO of the largest IDAM focused organisation in the UK covering both B2E and B2C markets, we have customers across Healthcare, Automotive, Legal, Finance, Retail and Public Sectors, in UK, Europe, Russia and Middle East.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Animation Explainers?

We wanted to reinforce the public messaging around Coronavirus to our 20,000 followers on LinkedIn and social platforms.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed an easy to understand educational video that would work across all formats.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We evaluated this space thoroughly covering companies of varying sizes to large 2000 plus employee outfits to local specialists.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Animation Explainers, beat all competition not just on the overall look costs of the actual video, but the ease of working with the team, their flexibility in pricing, their refreshing approach to customer care and strict attention to detail around branding and market awareness.

What was the team composition?

We worked with their developers, digital team and marketing experts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

This video has been seen by over 20,000 people now, and many have commented on its professionalism and value to the greater good.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very, we found ourselves stuck at no point of this process in the way our business has been handled.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Attention to detail Costs Competitive ability within the market Expert knowledge on marketing Vast array of choices within the campaign Ease of collaboration between ours and their company.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Yes, they need to keep doing more of this, they are amazing!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a medical writer working at a company that is developing cannabinoid-derived medicines in the therapeutic areas of pain, ophthalmology and oncology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Animation Explainers?

Our company operates in a very new commercial and therapeutic environment. We realized that the way we work and how we differentiate ourselves from other industries working in the medical cannabis environment was not always well understood by the general public. We thought that a good avenue to educate the public was with an informative animated video. Since we do not have in-house experience with animated video, we decided to outsource this service.

What were your goals for this project?

We intended to use the video on our website's home page as well as on our social media channels to inform and educate the public on our drug development process.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We came across this company that we did not knew before and were curious of what they have to offer. Based on the quality of their final proposal and their budget, we selected this vendor.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

They worked with us to get to know our product and the goal of the animated video. They were proactive and collaborated on the script and images ideas. The end product was a clear, informative and visually appealing animated video.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We worked with Jessica for the script and images development and for the choice of narrator and music. Then we were provided a first video on which we were able to offer feedback. They implemented the modification and the results was a great final animated video.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Viewers really enjoyed watching this video and they reported that it has helped better understand what we are doing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They frequently follow-up with us and we were impressed by the timeliness.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed by the quality and the professionalism of the animated video. Plus, the price was really affordable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Even thought we were satisfied with the overall communication with animation explainers, we felt like there was a misunderstanding about the marketing strategy of our company at the end of the project. We believed that more communication could have been used to avoid this problem.