Explanimate!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Marketing Manager for a Managed Services Provider. We help empower businesses to scale through the power of innovative technology solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explanimate!, and what were your goals?

Automation in the mid-market is largely untouched due to lack of experience and difficulty implementing. We've develop a consumption based model that reduces upfront costs and time to achieve ROI. We wanted to create a hype video that got our buyers excited by the prospect of beginning their automation journey through an understanding of the benefits this can bring to both their employees through unlocking the ability to remove mundane tasks for their workload and focus on more meaningful work, as well as the business through direct cost savings through increased efficiencies.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Explanimate! offered the most creative proposal and understood that we wanted to tell a story and connect with our audience, as opposed to the usual explainer videos that are incredibly dry. They were also incredibly amenable working through our bespoke requirements and budget.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

Commencing with a brief and discovery call, explanimate! provided a proposal with tiered options to meet out budget and scope. They then supported with script development, character ideation and story boards. Voiceovers and music were applied last. The output was 2 x 90 second explainer videos plus 30 second cutdowns for social.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with Caitlin and Trav, both exceptional communicators, understood our vision and accommodated our requests.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've just launched our campaign so yet to gain results, however, these will be used in our social (organic and paid), SEM, campaign landing page, eDMs, sales outreach cadences, showed live at our event and through our employees in our advocacy strategy. It's different to any content our competitors have put out there and we feel comparable to the output of enterprises much larger and better resourced than ourselves.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Regular calls, emails and shared documents to track scripts and storyboards. We also had a gantt chart to kick off and agree on timings.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We were impressed with their ability to understand our creative vision and improve it. Excellent communication skills and punching above their weight with outputs.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Ideally would have reached completion a couple of weeks earlier.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

THIRTY3SOUTH is Film Production company specialising in Business to Business communications and brand building.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explanimate!, and what were your goals?

Our client celebrates excellence of their Alumni each year. In 2021 this was a challenge due to no contact being permitted between Award winners and our crew. We pitched that we animate the stories of the winners with recorded interviews captured and edited by our team and the animation being produced by Explanimate.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected Explanimate because of their singular focus and expertise in animation. They understand deadlines, budgets and they deliver every single time. Not only are Explanimate exceptionally creative, but they are also commercial in their thinking and client focussed in their service. Travis and the team are the best of their breed in Australia and beyond.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

After brainstorming possibilities through the creative process with Explanimate we knew exactly what we could achieve within our budget and time frame. Animation is a time consuming medium and Travis and Dave were honest and upfront about what we could create in our limited production time.

We worked on a staggered process involving 9 individual stories that were collected to a single coherent piece. The artwork, sketch board and storyboarding was controlled by Explanimate flawlessly and made our approval process with the client seamless.

Everything worked without a hitch, communication was spot on and most importantly, the Explanimate team weren't backward in coming forward with their ideas and opinions which is what you want from an expert.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video was presented to the Alumni community both locally and internationally and was hailed as the most unique and successful way of demonstrating alumni success.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The Explanimate team were 10 out of 10 for communication. The review process and feedback loop was brilliant and we knew exactly where we were at all times of the project.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The combination of their creativity and commercialism was impressive. That is a rare mix in this industry. We know that we can move the balance between budget and creativity on any project with Explanimate and we are looking forward to challenging their creativity on future projects.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Explanimate are the type of company that always looks for ways to improve. I've found their service to be perfect for what we require. If there is an area to improve I haven't found it yet, but I know that if we do it will be simple conversation with the team and they will take it as an opportunity.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Learning Project Manager within a telecommunications company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explanimate!?

Development of an animation to be delivered as a piece of learning content for internal employees.

What were your goals for this project?

Create awareness of a new process within nbn

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have worked with Explanimate numerous times. They are incredibly reliable, stick to deadlines and produce great work.

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

- Kick off meeting to understand needs - Script development - Storyboarding - Animation development - Coordination of voice over artist.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

- We worked with one contact point from Explanimate (which is great it makes life so much easier) - Numerous rounds of feedback on the scripting, storyboard and animation

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

- As this was awareness training there are no direct measurables however the content was approved by Executive Management who were delighted with the final production.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

- Embedding review options within the collaboration tools - Scheduled meetings to discuss and address feedback

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I have worked with Explanimate for over 2 years and there is a reason I keep going back. Dave is fantastic to work with really takes the time to understand our needs. Once the Explanimate team gets to work they always find a way to create engaging learning despite the fact that the topics are often quite dry or challenging. However what really sets Explanimate aside is their responsiveness, flexibility and ability to deliver on time and budget, every time. Keep up the great work Explanimate!

Are there any areas for improvement?

As per previous comment - there is a reason i keep going back to Explanimate for projects requiring similar deliverables.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Safe Food Queensland is the state regulator for primary production and processing of meat, eggs, dairy, seafood and seed sprouts. As Communications Manager, I lead the execution of Safe Food's communications strategy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explanimate!?

Animated videos for online training courses

What were your goals for this project?

To engage viewers, distill down concepts and ideas, and solidify learning outcomes of the course.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose them through an introductory call, portfolio, and an estimate for the proposed work.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They were hired for developing the overall look and feel of our videos, storyboarding, developing, and editing animation. We would write the script and send it to them, along with a recorded voice-over.

From there, they would storyboard the video and supply it to me for feedback. I would make some edits and they would provide a second version of the storyboard. I would give the green light to move into production. They would supply the video for review, with 2-3 background music options. Final edits would be provided along with music preference. The final version of the video would be supplied for download.

What was the team composition?

From the vendor, there were one to two designers/animators. From the client-side, there was a communication manager and project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have had over 100 dairy processors subscribe to our online courses, which have achieved a 5/5 star rating. While we didn't use animation throughout the entire course, we did offer at least one animated video in each module. Feedback about the overall quality of the course was very high and we are confident that the animation contributed to this.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective team collaboration. We have been delighted with the quality of work and their ability to visualize technical concepts in a fun and engaging way. Dave and his team are very open to ideas, but also work well with ambiguity.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to visualize technical concepts in a fun and engaging way and work well with ambiguity amazed us. They also understood our budget constraints and found ways to control costs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, they were always very accommodating with us and patient when there was a bit more feedback that normal.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Swash Project Delivery - successfully and sustainably delivers dredging and beach nourishment projects, programs and strategies for the benefit of the environment, community, client and regulators.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explanimate!?

We wanted to created a series of simple explainer animation videos on various sand management systems around Australia.

What were your goals for this project?

To develop 3 - 4, 30 second animation videos.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reviewed various animation / motion graphic providers. Explanimate!'s website was engaging and I felt a connection with their approach to projects.

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

Explanimate! ended up delivering 4 x 60-90 second, high quality animation videos and 3 semi-static maps all within the original budget - great value for money!

Explanimate! explained the process of scripts and storyboards in simple terms and used their initiative and skills to develop into animations from there. There was no fuss with minor amendments and deliverables were on time as promised.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Explanimate! clearly articulated the project schedule and budget. Constant communication was maintained through emails, Zoom meetings and provision of draft animations for review.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Explanimate! has provided AWESOME, high quality animation deliverables which has exceeded my expectations. They used initiative, were responsive, friendly and 'on the same page' throughout the project.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very! Explanimate and Swash Project Delivery both knew their roles and contributed accordingly to the success of these animations. Constant communication and prompt input and deliverables were key.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Explanimate! was invested in this project, and provided prompt and constant communication and deliverables. The end products were 'first class' and above our expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can see!