#Animated Videos

[itsvivekgupta05]

🎉🇮🇳 Congratulations to Manu Bhaker for making history at the Paris 2024 Olympics! 🥉

Manu clinched the bronze in the Women's Air Pistol event and also with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, becoming the first Indian woman to win two medals in an Olympics. Your dedication and hard work have made India proud! 🙌👏

#75seconds#paris2024#olympics#parisolympics2024#teamindia#shootingstar#proudmoment#manubhaker#cheersforbharat#explainervideos#animatedvideos#explainervideocompany

[object-obsession]

Alan Becker > YouTube, mathematical notations

Inanimate Object Characters List | Entry: 62

I understand that this is just two videos and they're not even actual objects, but everything about these videos is PERFECT.

The YouTube one was cool and inventive. I adore such ideas wherein a commonly used thing (whether an object or, like in this case, a service) becomes hostile - especially when it's something I'm familiar with, too. The mathematics one was impressive and mesmerizing. And believe me, I'm not saying this as a nerd; as a matter of fact, I had to watch explanation videos to understand all of it and this is practically one of the FEW things I like that is mathematics related.

Go watch the both of them.

Videos: Animation vs. YouTube (2017), Animation vs. Math (2023)

[charlesdominic]

Make $1000 per Month To Creating Killer 3D and Animated Videos. The Ultimate Guide to Creating Killer 3D and Animated Videos

[squideo]

How to Write a Script for a Video

Not all videos require a script, but when they do it’s important to hit a number of key points within the required timeframe whilst keeping your audience engaged. The script informs the storyboard and final visuals, so it’s important to perfect the script before moving onto the next production stage. 

At Squideo, we provide optional copywriting under our whitelabel services. Alternatively, we offer copywriting assistance for clients who want to produce their own script but need help with optimisation – for example, reducing the length, refining the tone and keeping the language consistent. 

To delve into the world of copywriting, we’re having a conversation with Squideo’s resident Copywriter and Marketing Executive. 

01. How long should a video script be?

That depends on how long the video will be! We work on a rule of thumb at Squideo – 70 words per 30 seconds. If your video is going to be a minute long, the script should be 140 words. If it’s five minutes long, that goes up to 700 words. 

We calculated this by analysing the videos in our archives and looking at the words per minute speed of our voice over artists. There is room for variation, however. Typically we have a 10 word margin around this figure to ensure the script doesn’t stop awkwardly. The viewer should be left wanting more, not wondering why the feed cut out!

No matter the length of your video, it’s important to hit some key points as early as possible. Plenty of research has been done about the average view time of videos by different demographics on different platforms. A video needs to hook viewers as quickly as possible to increase the overall view time.  Try to mention:

The company or organisation’s name

Product or service name

Slogan

One or more unique selling points (USPs)

By including these points early on, you are certain that the audience has come away having learnt something about you even if they don’t watch the entire video. 

02. What is your process for writing a video script?

Squideo’s projects start with a kick-off call. This gives the client the chance to meet the Production Manager, who will be the primary liaison, and a Video Producer, who will work on the visuals. If they have asked for copywriting or copywriting assistance, I will also join the call. 

I have a list of questions that I need to ask before I can start creating a video script. Depending on how much information the client has already provided prior to the call some of these may already be answered, but it’s always helpful to confirm these details.

In the kick-off call, I like to ask:

About the company or organisation

For an overview of the client’s video idea

About the video’s key message and its aim

Where the video will be uploaded and who the target audience is

Whether it should be written in British English, American English, Australian English etc.

What tone the script should have

If there is any language I should include, such as a slogan or tagline

What the call-to-action will be

The call also gives the client an opportunity to ask the team questions, learn about our revisions process and put faces to the people they will work with on the project. 

03. Do you need to choose a voice over artist before writing the script?

Not necessarily. 

Sometimes the script can inform the choice of voice over artist. Once the video’s narrative is on paper and the tone has become clear, your choice of voice over artist might change to better match this script.

Alternatively, if you have a firm decision about the voice over artist early on in the process – perhaps voiced by yourself or someone on your team – this can give the script great direction in tone as it needs to reflect this language pattern. 

04. What do you mean by tone?

The tone of a video is the style of language it will use. That doesn’t only mean the dialect of English (British or American, for example), but also the presence you want your narrator to have. 

A corporate tone would use formal or semi-formal language. It might use more technical language for a specialist audience. 

A reassuring tone is friendly and upbeat. 

An energetic tone is friendlier and relies on shorter, catchier language to keep the viewer engaged. It works well in adverts or educational videos.

A serious tone is informative and eschews sales language to focus on delivering key facts. 

Have a look at the example below. These scripts have been written for the same company, but the tone is different. 

Scripts can incorporate multiple tones to match your organisation’s brand. 

05. How long does it take to write a script?

How long is a piece of string?

There are two main factors that effect the speed of copywriting: 

How large or small the total word count is.

Whether all the details needed to write the script have been provided by the client(s). 

Taking these factors into consideration, Squideo’s Production Manager creates a schedule for our team and the client for key production targets and receiving client feedback. We have an average turnaround of 6-8 weeks, varying depending on the length of the project. 

Typically the storyboard is produced shortly after the script and both documents are sent together so the client can get a feel of how the two will work together. The client can then come back with revisions to the script and/or storyboard, which will be implemented then resubmitted for the client’s approval. 

[frontmansdefender]

[wackom]

The Beast that Bothers

[justcatposts]

My 11-month male cat lets my foster kittens nurse on him.

(Source)

[ripe]

kittenheavenpov on tiktok

[k-eke]

Cursed cats!

[saeriibon]

tribute to jerboas

[retrogamingblog2]

[squideo]

6 Tips For Choosing The Perfect Voice Over for Your Animation

The majority of Squideo’s videos feature a voice over. This narrative guides the viewer through the video’s story. A voice over can add extra information to that shown visually, clarify complicated points and boost viewer engagement. 

There are a lot of benefits to adding a voice over to your video, but how do you choose the perfect one for you? Read on for our six top tips to help you make the right decision.

Too big a responsibility? Squideo offers a range of voice over options. Get in touch with the team and we’ll help you find the right one for your project.

Squideo's Top 6 Tips

01. Agency vs. Freelance

Voice over artists typically work for an agency or work freelance. Freelancers can be sourced on websites like Fiverr and Freelancer. 

Regardless of where you find a voice over artist, the first step is to ensure they are offering quality services. Their website or profile should have multiple example recordings available for you to listen to. These will demonstrate the range of tones and accents they offer. 

Listen carefully to ensure they are using good quality recording equipment. If the quality is poor, it will also drag down the quality of the video it’s attached to. 

02. Follow the Budget

The next consideration is your budget. Some voice over artists can charge a lot for their services, especially if they’ve been working for a long time and have put their voice to notable work. With this price comes a lot of experience, however, and professionalism. 

To find the right artist for your budget, collect estimates from several sources before making your decision. 

03. Pick a Tone

At Squideo, one of the first questions we ask a new client is “what tone do you want?” What this means is, do you want a video that’s corporate and formal? Something neutral and easily accessible? Maybe the tone should be energetic and friendly?

Getting an answer to this question doesn’t just inform the script and visuals, it also gives us an idea of the type of voice over you’re looking for. 

To decide on the right tone for your business, ask yourself two questions: 

What tone reflects your brand?

What tone will your target audience respond to?

Once you have the answers to these questions, the correct tone for your video will become obvious. 

04. Do You Want a Dialect?

We’re narrowing down the search to find the perfect voice over for your animation, but there’s three more things to consider. Next up is the choice between a generic accent or a specific regional dialect. 

If you’re targeting a large audience, a generic accent is usually the best call. For a UK video, this would be received pronunciation (RP) – also known as Queen’s English, BBC English or Oxford English. It is clear and commonly heard, making it likely that the majority of people will be able to understand the voice over without any issues. 

Or perhaps you want something more distinctive? If you’re a local or regional company which delivers services to a niche market, you may want a voice over that reflects the accent of your customers. 

05. Pick a Gender

The penultimate question is a little trickier. Gender. 

For some videos, the gender of the voice over artist is interchangeable while in others the audience may respond better to one or the other. This will vary depending on your audience, so do your target research here. 

A study by CXL in 2016 found that female voice overs were considered more “trustworthy” than male voice overs. In 2003 the Journal of Advertising also found that male targeted or gender-neutral products could use either a male or female voice over without any impact on the audience’s reaction. When it came to female targeted products, however, gender mattered much more and audiences preferred a female voice over.

There’s also the option to use both. If your video features dialogue between multiple characters, using female and male artists can help the audience differentiate who is speaking. Of course, this can drive up the costs!

06. Let the Company Speak

The final question is whether you want to hire a professional voice over artist at all. For B2Bs, using the voice of someone from your company can add a personal touch that customers will better connect to. However, this is not the easiest undertaking and can be costlier than hiring a professional. 

Professional voice over artists supply their own recording equipment and are familiar with audio editing. Take into consideration that these are responsibilities you will have to take over. It’s important to use high quality recording equipment to ensure the recording is usable in the video. Anything of too low a quality might be rejected on hosting sites.