Do It Yourself Animated Business Explainer Videos for Marketers

Can VideoMakerFX and EasySketchPro
turn you into an Animated Video Producer?

Animated Business Explainer Videos are going from strength to strength as THE marketing tool for just about anything. Anyone who has done the research knows that hiring a studio to create animated videos is expensive. Whilst there are cheaper options, like my own Animation 4 Business service the promise of being able to make an animated video yourself isn't one to be ignored.

You can try online services such as GoAnimate, PowToon, Moovly, Wideo and others but most have ongoing fees and won't turn you into an accomplished video director without some serious time spent learning their studio.

Two software products that I came across recently and purchased are being promoted to marketers as the ultimate tools for creating animated business explainer videos, Video Maker FX and Easy Sketch Pro.

Full disclaimer: As I said I purchased both these products but I am not an affiliate. Clicking my links to these products won't earn me a cent. I will also say that I haven't used either since my initial purchase and general exploration of how each allows you to create animated video.

My general impression of both tools is that they're both good at what they do. Both will let you work from templates and clip-art to help you produce professional looking animations. Both are very easy to grasp the basics of quickly. Both are affordable and have after sale ongoing up-sells that are optional.

Video Maker FX is a more general purpose system based around customizing existing animation templates with your own information and images. There are a number templates styles including the currently popular whiteboard style. You can also pick and choose from different templates just the bits you need. If you do have a creative flare you could go fully custom and produce something from scratch.

Sample Video created with Video Maker FX.

Easy Sketch Pro is specifically designed to create whiteboard style animations. Instead of templates it gives you access to an extensive library of clip art and animations optimized to work well with the studio. They also show you how to create your own clip-art images making it possible to create completely custom animations from scratch.

Sample Video created with Easy Sketch Pro.

I'm actually quite impressed by both systems and I'm not disappointed I bought them. If you just wanted to create whiteboard animations then Easy Sketch Pro does that better than Video Maker FX (as you would expect of software dedicated to that style). If you see yourself looking to create videos in several styles then Video Maker FX will probably serve you well.

The one thing neither software will do is turn you into a video designer within minutes.

The reality is, no matter what do-it-yourself system you ultimately choose, you won't make an effective animated video quickly... and, if you don't have any sense for design, you'll be stuck with trying to adapt templates to your needs. Which can actually be more time consuming than time saving if you're struggling to adapt something suitable.

However, if you take the time to write a script, plan a storyboard, and then put some care into creating your video, either tool could give you effective animated videos for a fraction of the cost. They are worth looking into if you have some talent for design and/or film making and you don't mind putting in a few hours to learn the basics of the software.

Eight 2D Animation Apps For Your Phone or Tablet Mobile Device

M obile productivity apps have become so capable that they can be great alternatives to their PC/MAC equivalents or serve as great tools in their own right when you're away from your desk. While some apps simply mimic their desktop counterparts, others offer well thought out, touch-friendly interfaces that are easier and more fun to use. Every so often I check out what's available for 2D animation for Android devices, since that's what I use, that can complement my workflow with Reallusion's Cartoon Animator 5. Some may be available for Apple devices as well. Below I've listed six free (F) apps (with optional paid (P) upgrades) on the Google Play Store that you might want to explore. Some are just fun apps on their own while others may be useful as part of your workflow on bigger animation projects. Not all are exclusively animation apps and could be used on any production. JotterPad (F/P) The name JotterPad makes this sound like a notepad application but it's ...

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Animation and Video Life

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