Animated Custom Explainer Videos and Why They Matter
Animation companies in Johannesburg are playing a growing role in helping businesses communicate clearly, creatively and effectively. As more people turn to video to learn, explore and make decisions, animated custom explainer videos have become one of the most trusted tools for education, marketing and internal communication. These short, visually engaging videos simplify complex ideas and turn them into stories that people can understand, remember and act on.
Animated explainer videos are not just a trend. They are a practical response to how people consume information today. Whether a business wants to explain a service, introduce a product, train staff or guide customers, animation offers a flexible and powerful way to do it. In South Africa’s competitive digital space, explainer videos help brands stand out while creating clarity and trust with their audience.
What Are Animated Custom Explainer Videos and How They Work
Animation companies in Johannesburg define animated custom explainer videos as short, story-driven videos that explain a problem, introduce a solution and highlight key benefits through animated visuals and narration. These videos usually run between one and two minutes and are designed to hold attention without overwhelming the viewer. They use visual storytelling to break down complex topics into clear, easy-to-follow steps.
These videos are carefully structured to guide the viewer through a logical journey. Instead of overwhelming audiences with too much information, they focus on clarity, relevance and simplicity. This allows viewers to quickly understand what is being explained and why it matters to them.
Animated custom explainer videos typically:
- Introduce a relatable problem or challenge
- Present a clear solution through animation
- Highlight key benefits in a visual way
- Use narration to guide understanding
- End with a clear outcome or next step
At their core, explainer videos are built around three main ideas. First, they identify a challenge the viewer relates to. Then they show how a product, service or process solves that challenge. Finally, they highlight the positive outcome. This simple structure makes them highly effective for websites, landing pages, onboarding platforms, presentations and social platforms.
Because they are custom-made, every element from characters to colour and tone can be aligned with the brand message. This level of control ensures consistency, clarity and strong audience connection, which is why many animation companies in Johannesburg recommend explainer videos as a foundation for digital communication.
Why Animated Custom Explainer Videos Are So Effective
There is a reason animation companies in Johannesburg continue to recommend explainer videos across so many industries. The human brain processes visuals far faster than text, and people are far more likely to remember information they have both seen and heard. Animation allows businesses to combine sound, movement and storytelling into one powerful message that stays with the viewer.
Explainer videos also remove common communication barriers. They reduce confusion, eliminate heavy technical language and replace complexity with clarity. This makes them ideal for audiences with different knowledge levels and learning preferences.
Animated explainer videos are effective because they:
- Hold attention through movement and sound
- Improve understanding through visual learning
- Increase memory retention
- Simplify complex information
- Create emotional connection through storytelling
Explainer videos are also highly adaptable. They can be playful or serious, technical or simple, formal or friendly. This flexibility means they work equally well for customer education, internal training, awareness campaigns and sales support.
Because the content is visual, it increases understanding even for audiences with different learning styles. This makes animated explainers especially useful in South Africa where businesses often communicate with diverse audiences across industries and cultures.
The Most Common Styles of Animated Explainer Videos
Animation companies in Johannesburg typically work across several popular explainer video styles, each serving different communication needs. Motion graphics focus on animated text, charts and icons to explain data-driven or abstract concepts clearly. These are often used for corporate messaging, statistics and process explanations.
2D character animation uses illustrated characters and backgrounds to tell relatable stories. This style is popular for onboarding, marketing and educational videos because it feels human and approachable. Whiteboard animation uses hand-drawn visuals appearing in real time, which works well for step-by-step explanations and training. 3D animation adds depth and realism, making it useful for product demonstrations, simulations and technical visuals. Each style serves a purpose and the best choice depends on the message being delivered.
Business Benefits of Custom Animated Explainer Videos
From a business perspective, the value of animated explainer videos goes far beyond visual appeal. One of their biggest strengths is their ability to simplify complex ideas. Instead of forcing people to read long documents or instructions, businesses can communicate the same information in a few clear minutes of video.
They also support consistency in communication. Once created, an explainer video delivers the same message every time it is watched, which helps avoid miscommunication and keeps messaging aligned across teams and platforms.
Custom animated explainer videos help businesses to:
- Simplify complex services and processes
- Build trust and credibility
- Improve customer understanding
- Strengthen brand recognition
- Support sales and marketing efforts
- Improve staff training and onboarding
Explainer videos also help build trust and credibility. When a brand takes the time to educate its audience clearly and honestly, it positions itself as helpful and reliable. These videos can improve conversion rates by guiding viewers through a decision using storytelling and clear calls to action.
They also support brand visibility online since video content is highly shareable and keeps people engaged for longer. This long-term value makes animated explainer videos a smart communication investment for businesses of all sizes.
Practical Use Cases for Animated Explainer Videos in South Africa
Animation companies in Johannesburg regularly create explainer videos for a wide range of real-world applications. Product and service explanations remain the most common use. These videos show how something works, why it is useful and what makes it different, all in a simple visual format.
Explainer videos are also widely used for onboarding and training. New staff members can learn processes, systems and company culture through engaging animation rather than static manuals. Customer support teams use animated videos to answer frequently asked questions and reduce confusion. Businesses also use them for internal communication, event presentations and even investor education. The adaptability of explainer videos makes them valuable across almost every industry in South Africa.
The Animated Explainer Video Production Process Explained
Working with animation companies in Johannesburg usually follows a clear three-stage production process. The goal of this process is to ensure that each explainer video is planned properly, produced professionally and refined for clarity and impact.
Each stage plays a critical role in shaping the final quality of the video. Skipping steps often leads to confusion, weak storytelling or technical issues.
The explainer video production process includes:
- Concept development
- Scriptwriting
- Storyboarding
- Asset creation
- Animation and motion design
- Voice recording
- Editing and sound mixing
The first stage is pre-production. This is where the concept is developed, the script is written, the story is structured and the voice style is planned. This stage is critical because it defines the clarity and flow of the final video.
The second stage is production. This includes the creation of visual assets, character animation, motion design, sound effects and voice recording. The third stage is post-production where everything is refined. This includes editing, sound mixing, colour adjustments and final rendering. A structured production process ensures the final video is clear, polished and purposeful.
Why Custom Animation Delivers Better Results Than Generic Video
It is tempting to think that any video will do the job, but custom animation creates a far stronger impact. Unlike generic stock video, custom animated explainer videos are designed specifically around the brand message, audience and goals. This means the storytelling feels relevant, accurate and intentional.
Custom animation also saves time and resources in the long run. There is no need for physical locations, presenters or reshoots. Updates can be made easily, and the video can be reused across many platforms for years. This makes animated explainer videos a long-term communication asset rather than a once-off piece of content.
The Growing Role of Animation in Modern Digital Communication
Animation companies in Johannesburg are seeing demand grow because audiences increasingly expect content that is both informative and engaging. People want quick answers, clear explanations and visuals that help them understand without effort. Animation delivers exactly that by turning information into experiences rather than just messages.
As businesses continue to move more of their communication online, animated explainer videos will remain one of the most practical tools available. They educate without overwhelming, sell without pressure and inform without confusion. This balance is what makes them so valuable in modern business communication.
Which Animation Studios Offer Custom Explainer Videos for Businesses?
We specialise in creating custom explainer videos for businesses by combining strong visual storytelling with advanced production capabilities. As one of the established animation companies in Johannesburg, with a presence in Cape Town and the UK, we use over a decade of content production experience, cinema-grade workstations and our in-house rendering farm to deliver high-quality animated explainer videos efficiently. These resources allow us to create visually compelling, interactive explainer videos that clearly communicate complex messages while standing out in a competitive digital space. Our approach ensures that every explainer video is not only engaging but also designed to communicate business messages with clarity and impact.
We offer a broad range of animation services that directly support custom explainer video production. Our 2D character animation is ideal for bringing business messages to life through relatable characters and clear storytelling. Our 3D character animation allows for immersive, lifelike visuals that make detailed or complex subjects easier to understand and more engaging. Whiteboard animation supports clear, structured explanations for systems, processes and educational content, while infographic animation transforms complex data into accessible visual information for business communication. Our motion graphic animation strengthens explainer videos through smooth animated design elements that simplify messaging, and our 3D accident recreation enhances training and safety communication through accurate, detailed visualisation. Each of these services feeds directly into our ability to produce tailored, effective custom explainer videos for businesses across a wide range of needs.
Oliver Karstel Creative Agency: Bringing Your Message to Life With Animated Custom Explainer Videos
Animation companies in Johannesburg continue to shape how businesses communicate by transforming complex ideas into stories people can understand and trust. Animated custom explainer videos do more than look good. They simplify, educate, engage and guide audiences toward meaningful action. From training and onboarding to marketing and customer support, these videos play a powerful role in business growth and clarity.
As the demand for visual communication grows across South Africa, explainer videos offer an accessible, versatile and effective way to connect with audiences at every stage of the journey. When used correctly, they become trusted tools that build understanding, confidence and long-term value.
If you are ready to bring your message to life through animated custom explainer videos, we would love to help. At Oliver Karstel Creative Agency, we work closely with our clients to transform ideas into clear, engaging visual stories that truly connect. Get in touch with us today to explore how we can turn your message into animation that informs, inspires and delivers real results.
