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  • Top 15 Ninety-Second Explainer Videos for Business

    Do explainer videos work? Yes, like magic, as long as thoughts and creativity while making them are engaging and targeted. It is a known fact that videos for business can result  exponentially when compared to other forms of marketing or branding efforts. We already touched upon some of the benefits of business explainer videos and our favourites in terms of the best b2b explainer videos.

    Here’s taking it a step ahead with the top 90-second explainer videos that we think cut the clutter.

    Why create explainer videos?

    1. Introduction Introduction of b2b explainer videos

    You want to introduce yourself, your business, brand, capabilities, services or products in the market.

    2. Explanation of b2b explainer videos

    You wish to suggest an existing problem to your target group and devise the best possible solution that aligns with the business offerings. Business explainer videos are a great way to communicate these solutions effectively.

    3. Problem-solving of b2b explainer videos

    You want the video to explain how an idea can help solve specific problems for your client’s customers.

    So, you have your heart set on creating an explainer video. The next question is – how long should an explainer video be?

    Why opt for a 90-second explainer video?

    Well, short and sweet is the way to go in this evolving ecosystem of business marketing. Thanks to the ever-reducing attention spans of people and the unwillingness to skim through lots of text or visual content, a well-crafted 90-second explainer video that delivers the message in less than a minute and a half can work like a charm for your business. While the length of the video would largely depend upon how much you want to say through it, it is best to choose 90 seconds as the length – since it is neither too long, nor too short.

    On that note, we have handpicked some of the best b2b explainer videos that did what they were supposed to do – to perfection.

    15 of best 90-second animated explainer videos for business

    We have shortlisted our favourite 90-second explainer videos below, along with reasons why we think they are so good. Read on!

    1. Zendesk Overview (Zendesk Software Explainer Video)

    This ebusiness explainer video introduces a customer service software using a fine blend of live action and graphics. The animation used in the video is clean and simple, aided by shots of real people merged seamlessly with the graphics.

    The screen demo helps the viewer to understand the working of the software and the unobtrusive-yet-catchy background score ensures that the narrative moves forward. The best thing about this video is that it connects with the viewer not just on a business level, but on a human level too.

     

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    2. What is Vibe-It? (B2B Explainer Video)

    This 90-second explainer video takes the problem:solution approach, presenting the problem right at the beginning. It then introduces the product, explains its features and USPs. The engaging visuals, voiceover, modern animation and vibrant colours used in the video add to its enthusiastic vibe.

    The video ends with a strong call-to-action. In Chris Zachary’s own words, “We wanted to explain the company and its revolutionary enterprise feedback software solutions.”

    The mission behind this b2b explainer video was to:
    – Communicate the solution clearly, simply, and beautifully
    – Attract investors
    – Create an informative visual face to the solution.

    The b2b explainer video manages to do all these things without breaking a sweat!

     

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    3. Spotify Montage – Digital Music Service (B2C Explainer Video)

    It’s not like Spotify needs to introduce itself to the world—it is already a raging hit amongst Apple users. So, the creators of this business explainer video decided to establish Spotify’s vibe with shapes, patterns, playful animation, bright colours, and, of course, vibrant music.

    It eventually goes on to cover some of its important features. The young and energetic visuals strike a chord almost immediately and it is no surprise that the company says its subscription numbers shot up big time after this 90-second explainer video campaign.

     

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    4. Introducing the Lemonade App

    Here is another business explainer video that demonstrates the capabilities of the product (in this case, an app) by showing it in action on the screen. The run-through or demo-type explainer video takes a step-wise approach, breaking it down for first-time viewers and giving them small nuggets to understand how the app works.

    The flowing animation ensures steady progress. An interesting aspect of this video is the smart usage of white space, a.k.a. negative space—it makes the visuals look clean and easy on the eye. This technique is also a hallmark of the best b2b explainer videos, where clarity and visual appeal are paramount. This is an example of how 90-second explainer videos can effectively convey information for those looking for concise content.

     

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    5. Sevenly: Infographic Animation

    A novel concept explained in simple words within few seconds – that is exactly what you would like your explainer video to do for you, isn’t it? This animated infographic-type explainer video works well because of its well-drafted script (content and voiceover). The minimalistic and uncluttered design and visuals work hand-in-hand with the voiceover.

     

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    6. Flazingo Animation – Your Complete Hiring System

    Here is an animated explainer that pitches an idea, reaches out to its target group and touches upon their key pain points by using great content and visuals. The working of the system is explained using modern animation techniques and graphics. It lets the viewer soak in the concept before stating the USPs and benefits for the user – all of it in less than a minute and a half!

     

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    7. Visual Recognition Technology

    A futuristic concept (that doesn’t seem to be too far away from now) called for a video that did justice to the idea being explained. This explainer video does complete justice to the novel concept (AI and visual recognition) by using smart and dynamic illustrations. The modernistic style of animation works well to explain the idea and get the viewer involved.

     

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    8. Thor Token / Brand Film

    Another explainer video that flows fluidly and seamlessly from one frame to another, this one makes use of simplistic and recognizable shapes and icons throughout its duration to state the problem, introduce the blockchain solution and talk about its features and benefits.

     

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    9. What is Google Voice?

    They say voice is the future of mobile phone technology and this Google Voice explainer video puts things into perspective with hand-drawn illustrations that are animated smartly.

    Simple, short and easy to comprehend, the video takes the tried and tested problem: solution approach. And while it explains the concept perfectly, the best part about this 90-second explainer video is that it does not try too hard to SELL the concept.

     

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    10. What is Parse?

    Knowing your audience is extremely important when you talk about creating an business explainer video that reaches out to them and connects with them. The Parse explainer video talks to app creators and coders in a language that they understand and can relate to.

    The visuals help on this front by using elements like grids and building blocks – getting the viewer involved right from the first second. The video is structured well regarding the introduction, problem statement, and solution, making it one of the best B2B explainer videos for its target audience. Whether you’re looking for 90-second explainer videos or something longer, focusing on these aspects ensures that the content resonates effectively.

     

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    11. What is Bitcoin?

    Perhaps the most-watched Bitcoin introduction video ever, this 90-second explainer video elucidates how Bitcoin works and why this paradigm shifting technology is important. The graphic elements and pop-up style of animation have been used well here.

     

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    12. The Amazing ZenCash Demo

    Hand-drawn illustrations or animation look and feel real and relatable. This business explainer video expertly uses this style. It states the problem right at the beginning before explaining how the solution can help solve it for the audience. For companies looking for the best b2b explainer videos, this 90-second explainer video is an excellent choice, offering a concise and engaging overview.

     

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    13. Personal Finance Management with Mint

    By far one of our favorite b2b explainer videos, the Mint video provides a step-wise explanation of how the solution works. The upbeat background score adds to the progression of the video and makes the animation feel more effective.

    While the colors, animation, and voiceover make the video great, we like it because it is unlike typical business explainer videos. The video not only explains what Mint is about but also demonstrates how it works and why one should choose it – thus making it one of the best b2b explainer videos we’ve seen. This 90-second explainer video is a complete package, showcasing the product effectively and engagingly.

     

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    14. Zip Schedules Explainer Video

    The only video in our top 15 picks that uses a central character well to explain a product or idea, the Zip Schedules business explainer video is fantastic for many reasons. The character “Tom” is shown going through his problems, making it relatable for the target group.

    The animation style is simple yet very effective. The slightly humorous approach, combined with everyday issues that managers face, makes this one of the best b2b explainer videos available. If you’re looking for impactful 90-second explainer videos, this example stands out as a prime choice.

     

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    15. Introduction to Traveloka App

    A colourful b2b explainer video that utilizes the power of animation and graphics to the fullest, this one is a winner. It not only manages to explain the app’s features in less than 1 minute and 35 seconds, but also makes a massive impact on the viewers, getting them interested in the product and the concept of hassle-free travel. The bright and friendly visuals are well used and ably supported by an effective VO and music.

     

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    What do you wish to achieve through your 90-second explainer video?

    You must define the goal of your animated corporate video before you outsource the video creation process to an explainer video company.

    • Views?
    • Clicks?
    • Inquiries?
    • Conversions?
    • Sales?
    • Brand awareness?

    Whatever your objective is, it needs to be mapped with the subject you are dealing with and the type of explainer video you should invest in. The next question is – which company should you go to?

    Whether you need a full-fledged business explainer video campaign or a single 90-second explainer video for your brand, product, or service, there are several things to consider before choosing a production company. For the best B2B explainer videos or a standout animated corporate video, make sure to evaluate the company’s experience and portfolio to ensure they align with your goals.

    Top things to consider while choosing an explainer video company

    1. History – Check out the company’s portfolio, projects and past work pages on their website. Their past record in creating explainer videos will give you a fair idea about their quality of work and clientele.

    2. Capability – Ask questions about the team, artists, technicians and people who would be working on your project. Ask questions about the software they use, the setup they have, etc. The longer a company has been in the explainer video market, the more experience and expertise they are likely to have.

    3. Pricing – The pricing of explainer videos may differ from company to company and would also vary depending on the type and length of video you require. Ask the company or studio for a proper quote according to the type of video.

    4. Delivery – How much time does it take to create a 90-second explainer video? Is the explainer video creation company capable enough to deliver a high-quality video in a short turnaround?

    Once you have satisfactory answers to all of the above questions, work out a plan to craft a custom explainer video for your needs and involve yourself in the process so you know how your video is turning out. Toolbox Studio is amongst the most sought-after explainer video production studios in Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe. Whether you’re looking for the best b2b explainer videos or need a concise 90-second explainer video, our expertise in creating engaging animated corporate videos ensures your message is delivered effectively.

  • A Sneak Peek into 5 of Our Latest VFX Projects

    Toolbox Studio is a name that is synonymous with specialized VFX solutions for all kinds of mainstream commercial productions, including Hollywood blockbusters like Maleficent, 300: Rise of an Empire, Jupiter Ascending and The Hunger Games.

    For over a decade, the company’s VFX division has delivered unparalleled visual effects services to the biggest of studios from the west and also worked on film, television and web series projects for clients peppered across three continents.

    They say the best way to judge the credibility, creativity and quality of a studio is by taking a look at the kind of work it keeps churning out consistently. Here’s a look at our VFX showreel, a short video that comprises of a collection of feature films and television productions that our expert team has worked on:

    On that note, we are taking you through some of our recent VFX projects and the work that went into making them visual masterpieces.

    1. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

    An adaptation of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, this tale of a half-witch, half-mortal girl is the stuff that outstanding comic books are made of! A series that has won hearts and awards in equal measure, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina required extensive VFX work, including rotoscopy and paint inputs, to bring its fantastical world to life. As one of the standout VFX projects in the horror-fiction and occult-fiction genres, it demanded meticulous attention to detail to do complete justice to its eerie and immersive storytelling. Produced by Warner Bros. Television in association with Berlanti Productions and Archie Comics, the saga was created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa for Netflix. Toolbox Studio takes great pride in having contributed to this much-loved production.

    2. Sacred Lies

    A gripping drama based on the popular novel The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes, this American web television series was one of our most challenging yet rewarding VFX projects. We delivered highly focused paint and roto solutions for this production, ensuring seamless visual storytelling

    3. Salvation

    A visual production that explores difficult genres such as science fiction, thriller, and drama presents an exciting challenge for VFX projects. To do justice to the stunning visuals required for Salvation, our VFX roto and paint specialists worked meticulously to achieve perfection in this American drama series.

    4. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

    When you hear the name “DC,” you instantly associate it with fantastic comics, dark narratives, and top-tier visual effects. Bringing this superhero-action series to life was one of our most ambitious VFX projects. Its science-fiction and time-travel elements required several intricate scenes to appear both jaw-dropping and realistic. Our roto team thoroughly enjoyed working on this American production, and seeing the on-screen results made it all the more rewarding.

    5. Arrow

    Superhero content demands nothing less than phenomenal visuals, making Arrow an exciting addition to our lineup of VFX projects. A series packed with vigilantism, crime, and high-octane action, Arrow was one of the most dynamic productions we have contributed to at Toolbox Studio. Developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg, we significantly crafted the stunning visual effects (roto and paint) for this series, based on the iconic DC Comics character, Green Arrow.

    About Toolbox Studio

    Toolbox Studio has always believed in offering highly specialized visual effects solutions – including Rotoscopy, Paint, Match Move and Compositing – by working tirelessly on achieving quality outputs. The fact that massive studios, VFX companies, VFX producers/supervisors and production houses trust us with their projects means that we are consistently considered as a frontrunner in the world of VFX outsourcing.

    Here are a few unwavering assurances that we offer as a VFX outsourcing partner to our clients:

    • Total data security (ISO 27001:2013 certified)
    • Adherence to MPAA guidelines
    • Competitive custom pricing
    • A dedicated team of expert VFX professionals, including producers, artists and technicians
    • Rapid and on-time deliveries
    • Highest quality of visual outputs
    • 24×7 support and constant communication about the project development

    If you have a project you would like to discuss in detail, get in touch with us.

  • Hybrid Animation and How It is Making an Impact in the Animation Industry

    While 2D was the purer and the original form of animation, advancements technology gave rise to the slicker and more well-rounded 3D style. The former is charming yet a little less engrossing, the latter is more engaging but can get a bit much. Both are great forms of animation and with their widespread prevalence in media today, be it ads, films, music videos or television series, animators have started thinking out of the box.

    Hybrid 2d 3d animation definition

    2D animation refers to the process of creating motion in a two-dimensional space. It is a traditional animation technique that has been used for decades to bring characters, objects, and environments to life on screens both big and small. In contrast to 3D animation, which involves creating a three-dimensional digital environment, 2D animation focuses on the manipulation of flat, two-dimensional images.

    In traditional 2D animation, each frame is hand-drawn or digitally created by artists. These individual frames are then sequenced together in rapid succession to create the illusion of movement. This method of animation has its roots in traditional hand-drawn cel animation, where transparent sheets called cells were used to create each frame. With the advancement of technology, digital tools and software have become popular for creating 2D animation, allowing for more flexibility and efficiency in the process.

    The core principle behind 2D animation is the concept of “keyframes” and “in-between frames.” Keyframes represent the significant poses or moments in the animation, while in-between frames are the intermediate frames that connect the keyframes, creating a smooth transition between them. Animators carefully craft these frames, paying attention to details such as timing, spacing, and movement, to bring the characters or objects to life with believable motion.

    This creative approach to animatronics has given birth to hybrid animation is a blend of the sensibilities of both two-dimensional and three-dimension styles.

    What is hybrid animation

    Hybrid animation refers to the blending of different animation techniques or styles to create a unique and visually engaging result. It combines elements from various animation approaches, such as traditional hand-drawn animation, computer-generated imagery (CGI), stop motion, or even live-action footage. The goal of hybrid animation is to leverage the strengths of each technique to enhance the overall visual storytelling.

    How Does Hybrid Animation Work?

    Hybrid animation is the blending of 2D and 3D animation thus, mixing two and three dimensions in the same frame to offer a unique visual perspective. 2D animation is traditionally known as hand-drawn or analogue animation, even though you can easily render in 2D on computers, and many creators do this today. The principle is still the same though. Each shot is created frame by frame in sequential order and then these images are placed in a timeline to create motion as it were.

    3D animation can be created using stop-motion and clay models or puppets, or can be entirely computer-generated using software such as Maya, 3DS Max, Blender, Houdini and Flash.

    As we mentioned earlier, the perspectives offered by the two disciplines have their own distinct visualizations, so creating an animation that utilizes both is quite challenging. But when executed well, the results can be absolutely breathtaking. There are different approaches one can take while blending these too, like having the background in 2D besides giving a 3D treatment to the protagonist or primary character or vice versa.

    The Impact of Hybrid Animation – Two Great (and well-known) Examples

    Here are two extremely famous examples of hybrid animation, that showcase how both these approaches can be taken.

    The Iron Giant –

    Created in 1999, this Warner Bros. Sci-Fi animation has become a bit of a cult classic today. Based on a 60s novel by the same name, the film has some huge names for voice characters including Vin Diesel for the Giant, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr and more. It is a charming tale of the friendship between a boy and a giant metal robot of sorts. Another great example of visual storytelling can be seen where the Iron Giant takes the exact opposite approach to Spirit (see below). Here, the backgrounds are rendered in 2D while the main characters are all three-dimensional.

    A quote from the film’s director (making his debut) and legend in animation circles today – Brad Bird – explains why this approach was taken and more of that in this archived Warner Bros ‘making of’ page for the movies. He says, “It is difficult for a human to draw a big, solid metallic object. Animators excel at drawing movement and living, fluid objects. The giant originates from a different world, so we chose to create the giant using computer animation, CGI, which would give him the mass and solidity and also give the impression that it’s from a different place. The separation between the 2D-animation and the CGI is something that helped establish the fish-out-of-water facet of the story.”

    While The Iron Giant swept home, nine awards at that year’s Annies (the top animation awards), the film itself didn’t get a great reception at the box office, largely due to WB’s lack of promotion. Though today, it is revered as one of the great examples in animated feature film history and is rightly lauded for its unique approach.

    Check out the trailer of its re-mastered version:

    Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron –

    This 2002 DreamWorks animation was set in the American Wild West in the 19th century and follows the adventures of the titular character, Spirit, a Mustang colt whose inner monologue is voiced by Matt Damon. It tells a story of immense leadership, courage, and friendship, as its themes. The film was nominated for an Oscar for best animation and is an absolute visual treat. Spirit uses lush, colourful 3D backgrounds, but the primary characters are all hand-drawn in traditional 2D style.

    A document written by Doug Cooper, the Digital Supervisor at DreamWorks Feature Animation explains the approach, saying, “The primary character in “Spirit” is a traditionally drawn 2D animated horse, which inhabits the richly detailed tapestry of the American Wild West at the turn of the century. The heavy use of 3D sets and camera moves brought an extra challenge to the traditional animators in needing to precisely match the sometimes subtle and slow perspective changes that occurred throughout a shot.” Fascinating, isn’t it?

    Here’s the trailer of the film so you can see what the final result was:

    These are just two seminal examples of an underrated-yet-prolific form of animation. While the challenges posed by this type of hybrid animation mean, it isn’t the most widely-used approach, the creators who dare to be brave may end up with a visual masterpiece akin to these two fine examples on their hands if they do venture in this direction.

    At Toolbox Studio, we are great proponents of novel approaches and techniques involved in filmmaking, especially when it comes to animation for films, television, advertisements and web productions. Take a look at our selection of some of the best animation projects we have worked on.

  • How Real-Time Rendering in VFX From Game Engines Is Altering The VFX Landscape

    While films and video games have been exploring and exploiting the capabilities of real-time visual effects or VFX tech for years now, both these media verticals have been achieving similar results through disparate paths. Though there’s been a sharing of technologies, the usage differs for both platforms. But of late, games are becoming increasingly visually stunning, and VFX-infused movies are becoming increasingly immersive, which has led these two worlds to finally overlap their functionality.

    The overlap has thus happened in the form of real-time rendering in VFX. Gamers will be intimately familiar with how this works. You enter a new arena, scene, map, or location and start moving around and things are just there. From buildings to objects to characters, you name it. Depending on the game and the perspective of the player, a lot of these elements react to specific interactions too, and we don’t think twice about how all of this is being displayed in real-time. Now, this same technology is coming into film production, and this turn of events have one catalyst – Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.

    Unreal Engine and how it all began

    Typically, games aren’t anywhere near as complex as films, as the computing power required to render everything we see in real life, in real-time, would be ginormous. Besides this, man-hour required to fine-tune basic things like lighting, depth of field, and compositing would be off the charts and unfeasible for game-makers. Epic Games changed all that with the launch of the Unreal Engine. While game developers have been using Unreal Engine since it has launched, to foster greater quality render in real-time, filmmakers are catching on, too.

    • The first example of this was a short called The Human Race which mixed live-action footage with a pair of CG cars rendered in real-time to create a fantastic real-time visual effects collaboration of the two, that was so seamless which took the viewers’ breath away. See for yourself.
    • Now coming to the cars, those are another victory for Unreal and real-time editing, and they harness the powers of a vehicle called The Blackbird. The Blackbird is a running and driving electric car whose length, dimensions, and performance can be changed based on the car you want it to mimic without needing the actual vehicle. It uses breathtaking tech like LIDAR, sensors and cameras to work together and recreate reflections, lighting changes and more. We’ll let the car makers explain it through this exciting video from Top Gear.

    Rogue One and K-2SO

    Moving away from the automotive side of things and into a full-fledged film set, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story used real-time rendering in VFX to create probably the film’s most iconic character, K-2SO. The droid had some great scenes and stole the hearts of millions of Star Wars fans. It was also rendered in real time using Unreal.

    An article on Polygon sheds more light onto how it all happened, paraphrasing John Knoll VFX Supervisor for the movie and what he said in his GDC 2017 keynote speech, “Knoll spoke at length about how Epic’s engine allowed the ILM team to render the beloved, sarcastic droid K-2SO in real time, bypassing the pre-rendering process. As a result, the team could see K-2SO on the screen during a specific scene instead of implementing the real-time rendering in VFX and editing after the fact. Knoll explained that achieving final pixels on screen helped with the production of Rogue One — and it marked the first time the studio could work with CGI.”

    Here are some highlights from the android’s appearances in the film so you can see the final product –

    Real-time Rendering in Ready Player One

    Unreal Engine and real-time rendering in VFX were also used to bring the sets of dystopian sci-fi Ready Player One to life. The Spielberg-directed movie gained widespread recognition for its cutting-edge graphics, particularly the depiction of the virtual world – The Oasis.

    As this Studio Daily piece reports, the legendary director himself said this was one of his most challenging projects:

    “The layers we had to achieve to put the OASIS on screen made it one of the most complicated things I’ve ever done,” said Spielberg. “There was motion-capture, live action, computer animation … It was really like making four movies at the same time.”

    He used a combination of MOCAP, virtual reality, and real-time rendering in VFX to create an entirely new world within the real world and make it look complex, immersive, and believable. The result, well, take a look and make up your mind.

    Expect more projects to harness Unreal Engine’s capabilities and shift to real-time rendering in VFX to make more spectacular in the coming years. This technology will only grow with time, delighting the taste buds of film-makers and fans.

    Need help with specialized and highly focused VFX solutions for a film, TV or web series project? Contact us at Toolbox Studio ,a pioneer in real-time visual effects outsourcing.

  • 17th Annual VES Awards: Nominees, Awardees & More

    This February 5th, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel (Beverly Hills, CA), the 2019 edition of the coveted VES Awards will be hosted to honor and celebrate the best of the best in the visual effects (VFX) and animation domain.

    VES (or Visual Effects Society), the industry’s professional global honorary association, has already announced the nominees for this prestigious set of awards that acknowledge and reward individuals’ and teams’ outstanding work in films, animation, television, commercials and video games. Chosen by members of VES through the events held in different geographies around the globe, these nominees are fighting it out for the much sought-after awards.

    Nominees for the 17th Annual VES Awards

    Divided into 24 distinct categories, here’s the complete list of nominees for the VES Awards 2019.

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

    1. Avengers: Infinity War
      • Dan DeLeeuw
      • Jen Underdahl
      • Kelly Port
      • Matt Aitken
      • Dan Sudick
    1. Christopher Robin
      • Chris Lawrence
      • Steve Gaub
      • Michael Eames
      • Glenn Melenhorst
      • Chris Corbould
    1. Ready Player One
      • Roger Guyett
      • Jennifer Meislohn
      • David Shirk
      • Matthew E. Butler
      • Neil Corbould
    1. Solo: A Star Wars Story
      • Rob Bredow
      • Erin Dusseault
      • Matt Shumway
      • Patrick Tubach
      • Dominic Tuohy
    1. Welcome to Marwen
      • Kevin Baillie
      • Sandra Scott
      • Seth Hill
      • Marc Chu
      • James Paradis

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

    1. 12 Strong
      • Roger Nall
      • Robert Weaver
      • Mike Meinardus
    1. Bird Box
      • Marcus Taormina
      • David Robinson
      • Mark Bakowski
      • Sophie Dawes
      • Mike Meinardus
    1. Bohemian Rhapsody
      • Paul Norris
      • Tim Field
      • May Leung
      • Andrew Simmonds
    1. First Man
      • Paul Lambert
      • Kevin Elam
      • Tristan Myles
      • Ian Hunter
      • JD Schwalm
    1. Outlaw King
      • Alex Bicknell
      • Dan Bethell
      • Greg O’Connor
      • Stefano Pepin

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature

    1. Seuss’ The Grinch
      • Pierre Leduc
      • Janet Healy
      • Bruno Chauffard
      • Milo Riccarand
    1. Incredibles 2
      • Brad Bird
      • John Walker
      • Rick Sayre
      • Bill Watral
    1. Isle of Dogs
      • Mark Waring
      • Jeremy Dawson
      • Tim Ledbury
      • Lev Kolobov
    1. Ralph Breaks the Internet
      • Scott Kersavage
      • Bradford Simonsen
      • Ernest J. Petti
      • Cory Loftis
    1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
      • Joshua Beveridge
      • Christian Hejnal
      • Danny Dimian
      • Bret St. Clair

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode

    1. Altered Carbon; Out of the Past
      • Everett Burrell
      • Tony Meagher
      • Steve Moncur
      • Christine Lemon
      • Joel Whist
    1. Krypton; The Phantom Zone
      • Ian Markiewicz
      • Jennifer Wessner
      • Niklas Jacobson
      • Martin Pelletier
    1. Lost in Space; Danger, Will Robinson
      • Jabbar Raisani
      • Terron Pratt
      • Niklas Jacobson
      • Joao Sita
    1. The Terror; Go For Broke
      • Frank Petzold
      • Lenka Líkařová
      • Viktor Muller
      • Pedro Sabrosa
    1. Westworld; The Passenger
      • Jay Worth
      • Elizabeth Castro
      • Bruce Branit
      • Joe Wehmeyer
      • Michael Lantieri

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode

    1. The Alienist; The Boy on the Bridge
      • Kent Houston
      • Wendy Garfinkle
      • Steve Murgatroyd
      • Drew Jones
      • Paul Stephenson
    1. The Deuce; We’re All Beasts
      • Jim Rider
      • Steven Weigle
      • John Bair
      • Aaron Raff
    1. The First; Near and Far
      • Karen Goulekas
      • Eddie Bonin
      • Roland Langschwert
      • Bryan Godwin
      • Matthew James Kutcher
    1. The Handmaid’s Tale; June
      • Brendan Taylor
      • Stephen Lebed
      • Winston Lee
      • Leo Bovell
    1. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan; Pilot
      • Erik Henry
      • Matt Robken
      • Bobo Skipper
      • Deak Ferrand
      • Pau Costa

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project

    1. Age of Sail
      • John Kahrs
      • Kevin Dart
      • Cassidy Curtis
      • Theresa Latzko
    1. Cycles
      • Jeff Gipson
      • Nicholas Russell
      • Lauren Nicole Brown
      • Jorge E. Ruiz Cano
    1. Grordbort’s Invaders
      • Greg Broadmore
      • Mhairead Connor
      • Steve Lambert
      • Simon Baker
    1. God of War
      • Maximilian Vaughn Ancar
      • Corey Teblum
      • Kevin Huynh
      • Paolo Surricchio
    1. Marvel’s Spider-Man
      • Grant Hollis
      • Daniel He Wang
      • Seth Faske
      • Abdul Bezrati

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial

    1. Beyond Good and Evil 2
      • Maxime Luere
      • Leon Berelle
      • Remi Kozyra
      • Dominique Boidin
    1. John Lewis; The Boy and the Piano
      • Kamen Markov
      • Philip Whalley
      • Anthony Bloor
      • Andy Steele
    1. McDonald’s; #ReindeerReady
      • Ben Cronin
      • Josh King
      • Gez Wright
      • Suzanne Jandu
    1. S. Marine Corps; A Nation’s Call
      • Steve Drew
      • Nick Fraser
      • Murray Butler
      • Greg White
      • Dave Peterson
    1. Volkswagen; Born Confident
      • Carsten Keller
      • Anandi Peiris
      • Dan Sanders
      • Fabian Frank

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project

    1. Beautiful Hunan: Flight of the Phoenix
      • R. Rajeev
      • Suhit Saha
      • Arish Fyzee
      • Unmesh Nimbalkar
    1. Childish Gambino’s Pharos
      • Keith Miller
      • Alejandro Crawford
      • Thelvin Cabezas
      • Jeremy Thompson
    1. DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda
      • Marc Scott
      • Doug Cooper
      • Michael Losure
      • Alex Timchenko
    1. Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
      • André Montambeault
      • Marie-Josée Paradis
      • Alyson Lamontagne
      • David Bishop Noriega
    1. Pearl Quest
      • Eugénie von Tunzelmann
      • Liz Oliver
      • Ian Spendloff
      • Ross Burgess

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature

    1. Avengers: Infinity War; Thanos
      • Jan Philip Cramer
      • Darren Hendler
      • Paul Story
      • Sidney Kombo-Kintombo
    1. Christopher Robin; Tigger
      • Arslan Elver
      • Kayn Garcia
      • Laurent Laban
      • Mariano Mendiburu
    1. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom; Indoraptor
      • Jance Rubinchik
      • Ted Lister
      • Yannick Gillain
      • Keith Ribbons
    1. Ready Player One; Art3mis
      • David Shirk
      • Brian Cantwell
      • Jung-Seung Hong
      • Kim Ooi

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature

    1. Seuss’ The Grinch; The Grinch
      • David Galante
      • François Boudaille
      • Olivier Luffin
      • Yarrow Cheney
    1. Incredibles 2; Helen Parr
      • Michal Makarewicz
      • Ben Porter
      • Edgar Rodriguez
      • Kevin Singleton
    1. Ralph Breaks the Internet; Ralphzilla
      • Dong Joo Byun
      • Dave K. Komorowski
      • Justin Sklar
      • Le Joyce Tong
    1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; Miles Morales
      • Marcos Kang
      • Chad Belteau
      • Humberto Rosa
      • Julie Bernier Gosselin

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Animated Character in an Episode or Real-Time Project

    1. Cycles; Rae
      • Jose Luis Gomez Diaz
      • Edward Everett Robbins III
      • Jorge E. Ruiz Cano
      • Jose Luis -Weecho- Velasquez
    1. Lost in Space; Humanoid
      • Chad Shattuck
      • Paul Zeke
      • Julia Flanagan
      • Andrew McCartney
    1. Marvel’s Spider-Man; Doc Ock
      • Brian Wyser
      • Henrique Naspolini
      • Sophie Brennan
      • William Salyers
    1. Nightflyers; All That We Have Found; Eris
      • Peter Giliberti
      • James Chretien
      • Ryan Cromie
      • Cesar Dacol Jr.

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Animated Character in a Commercial

    1. McDonald’s; Bobbi the Reindeer
      • Gabriela Ruch Salmeron
      • Joe Henson
      • Andrew Butler
      • Joel Best
    1. Overkill’s The Walking Dead; Maya
      • Jonas Ekman
      • Goran Milic
      • Jonas Skoog
      • Henrik Eklundh
    1. Peta; Best Friend; Lucky
      • Bernd Nalbach
      • Emanuel Fuchs
      • Sebastian Plank
      • Christian Leitner
    1. Volkswagen; Born Confident; Bam
      • David Bryan
      • Chris Welsby
      • Fabian Frank
      • Chloe Dawe

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature

    1. Ant-Man and the Wasp; Journey to the Quantum Realm
      • Florian Witzel
      • Harsh Mistri
      • Yuri Serizawa
      • Can Yuksel
    1. Aquaman; Atlantis
      • Quentin Marmier
      • Aaron Barr
      • Jeffrey De Guzman
      • Ziad Shureih
    1. Ready Player One; The Shining, Overlook Hotel
      • Mert Yamak
      • Stanley Wong
      • Joana Garrido
      • Daniel-Ștefan Gagiu
    1. Solo: A Star Wars Story; Vandor Planet
      • Julian Foddy
      • Christoph Ammann
      • Clément Gérard
      • Pontus Albrecht

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature

    1. Seuss’ The Grinch; Whoville
      • Loic Rastout
      • Ludovic Ramière
      • Henri Deruer
      • Nicolas Brack
    1. Incredibles 2; Parr House
      • Christopher M. Burrows
      • Philip Metschan
      • Michael Rutter
      • Joshua West
    1. Ralph Breaks the Internet; Social Media District
      • Benjamin Min Huang
      • Jon Kim Krummel II
      • Gina Warr Lawes
      • Matthias Lechner
    1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; Graphic New York City
      • Terry Park
      • Bret St. Clair
      • Kimberly Liptrap
      • Dave Morehead

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project

    1. Cycles; The House
      • Michael R.W. Anderson
      • Jeff Gipson
      • Jose Luis Gomez Diaz
      • Edward Everett Robbins III
    1. Lost in Space; Pilot; Impact Area
      • Philip Engström
      • Kenny Vähäkari
      • Jason Martin
      • Martin Bergquist
    1. The Deuce; 42nd St
      • John Bair
      • Vance Miller
      • Jose Marin
      • Steve Sullivan
    1. The Handmaid’s Tale; June; Fenway Park
      • Patrick Zentis
      • Kevin McGeagh
      • Leo Bovell
      • Zachary Dembinski
    1. The Man in the High Castle; Reichsmarschall Ceremony
      • Casi Blume
      • Michael Eng
      • Ben McDougal
      • Sean Myers

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal Project

    1. Aquaman; Third Act Battle
      • Claus Pedersen
      • Mohammad Rastkar
      • Cedric Lo
      • Ryan McCoy
    1. Echo; Time Displacement
      • Victor Perez
      • Tomas Tjernberg
      • Tomas Wall
      • Marcus Dineen
    1. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom; Gyrosphere Escape
      • Pawl Fulker
      • Matt Perrin
      • Oscar Faura
      • David Vickery
    1. Ready Player One; New York Race
      • Daniele Bigi
      • Edmund Kolloen
      • Mathieu Vig
      • Jean-Baptiste Noyau
    1. Welcome to Marwen; Town of Marwen
      • Kim Miles
      • Matthew A. Ward
      • Ryan Beagan
      • Marc Chu

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project

    1. Avengers: Infinity War; Nidavellir Forge Megastructure
      • Chad Roen
      • Ryan Rogers
      • Jeff Tetzlaff
      • Ming Pan
    1. Incredibles 2; Underminer Vehicle
      • Neil Blevins
      • Philip Metschan
      • Kevin Singleton
    1. Mortal Engines; London
      • Matthew Sandoval
      • James Ogle
      • Nick Keller
      • Sam Tack
    1. Ready Player One; DeLorean DMC-12
      • Giuseppe Bufalo
      • Kim Lindqvist
      • Mauro Giacomazzo
      • William Gallyot
    1. Solo: A Star Wars Story; Millennium Falcon
      • Masa Narita
      • Steve Walton
      • David Meny
      • James Clyne

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature

    1. Avengers: Infinity War; Titan
      • Gerardo Aguilera
      • Ashraf Ghoniem
      • Vasilis Pazionis
      • Hartwell Durfor
    1. Avengers: Infinity War; Wakanda
      • Florian Witzel
      • Adam Lee
      • Miguel Perez Senent
      • Francisco Rodriguez
    1. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
      • Dominik Kirouac
      • Chloé Ostiguy
      • Christian Gaumond
    1. Venom
      • Aharon Bourland
      • Jordan Walsh
      • Aleksandar Chalyovski
      • Federico Frassinelli

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature

    1. Seuss’ The Grinch; Snow, Clouds and Smoke
      • Eric Carme
      • Nicolas Brice
      • Milo Riccarand
    1. Incredibles 2
      • Paul Kanyuk
      • Tiffany Erickson Klohn
      • Vincent Serritella
      • Matthew Kiyoshi Wong
    1. Ralph Breaks the Internet; Virus Infection & Destruction
      • Paul Carman
      • Henrik Fält
      • Christopher Hendryx
      • David Hutchins
    1. Smallfoot
      • Henrik Karlsson
      • Theo Vandernoot
      • Martin Furness
      • Dmitriy Kolesnik
    1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
      • Ian Farnsworth
      • Pav Grochola
      • Simon Corbaux
      • Brian D. Casper

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project

    1. Altered Carbon
      • Philipp Kratzer
      • Daniel Fernandez
      • Xavier Lestourneaud
      • Andrea Rosa
    1. Lost in Space; Jupiter is Falling
      • Denys Shchukin
      • Heribert Raab
      • Michael Billette
      • Jaclyn Stauber
    1. Lost in Space; The Get Away
      • Juri Bryan
      • Will Elsdale
      • Hugo Medda
      • Maxime Marline
    1. The Man in the High Castle; Statue of Liberty Destruction
      • Saber Jlassi
      • Igor Zanic
      • Nick Chamberlain
      • Chris Parks

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Feature

    1. Avengers: Infinity War; Titan
      • Sabine Laimer
      • Tim Walker
      • Tobias Wiesner
      • Massimo Pasquetti
    1. First Man
      • Joel Delle-Vergin
      • Peter Farkas
      • Miles Lauridsen
      • Francesco Dell’Anna
    1. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
      • John Galloway
      • Enrik Pavdeja
      • David Nolan
      • Juan Espigares Enriquez
    1. Welcome to Marwen
      • Woei Lee
      • Saul Galbiati
      • Max Besner
      • Thai-Son Doan

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Episode

    1. Altered Carbon
      • Jean-François Leroux
      • Reece Sanders
      • Stephen Bennett
      • Laraib Atta
    1. The Handmaid’s Tale; June
      • Winston Lee
      • Gwen Zhang
      • Xi Luo
      • Kevin Quatman
    1. Lost in Space; Impact; Crash Site Rescue
      • David Wahlberg
      • Douglas Roshamn
      • Sofie Ljunggren
      • Fredrik Lönn
    1. Silicon Valley; Artificial Emotional Intelligence; Fiona
      • Tim Carras
      • Michael Eng
      • Shiying Li
      • Bill Parker

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Commercial

    1. Apple; Unlock
      • Morten Vinther
      • Michael Gregory
      • Gustavo Bellon
      • Rodrigo Jimenez
    1. Apple; Welcome Home
      • Michael Ralla
      • Steve Drew
      • Alejandro Villabon
      • Peter Timberlake
    1. Genesis; G90 Facelift
      • Neil Alford
      • Jose Caballero
      • Joseph Dymond
      • Greg Spencer
    1. John Lewis; The Boy and the Piano
      • Kamen Markov
      • Pratyush Paruchuri
      • Kalle Kohlstrom
      • Daniel Benjamin

     

    CATEGORY: Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project

    1. Chocolate Man
      • David Bellenbaum
      • Aleksandra Todorovic
      • Jörg Schmidt
      • Martin Boué
    1. Proxima-b
      • Denis Krez
      • Tina Vest
      • Elias Kremer
      • Lukas Löffler
    1. Ratatoskr
      • Meike Müller
      • Lena-Carolin Lohfink
      • Anno Schachner
      • Lisa Ecker
    1. Terra Nova
      • Thomas Battistetti
      • Mélanie Geley
      • Mickael Le Mezo
      • Guillaume Hoarau

     

    While Avengers Infinity War (unsurprisingly) has the greatest number of nominations in terms of feature films, Lost in Space is a frontrunner in the broadcast space and Incredibles 2 among the animated films. Apart from these, there are a couple of special awards that will be presented to those who have made remarkable contributions to the industry:

    1. VES Visionary Award – Jonathan Nolan (writer, producer and director)
    2. VES Award for Creative Excellence – David Benioff and DB Weiss (creators, writers, directors and EPs)

    The event will be hosted by the acclaimed Patton Oswalt, a famous actor, author and comedian. While you might see a lot of familiar names on the nominees list above, there are also a few who are young pioneers in their respective subsets. We daresay, each nomination and the artists attached to it deserves to be lauded for their effort and excellence. However, since you can have only one winner (or 24 in this case), we will have to wait and watch who takes the cake.

    At Toolbox Studio, we are thrilled about the 17th Annual VES Awards and cannot wait to see who wins what! Watch this space as we unravel the winners soon along with reasons why we think they deserved to win.

  • Top 15 Explainer Videos for Business

    When it comes to explanatory videos or explainer videos for business and the value they bring to the table, it can’t be subject of debate that companies of all shapes and sizes have tasted success when they harnessed the power of animated explainers to get the message across.

    What Are Explainer Videos and Why Are They Effective?

    In an era driven by audiences wanting fresh content, innovative ideas and visuals, videos that club these three elements work like a charm. Wondering what an explainer video is? An explainer video, in simple words, is a short AV that communicates a concept, idea, product, service or brand message using animation, graphics, text content and voiceover and music. The might of a well-crafted creative business explainer video for business cannot be understated – explainer videos are very effective. If you have closely followed the Toolbox Studio blog, you will know that we actively advocate this medium of communication not only because of our expertise in creating effective business explainer videos, but also because we understand different businesses, industries and target groups and acknowledge the fact that an explainer can well and truly serve any and every purpose of communication – whether it is spreading brand awareness, social messages, product or service promotion, process demonstration, prototype demo, CSR content or anything else.

    We thought you might want to take a look at some of the best explainer videos available. This article has handpicked some of our top favourites from different industry segments in this article. Read on!

    15 Examples of the Best Business Explainer Video

    Introducing Office 365 Business!

    Let’s begin with Microsoft’s short-yet-effective explainer or product explanation video introducing the viewer to Office 365 Business. This crisp video for businesses is aimed at educating the audience about the USPs and functionality of the IT offering and does so with great aplomb. The brilliant usage of geometric shapes and bright colours helps give the video a stylish look, while at the same time giving it a global appeal.

     

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    What is Artificial Intelligence (or Machine Learning)?

    Another great video from the technology space is HubSpot, which puts forth a complex idea and demystifies it in a way a layman can understand. Using hypnotic animations with a futuristic feel, the video is accessible to the eye. The attractive character design and intelligent use of gradients make for a beautiful viewing experience.

     

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    Ecodo LED Lightbulb Explainer Video

    How could we not have a product explainer video for business on this list! The Ecodo LED Lightbulb product explainer video serves its purpose to perfection. While the creative animation leverages smart graphics and engaging subtle effects to its benefit, what really takes the cake is the fact that the script has substance. The video has been thoughtfully crafted in order to help the audience see the product’s benefits and efficiency by using comparative analysis. Moreover, although the product explainer video for startups is short, each USP of the product is given due importance and adequate screen time, giving the viewer enough time to digest what is being said. This is one of the best product explainer videos you will encounter.

     

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    Mercedes, Animated explainer video

    Explainer videos are all the rage in the Automobile industry. This first-rate animated explainer does its job beautifully and without much fuss by bringing to the fore not only what the service is all about, but also demonstrating exactly how it works. Short, simple and striking, the audio-visual treat not only employs 2D animation to good effect, but also brings out the trust factor and brand values that the target audience cares about.

     

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    Connected Cars in the Internet of Things Explained in 101 Seconds

    Coming back to the Technology space, here’s another example of a fantastic tech explainer video that delivers on its promise to explain a very complex subject in just 101 seconds. IoT can be mind-boggling for most people who are unfamiliar with the topic, but this tech explainer video makes use of relatable, everyday situations to describe its application in our lives. The fluidic and eye-catching animation along with a creative use of colours makes it a joy to watch.

     

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    Housal Explainer Video

    At Toolbox Studio, we have always believed that any visual production should have a strong story to build upon. This explainer video that we created for a Phillipines based Real Estate technology client takes this belief a step further and uses storytelling as a key tool along with dynamic animation and clean graphics. What this does is that it helps catch and hold the viewer’s attention right till the end. The writing is crisp and the video hits the right pain points by taking a problem-solution approach.

     

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    Ola Australia | Partners Onboarding Process

    Explaining a process, no matter how simple or complex it is, is pretty difficult, especially when you do not have a direct audience. Explainer videos enable businesses to break processes down step by step and reach the audience correctly. This process video begins with the benefits, telling the viewers what is in it. The video wins hands down because it provides an actual process walkthrough on the screen. Finding just the right pace and sticking to the point works well in this case, making it easy for the audience to understand the onboarding process.

     

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    Airbnb Introduces the Bélo: The Story of a Symbol of Belonging | Airbnb

    While Hospitality as a sector has often relied on animation as the primary tool to reach out to audiences for business or partnerships, what differentiates this heart-warming business explainer video is the story that it weaves around the central theme – a sense of belonging. Without using characters or voiceover, this lovely video binds together a unique idea with slick animation and storytelling. The feel-good factor in the video is so high that the lack of VO or the fact that the makers are trying to ‘sell’ an idea completely takes a backseat while watching it.

     

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    Renewable Energy Explained in 2 1/2 Minutes

    Another explainer video for business that our in-house experts rate very highly is this Industrial animation video that explains the concept of renewable energy in a very short span of time. While the AV is educational and informative in nature, what really works well in this case is that the viewer’s interest and attention is captured for the entirety of the video. The ‘food for thought’ approach, clubbed together with clean 2D animation and a good voiceover contributes vastly to helping this video feature in our Top 15 list.

     

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    Explainer Video for Agile Industrial

    The ‘fear’ factor works exceptionally well in advertising and marketing. From a target audience point of view, this industrial explainer video capitalises on stating the potential downfalls of not adapting to technological changes in the industry. The animated explainer video for business is split into two halves very subtly. The first part states the problems and the related pitfalls. In contrast, the second half jumps to the rescue by describing the solution and highlighting Agile Industrial’s USPs

     

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    Introduction to Ellesmere College – Animation Video

    The education sector, too, has jumped onto the explainer video for business bandwagon and is gaining excellent results. This video is one of our top picks because it has been crafted very cleverly, giving equal weightage to what the college wants to say and what prospective students want to hear. Instead of only ranting about the fantastic college, the video speaks directly to prospects and touches upon every possible factor a student or parent might consider when choosing an institute. The beauty of the video also lies in the fact that every frame is distinctly different, and the use of colours is absolutely on point and in sync with what is being said, thus adding more value to the overall video.

     

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    Hibernia College Explainer Video

    This one takes a very different approach because it targets a different set of audiences (presumably older). Using minimalistic, simple and relatable animation and graphic elements, the explainer video for a startup an educational establishment stays true to what the college offers. It demonstrates the critical takeaways in less than 80 seconds.

     

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    Swiggy presents StatEATstics | How India ate in 2017

    The New Year video encapsulated not only Swiggy’s growth as a giant in the food delivery industry but also did so in style. Unique in everything – the relaxed and fluid animation, the effective female voiceover, the creative combination of natural images and dynamic graphical elements, and how the entire video unfolds. There are multiple references to modern pop culture and things that young Indian audiences can relate to. With an almost game-like style of animation and storytelling, the background score does complete justice to the creator’s approach. While the video speaks about critical statistics related to food ordering, consumption and feedback via Swiggy’s service, the funny lines make these stats more attractive than they are! Kudos to Swiggy for serving up a video that is fresh and crisp.

     

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    AI and robotics in the New Health era

    The objective of any explainer video is to get the message across effectively, creatively and within the least possible amount of time. This healthcare explainer video wins on all three counts and by massive margins, too. The very concept of incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the world of healthcare is pretty complicated to put forth, but neat writing, a well-paced voiceover and adequate weightage to each point in the video makes it possible for PwC to get the message across. The robot-like characters and futuristic animation plays a subtle-yet-important role in hammering the point and the warm colours make it difficult for the viewer to take their eyes off the screen. A job well done!

     

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    How new entrants could impact healthcare systems globally

    Another PwC video that makes our list is this healthcare animated explainer video, for the simple reason that the way content is presented in these 169 seconds is something that other businesses can learn from. While the subject of the video could have made for a nice and lengthy blog article or research paper, they chose to take the explainer video route and did so successfully. Credit to the concise and smart scripting that the voiceover is based on, along with visual elements that complement it. In terms of the visual treatment, the animation is very contemporary and sleek. The transitions throughout the video are excellent in the way they help move from one frame to another without breaking the link.

     

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    If you, too, are contemplating creating an amazing explainer video for your business, we encourage you to do so because everything today is driven by video-based content. The aforementioned videos were just a few samples of the different types of explainer videos businesses have experimented and succeeded with. Of course, several other types and approaches can be taken, depending on your specific needs and objectives. However, the key takeaways for a good explainer video remain the same:

    • An innovative idea
    • A strong storyline and script
    • Engaging visual elements, animation and graphics
    • Professional voice over with an interactive tone
    • Complementary background music
    • Brevity (the shorter the better)

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    Wish to know more about creating the best business explainer videos? Take a look at some of our past projects and latest work here. Toolbox Studio is known for its 2D and 3D animated explainer video production capabilities, thanks to our team’s extensive experience in creating some of the best explainer videos in the market.

    Contact our team today to discuss the pricing for a custom explainer video!

  • Top 6 CSR Videos by Top Corporates

    CSR corporate Social Responsibilty - Toolbox

     

    Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR is an effort from corporates to give back to society by carrying out a variety of activities that benefit people, animals, the environment and more. While the causes may differ, one thing that is common among all these activities is the fact that these companies like to spread the word regarding their good deeds and garner some goodwill out of these efforts.

    Since the 2013 Companies Act, CSR initiatives have been mandatory for companies of a specific size and level of profitability in India. Thus, getting the word out has gone from a choice to a necessity. And why shouldn’t you let your patrons know that a portion of their patronage is going into a good cause, mandatory or not?

    Benefits of CSR Videos 

    CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) videos offer several benefits to organizations that engage in them. Here are some key advantages of corporate social responsibility videos:

    Enhanced brand reputation: Producing CSR videos showcases an organization’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Companies can strengthen their brand reputation and build stakeholder trust by highlighting their sustainability, community development, or employee well-being efforts.

    Increased stakeholder engagement: CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) videos provide a compelling medium to communicate an organization’s social impact initiatives to various stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, and the general public. These videos can effectively engage audiences, generate interest, and foster a sense of pride and loyalty.

    Improved internal communication: CSR videos can serve as powerful internal communication tools, educating employees about the organization’s CSR initiatives and creating a sense of purpose. They can enhance employee engagement, morale, and pride in working for a socially responsible company, leading to increased productivity and retention.

    Broadened reach and influence: Videos have the potential to reach a wide audience through various digital platforms, including websites, social media, and video-sharing platforms. CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) videos that tell compelling stories and inspire action can have a broader impact, raising awareness and influencing public opinion on important social and environmental issues.

    Compelling storytelling: CSR videos allow organisations to tell their stories visually, engaging and emotionally compellingly. By showcasing real-life examples, testimonials, and the positive impact of their CSR initiatives, companies can connect with viewers and inspire them to support the cause or get involved.

    One of the most effective and impactful ways of sharing CSR efforts is through video. This is something that companies all over the world have understood and are using to great effect. We have rounded up some of the best audio-visual showcases of company philanthropy to give you an idea of how CSR videos are done right. Here are our top picks in no particular order.

    Top CSR Videos

    1. Marc Jacobs x Sato Project

    Famous global fashion label Marc Jacobs has partnered with the Sato project to help relocate dogs abandoned in Peru after Hurricane Maria. These adorable canines are rescued and placed into good homes so their lives can be joyful again. Their CSR video showcasing this is a short, sweet, simple effort with no voiceover, just visuals, sounds and music. The video showcases the journey of one adorable dog called Kevin Jacobs and his journey to finding a new home. It’s a fantastic example of a subtle and classy video.

    2. Maruti Suzuki #PehniKya

    Indian automotive behemoths Maruti Suzuki may be one of the oldest companies putting cars on roads in India, but they aren’t just resting on their laurels. Aside from investing in more tech to make the cars and their passengers safer, they also ran a CSR campaign called Pehni kya? (Did you wear it?) to raise awareness about the importance of seatbelts. Not only does this dramatic video also subliminally showcase their Dzire compact sedan, but it also uses the emotional pull and innocence of a child to help deliver this important message in a heartfelt manner.


    3. Ikea My Place to Play

    Swedish furniture makers Ikea have been running their Let’s Play for Change campaign for three years now to help children find a safe place to play away from the hardships of life. The video they have put out is textbook in its use of different styles like colorful stop-motion elements and a voice over to share important data without causing the viewer to lose The video is also interspersed with interviews with the children who have benefited for greater impact.

    4. Equinox, Heroes Project

    Top American fitness chain Equinox has contributed to the Heroes Project through events, marathons, and fundraisers. It has also created a video to showcase what the Heroes Project does. The extremely well-produced effort is built on the style of a classic documentary. It is presented by the founder of the Project, Tim Medvetz, and goes through his rehabilitation journey from which this project to help wounded and disabled war veterans came. It is a highly unique initiative, a genuinely gripping video, and one that takes time to explain how the Heroes Project came about and Equinox’s role within it.

    5. Starbucks Global Month of Service

    Every year, international coffee chain Starbucks celebrates its Global Month of Service in April, where the brand’s coffee shops the world over involve their patrons and employees in efforts to help improve their local communities. This video from the brand is another one that’s going for simplicity and vibrancy with basic animations and a joyous soundtrack providing the perfect vehicle to promote their Month of Service initiative. Uncomplicated and straightforward, Starbucks is doing it right with this video.

    6. Lego, Protect the Planet for Future Generations

    The beloved building game makers are known for their philanthropy, but their latest efforts have been above and beyond anything seen before. Lego has created wind turbine farms that not only provides enough clean energy to reduce the brand’s impact on the environment as a complete unit around the world but they also built a Lego windmill to celebrate achieving this feat, establishing a new Guinness World Record in the process. The video features everything from stunning visuals, an engaging voiceover, and tastefully placed text overlays to explain just how momentous the task was how successful the result is.

    These examples prove you don’t have to create a simple, by-the-books or generic CSR video. Instead, you can try something new and make a CSR video that captures the viewers’ imagination.

    At Toolbox Studio, we can help you make the perfect CSR video to showcase your benevolence to the world in the best possible light.  Contact us to find out more.

  • Why You Should Incorporate Videos in Your eLearning Strategy

    The ability of eLearning (in education, training and even corporate circles) to impart instruction, further training, and even acquire an education through electronic media and the internet is boundless. It is convenient, can be consumed anywhere thanks to smart devices, laptops and the like, and can be carried out at the learner’s convenience.

    As the title suggests, this article aims to establish the undeniable advantages of incorporating videos in your video-based e-learning strategy.

    Video-based eLearning is a rapidly growing industry

    As this Forbes article reports, “Global eLearning market to reach $325 billion by 2025 from $107 Billion in 2015.”

    That’s right, already a billion-dollar industry globally by the year 2015, eLearning is expected to grow by more than 300% to an estimated $325 billion by 2025 the world over. That is a meteoric rise and is clearly indicative of just how much potential eLearning offers to those willing to adopt it.

    Another interesting statistic the same article mentions is that revenue from online courses in 2017 was $46 billion. Thus, the public is responding to the idea of harnessing the concept of e-learning as a platform and its ability to offer education and information.

    Videos for eLearning

    One of the most efficient ways to share knowledge and information across the electronic medium is through the format of videos. A vast majority of consumption on the internet is already going down the video route. As this Business Insider piece indicates, “Video will represent 82% of all IP traffic in 2021, including consumer and business IP traffic, amounting to a million minutes of video transmitted through networks every second.”

    Another article by Medium sheds light on the effectiveness of video in learning, citing Forrester Research, which claims that company employees are 75% more likely to consume content through video than other mediums, such as documents, articles online, or emails. Video offers many benefits compared to other media for sharing content in the video-based e-learning space.

    Read about our eLearning video creation capabilities here.

    Benefits of incorporating videos in eLearning

    • Attracting and holding attention

    It is less likely to get distracted when watching a video than when reading an article or listening to audio. This is because all your senses are engaged in watching a video, so you are more “in it,” and your attention is arrested more than otherwise.

    • Greater interactivity

    Videos lend themselves to interactivity. With formats such as Skype and other video calling services available, teaching through video can be an immensely interactive experience. It allows one-on-one instruction to be imparted, and the instructor can gauge the response from the person undergoing the course and amend their lessons accordingly.

    • Easier to consume

    Video is definitely easier to consume than instructions in the text form. You don’t have to put in as much effort as you would into reading to able to consume and absorb the knowledge being shared through video. This makes eLearning through video much more digestible.

    • More demonstrative

    Through video, you can share much more than just static instructions. Instead, you can demonstrate how to go about doing things. For example, the subject of the training is to learn how to use equipment. In that case, you can not only explain the steps involved but actually demonstrate them and visually depict each step’s result, making learning much easier.

    Explore Toolbox Studio’s expert animated eLearning video services.

    Unless the individual in question is highly motivated and focused, it is difficult to ensure that the learner will give the instruction his or her complete, undivided attention. If your storytelling is video-based, employees or students will be that much more engaged and motivated to continue receiving their training.

    Another advantage of video is something we touched upon earlier. With the proliferation of smartphones in everyday life, and the widespread availability of the internet through data and Wi-Fi, this could be one of the keys to unlocking an even more effective eLearning program. You can optimize video-based content for smart devices, and have a system in place that could allow it to be consumed at the learner’s convenience.

    This is the future of training for corporates, manufacturers, educational institutions and more. And as we saw from the article above, your workforce, clients and students will be much more receptive to video-based learning content than instruction in any other form.

    Toolbox Studio has been delivering value to a wide range of clients from diverse industries, helping them get better results from their concept of eLearning programs with slick animation and crisp storytelling. If you are looking for a partner who can help you create an animated video based eLearning video (or a series of videos), look no further! Get in touch with our team today.

  • How GoT Created a Near-Perfect Episode “Beyond the Wall”

    Game of Thrones, the television phenomenon based on George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire saga, and brought to life by HBO has earned rave reviews and a legion of loyal fans across the globe. The epic fantasy show has relied strongly on visual effects and animation to help bring their ridiculously-expansive scenes, characters and myriad fantastical creatures to life.

    From ice zombies to fire-breathing dragons and everything else in between, this show is a standard-bearer for VFX done right. The season finale for the show’s penultimate running, titled “Beyond the Wall” is a microcosm for how stellar the show is and what an important role VFX plays in making it so.

    Built on a Big Budget

    All of that otherworldly glory, magic, mystique, and magnitude at the cost of a penny. On average, a GoT episode has cost anywhere between $6 million to $10 million, and a solid chunk of that money has gone into the show’s CGI and VFX efforts. As MoneyInc reports, every 10 minutes of CGI set the show back by a whopping $800,000. Vanity Fair has put out a story claiming that the budget for the upcoming final eighth season of the show could be as high $15 million per episode, with six episodes planned.

    Raking in the Awards

    Adored by a hardcore fan base and acclaimed by the critics, this show has won a fair few awards since it began airing in April 2011. The show has also pulled off a streak of awards for its visual artistry. Having already nabbed five prestigious Emmy Awards before Beyond the Wall, the curtain closer for season 7 was also a recipient of a sixth Emmy for Outstanding Special Effects.

    The Insane Level of VFX in GoT

    The sheer volume of visual effects used on the show is incredible. No wonder the VFX costs so much, as there are six major VFX studios involved in the making of GoT according to this Autodesk article.

    The studios in question are:

    • BlueBolt, London
    • Screen Scene, Dublin
    • Pixomondo, Frankfurt
    • Rodeo FX, Montreal
    • Image Engine, Vancouver
    • Iloura, Melbourne

    Toolbox Studio offers cutting-edge VFX services to enchant and delight the audience, taking projects from concepts to visual conclusions.

    Breaking Down “Beyond the Wall”

    Another studio not mentioned in the aforementioned Autodesk piece, but one that has played a pivotal part in the making of GoT’s seventh season, including Beyond the Wall, is El Ranchito Imagen Digital, Madrid. This is the studio behind that iconic battle of the frozen lake. You can watch the studio’s video on how this episode came about right here.

    While this may have been the epic climax to an insane finale, the episode features quite a lot of interesting effects for VFX aficionados:

    • Zombie Polar Bear

    The first major VFX addition to this episode, this bear accosts the show’s heroes and is killed in a great ball of fire. The VFX team reportedly studied images of dead polar bears and tried to match the decay they found to the look of this particular zombified specimen, making the amount of fur, fat and caked blood as realistic as possible.

    • The Wight Army

    While not appearing for the first time in this episode, the sheer volume of this undead horde was challenging to produce realistically. The VFX studios managed with two sets of wights, one made up of 90% computer-generated imagery and 10% costume and prosthetic, and secondly, the negative space wights that were only 30% CG and 70% costume and prosthetic. These wights were then multiplied using VFX to make the number look large and foreboding, extending into thousands of these specimens in the episode when it aired.

    • The Dragons

    The three mighty dragons that form an integral part of GoT lore were all in action in this episode. They flew in to try and rescue the heroes who were stranded in the middle of a (mostly green-screened) frozen lake surrounded by the wights. Everything from the motion of the dragon’s wings to their billowing flames needed to be created using the help of VFX and the final result was absolutely mesmerizing.

    • The Rise of the Ice Dragon

    The biggest plot twist in this episode and one of the biggest in the show as a whole was the reanimation of one of the dragons into an undead ice monster by the White Walkers and their dreaded leader – the Night King. This sequence, too, was a masterpiece in VFX and has been addressed in the video we spoke about above.

    This IndieWired piece goes into even more detail regarding how this episode came about. Needless to say, Beyond the Wall was a masterclass in VFX and worthy of all the plaudits it has received so far.

    Toolbox Studio is a VFX specialist that has been around for over 11 years, delivering a host of visual effects solutions to clients from around the globe. Having worked on Hollywood blockbusters like Maleficent, 300: Rise of an Empire, Jupiter Ascending and Hunger Games, we have the essential tools and skills to make magic happen on screen.

    If you want to create your own larger-than-life, slick and richly-detailed VFX sequences, we can help make it happen.

    Get in touch with our team today!

  • Reading vs. Watching: Unravel the Power of Attention through Explainer Videos

    If you’re in the business of selling a product or service, you will find yourself in the need to show your consumers and potential consumers how to use said products/services ever so often.

    Traditionally, this has been accomplished almost exclusively through text. Whether its instructions on the back of a shampoo bottle or more exhaustive text in manuals or on websites. In the smartphone age though, this old-school approach to conveying information is changing. It appears that in these always-connected times, videos are replacing written content as the primary way of conveying information to users of all sorts of things, whether officially or otherwise.

    As MUO reports, How To and tutorial videos are fourth in the top ten most popular genres of video uploaded on YouTube. This isn’t just an idle fad driven by the advent of smartphones either, because there’s plenty of empirical evidence that backs up the popularity of this trend.

    Video Trumps Text – By the Numbers

    The human race has always been very visually-oriented. From ancient cave paintings standing as proof for the sheer history of visual communication, to the strength and popularity of the film industry both in India and globally even today, we just like to see rather than read. This is because videos require less effort to consume, and stimulate the senses responsible for both auditory and visual responses in the human brain. Numerous studies are available to back this up.

    For example, this article on Medium suggests that as human beings we’re hard-wired to respond to movement and noise. It is part of our DNA. So much so that the same article cites a staggering statistic – on an average, a viewer can recall 95% of a message he or she say on video, as opposed to a paltry 10% from what they read. Forbes has an article backing up the popularity of video over text, and has offered up a litany of statistics to back up this stance.

    We’ve reproduced some of the most pertinent below:

    • The Future is Video – By 2019, global consumer Internet video traffic will account for 80% of all consumer Internet traffic
    • Rampant Growth – YouTube reports mobile video consumption rises 100% every year
    • Mass Consumption – 55% of people watch videos online every day
    • Video Encourages Sharing – 92% of mobile video consumers share videos with others, social video generates 1200% more shares than text and images combined
    • Going for the Conversion – Including a video on a landing page can increase conversion rates by 80%
    • Senior Executives Tend to Favour Video – 59% of senior executives agree that if both text and video are available on the same topic on the same page, they prefer to watch video

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    The Extreme Popularity of Explainer Videos

    One of the most popular forms of conveying important information on its functions, rather than promoting the product is explainer videos. These videos are typically created by the manufacturer or service provider, and help viewers understand how to best use the product or service on offer in an interesting, engaging, fun, and easy-to-understand format. Some popular examples include American Express, AirBNB’s Belo service, Nestle, Amazon Prime and more.

    There are several types of explainer videos, including:

    • 2D Animated explainer videos (character animation)
    • Animated infographic-style videos
    • Whiteboard animation videos
    • Kinetic typography-enabled videos

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    As you can see, the formats, styles and products or services are so versatile and diverse, and yet, they are all communicated through this one exceedingly effective medium. The beauty of explainers is in its simplicity. You can breakdown complicated procedures or list simple steps and if executed correctly, all of it is presented in a piquant and easily digestible package.

    Take a look at Toolbox Studio’s explainer video production capabilities.

    Invest in a Quality Explainer Video for Your Business

    Here at Toolbox Studio, we too recognise the power of explainers, and have over 10 years of experience in the field of producing high-quality explainer videos. Our client list includes the likes of H&R Block, Housal, HCL, LTI and more.

    Check out our Explainer Videos portfolio to get a feel of the kind of videos we can produce for you

    Numbers don’t lie, and you can’t fight human nature. There’s no denying that content will much be more effective and leave a stronger impression when presented in a motion picture format as opposed to plain old text. And if you are looking for a partner to help create explainer videos that are creative, engaging, and effective, then look no further than Toolbox Studio.