Animation vs. Live Action (Part 2)
(Source: Jemma Melvin, https://www.wyzowl.com/animation-vs-live-action/)
When deciding between animated and live action, consider the needs of your audience, budget and goals. Animated videos work well for some purposes and live action works well for others.
Animated Videos Pros
Animated videos have several advantages over live-action productions. The first is that they don't require actors or expensive locations. The second is that there are no sets to build or locations to find, and no temperamental actors to coddle. This saves you money, time and energy. Animated videos also work best for abstract products or services. They represent a way to simplify complex topics and bring them to life by engaging with the audience.
Tech companies have made an increasing number of animated videos that explain the technologies they work with. For example, DOERS wanted to show in a clear and powerful way how deep oceans really are. Few people can visualise what 12,100 feet is; an animated video can make this concept understandable.
Animated Videos Cons
The main drawback of animated videos is that they tend to feel more impersonal than live-action videos. However, "Adam Ruins Everything" explains abstract or interesting concepts through live-action videos in an engaging way; thus, explainer videos don't necessarily need to be animated to work well. On the other side of the argument, when JotForm tested animated versus live action video, they found their animated video outperformed their live action video by 20%--which led to a higher serve rate by YouTube.
Live action videos pros
Live-action videos offer an authentic tone that can be instructive and humanizing. People often relate more to live-action videos because of our ability to read body language, and they tend to be faster to create than animated videos if you don't add too many complex elements. As a rule of thumb, you can complete a well-planned, logistic-light video in three to six weeks.
Live action videos cons
The main drawback of live action video is its expense. The more complex, reputable, and high-quality the video, the more expensive it can get. Another drawback of live action video is that you cannot make changes once the footage has been recorded. If you missed a scene or want to add in a few extra words then this can be difficult. Getting the crew, location and setup back together might be next to impossible. By contrast, animated videos allow you to make changes at any time during production or postproduction through editing programs such as Adobe After Effects or Final Cut Pro X.
