Animation vs. Live Action for Your Advertising Video

Key Takeaways

• Animation vs. live action for advertising isn’t necessarily about which is “better,” but which one best meets your goals. 
• Live action can often feel more authentic, perfect for when you’re trying to build a human connection. 
• Animation can explore more complex visuals than a live-action camera.
• The cost and production timeline depend more on the project than the format.

Video content is by far the most powerful format to promote your business. But you have options in terms of how that video is produced and what it looks like. One of the biggest choices is between animation and live-action video for your advertising.

Live action is direct, authentic, and familiar. It allows viewers to connect with real people in real places. On the other hand, animation is great for when you need to illustrate more abstract ideas, scenes, or creativity that might otherwise be difficult with a live-action camera.

With years of experience in both, our team at 336 Productions has created a guide to help you choose the right format for your next advertising project.

When Live Action Works Better

When the ultimate goal is authenticity, live-action video has a distinct edge. If you want to introduce your team, showcase a physical product, or film a real-world location, it’s hard to beat live action footage.

People tend to respond more emotionally to human faces. For many, knowing there are actual people behind the scenes of a company can create a greater sense of trust. Company culture videos, testimonials, and recruiting content are also great examples of media where live action is often preferred.

When Animation Works Better

Animation can be exciting when you want to explore more seemingly impossible ideas, or ideas that would be too expensive to film. Trying to explain how blockchain works in less than a minute or popping around the inside of a complex piece of machinery might be wildly difficult without the help of animation.

That’s why over the past decade, animated explainer videos and educational videos have become a staple of marketing video production.

Animation vs. Live Action in Advertising – The Differences

So, we know the visual difference between live camera video and animation. Strategically, however, there’s a bit more nuance when it comes to live-action vs. animation pros and cons.

Production Timeline

From a traditional standpoint, animation could either be faster or slower than live-action video. The speed really depends on the simplicity of the production. A simple motion graphics animation might outpace a live action production that calls for script writing, casting, and filming at multiple locations. On the other hand, the time it takes for a detailed 3D render will far exceed a live-action shoot with a smartphone and a ring light.

The cost and timeline comparison between animation vs. live action simply has too many variables to generalize.

Quick Changes

Many businesses conduct quarterly strategy reviews of their video marketing. Every time there is an update to the marketing strategy, there is typically an update to the video content as well. 

This is where animation has an edge. It’s easier to adjust a voiceover, swap out text, or change graphics in post-production than to reshoot a live-action scene. If your company needs agility, that’s a major thing to consider when weighing the pros and cons of live-action vs. animation.

Multi-Platform Promotion

When it comes to multi-platform flexibility, an animated asset can be more easily resized for Instagram Reels, YouTube, and LinkedIn, than a live-action piece. 

With a live shoot, cropping can cut off important visuals. If you go in for a reshoot, you have to get the right framing again. With animation, you can design a piece that works for every platform from the start, saving you time and money.

If you’re considering animation vs. live-action for advertising, you’ll likely find animation to be more versatile.

Location

Live action is always best when you want to showcase real spaces like retail shops and events. Of course, multi-location shoots can get expensive when you consider crews, travel, permits, equipment, etc., so that’s something to consider when looking at animation vs. live action costs.

Budget Considerations

The idea that animation is always pricier is a huge myth. Both formats can scale.

Animation can cost more for ultra-detailed 3D or long-form projects, while live-action can be more costly when you’re dealing with several actors and locations.

The variation in costs between the two formats can be so substantial that it’s nearly impossible to ballpark the expected costs in an article like this. The best solution to accurately estimate the cost of your video is to talk with an expert. Contact 336 Productions for a free quote.

Choosing the Right Format for Your Video

There is no “best” video format for advertising between animation and live-action video. Both can be powerful in driving ROI, although you really need to look at your goals, timeline, audience, and budget, among other things, before making your final decision.

Or, you can let our team at 336 Productions walk you through choosing the right format (or finding ways to blend them). From animated explainers to live-action corporate films, we’ve done it all. Let us help you create a unique and strategic video to drive results for your next video advertising campaign.

Get in touch with us today for a free quote.