How to Write a Script for Your Animated Video

Jul 8

Animated videos are incredibly versatile marketing tools that brands can use to raise awareness, strengthen consumer relationships, and increase their marketing ROI. They can be used for anything from explainer videos and branded content to traditional commercials and more.

But to achieve all the benefits animated video has to offer, it’s important to carefully plan your video, starting with an effective script. Scriptwriting is an essential aspect of pre-production, as it informs your video’s message, style, and tone. To maximize your video marketing strategy’s impact, here’s everything you need to know about how to write a script for your animated video!

Digital Spark Studios can help you create an exciting and informative video in a variety of animation styles. Contact us today to learn more about our animated video production services.

6 Tips for Writing an Effective Script

Writing an effective script starts with establishing your brand voice and message. Your script should be concise, engaging, and should tell a story that resonates with your target audience. To write the best script possible for your animated video, here are six tips you should keep in mind:

1. Create a Project Brief

Before getting started on your script, you should create a creative brief for your project that includes an overview of your video, including who and what the video is for.

To help you get started, ask yourself the following questions:

What is the purpose of this video?
What problem does the product solve?
What do you want viewers to do after watching the video?
Who is your target audience?
What tone do you want the video to have?

After answering these questions, you should have a clear idea of what your animated video will look like and what direction it will take.

2. Tell a Story

Your script should tell a clear and concise story that connects with viewers. It should introduce a common problem that your audience faces, demonstrate how your business, product, or service addresses that problem, and explain why you are the best option available. This structure may vary depending on your goals, but your script should always be focused on appealing to customers through relatable scenarios.

3. Establish Your Tone

When writing a script, it’s important to speak directly to your audience in a tone that resonates with them and their interests. Animated video scripts should generally be conversational in nature. You should use short, concise sentences and simple vocabulary to achieve a more informal style.

You should also be sure to read your script out loud to adjust it for voice over. When rehearsing your script, you might notice that some of the phrasing sounds awkward or overly complex. Make sure your script still sounds natural and conversational when read aloud.

4. Keep it Brief

Animated videos need to be long enough to get your point across while being short enough to retain viewers' attention. An animated explainer video, for instance, should typically be two minutes or less to maximize its impact.

To ensure you maintain a reasonable runtime, keep in mind that it takes about one minute to read 100 to 150 words. Use this as a general rule of thumb when writing your script to avoid making your video too long. Once your script is finished, make sure to read through it out loud to see how long it takes to finish. If it takes longer than two to three minutes, look for parts of your script that you can cut without sacrificing your core message.

5. Show, Don’t Tell

Animation is incredibly versatile and flexible. Animated videos make it easy to create engaging visuals that effectively demonstrate and explain new products, services, and concepts. Use the visual tools you have at your disposal to convey information. Prioritizing visuals over narration helps keep viewers engaged throughout your video and makes information easier to process.

6. Include a Meaningful Call-to-Action

No marketing video is complete without a meaningful call-to-action (CTA). Your CTA can be anything from “Visit our website to learn more” alongside a URL to “Download our app for iOS or Android.” Your CTA should be succinct and should provide a clear next step for viewers to take.

While CTAs are generally included at the end of videos to drive viewers down the sales funnel, they can also be included at the beginning or in the middle, during your video’s most memorable moment. Consider where your CTA might be most impactful by watching your video from the perspective of your target audience’s buyer persona.

Work With Digital Spark Studios

At Digital Spark Studios, we work with new and established brands to help them plan, produce, and distribute high-quality animated videos that drive traffic, conversions, and contribute to increased brand awareness. From scriptwriting to post-production, our creative team will work with you every step of the way to create an animated video that reflects your brand values and mission.

Adam Sewell