Animation isn’t just for cartoons or entertainment anymore. It’s become a marketing superpower capturing attention, simplifying complex ideas, and bringing brands to life across screens. Whether you’re launching a product, explaining a service, or building awareness, using the right 10 types of animation style can make all the difference.
Why Animation Works So Well in Marketing
Before we dive into the types, let’s talk about why animation deserves a spot in your content toolkit:
- It grabs attention fast – Movement stands out in busy feeds and websites.
- It simplifies the complex – Animation can visualize ideas that are hard to explain with text or still images.
- It’s memorable – People retain 95% of a message when it’s in a video (vs. 10% with text).
- It builds brand identity – Through tone, color, motion, and storytelling.
- It boosts engagement – Animated videos increase time on page, click-through rates, and conversions.
Whether you’re a SaaS startup, an eCommerce brand, or a B2B company, animation can help you tell stories that convert.
1. 2D Animation
Best for: Explainer videos, brand stories, product launches
2D animation is the most popular style used in marketing. It involves flat, two-dimensional characters and environments, brought to life with motion. Think of it as digital storytelling with simplicity and charm.
Why it works:
- Clean, familiar look
- Cost-effective and versatile
- Great for storytelling with characters and narration
Example:
A healthcare startup explaining how their app connects patients and doctors through a 2D animated journey of a character named Sam.
2. Motion Graphics
Best for: Tech companies, financial services, B2B content
Motion graphics animate graphic elements—like charts, icons, text, and UI designs. It’s a sleek, modern style that’s ideal for product demos, dashboards, and data-driven content.
Why it works:
- Professional and polished
- Simplifies abstract or technical concepts
- Perfect for short-form social videos or pitch decks
Example:
A SaaS company showcasing how their software dashboard saves time by animating workflow diagrams and features.
3. Whiteboard Animation
Best for: Educational content, training videos, corporate explainers
This style mimics hand-drawn illustrations on a whiteboard, often accompanied by a narrator explaining the concept in real-time.
Why it works:
- Great for step-by-step processes
- Feels instructional and trustworthy
- Keeps focus on the message with minimal distraction
Example:
An HR team explaining new workplace policies using whiteboard animation in onboarding videos.
4. 3D Animation
Best for: Product visualization, architecture, medical marketing
3D animation creates realistic depth and dimension, making it ideal for showcasing complex physical products, environments, or detailed processes.
Why it works:
- Adds high-end visual appeal
- Makes products or concepts feel real
- Excellent for virtual tours and demonstrations
Example:
A tech company animating a 360° walkthrough of a new piece of hardware, showing its internals and use cases.
5. Kinetic Typography
Best for: Social media ads, landing pages, YouTube intros
Kinetic typography is the art of animating text to move, bounce, stretch, or pop in rhythm with music or voiceovers.
Why it works:
- Grabs attention quickly
- Highlights key messages or quotes
- Works well even without sound
Example:
A retail brand using bold kinetic text to showcase a limited-time 50% off sale in a 15-second Instagram ad.
6. Stop Motion Animation
Best for: Product videos, social media, creative campaigns
Stop motion involves capturing individual frames of real-world objects, then playing them in sequence to simulate movement. It’s quirky, tactile, and visually unique.
Why it works:
- Stands out with a handmade, artistic vibe
- Ideal for physical product showcases
- Brings personality and charm to your brand
Example:
A bakery using stop motion to animate ingredients dancing into a mixing bowl, creating their signature cookie.
7. Screencast Animation
Best for: SaaS products, tutorials, customer onboarding
This type uses screen recordings of your app or software, often with zooms, highlights, cursor movement, and voiceover explanations.
Why it works:
- Shows real UI in action
- Builds trust by demonstrating functionality
- Perfect for how-to videos or walkthroughs
Example:
A project management tool guiding new users through setting up a team board with animated pointers and callouts.
8. Character Animation
Best for: Brand storytelling, internal culture videos, social media
Character animation gives life to people, mascots, or avatars who act out your story. These characters can be stylized to match your brand’s tone.
Why it works:
- Humanizes your message
- Great for emotional connection and humor
- Lets you explain ideas through relatable scenarios
Example:
A fintech brand using animated characters to show how users save money and reduce debt through a fun budgeting journey.
9. Infographic Animation
Best for: Thought leadership content, annual reports, data marketing
Infographic animation brings static charts, graphs, and data points to life through motion. It turns stats into visual stories.
Why it works:
- Makes data digestible and dynamic
- Increases retention of information
- Great for sharing on LinkedIn or presentations
Example:
An NGO sharing an animated report on how their programs impacted thousands of lives using animated bar charts and icons.
10. Mixed Media Animation
Best for: Creative branding, music videos, high-impact campaigns
This style blends two or more 10 types of animation such as live-action video with motion graphics, or 2D animation with stop motion.
Why it works:
- Highly unique and artistic
- Engages audiences through visual variety
- Perfect for brands looking to push creative boundaries
Example:
A fashion brand mixing model footage with animated textures and kinetic typography to create a runway-meets-animation vibe.
How to Choose the Right Animation Type for Your Brand
Each of these 10 types of animation has strengths. To choose the right one, consider:
🎯 Your Goal
Are you educating, entertaining, persuading, or demonstrating?
👀 Your Audience
Who are they, and how do they prefer to consume content?
💡 Your Message
Is it emotional, technical, data-driven, or story-led?
🎨 Your Brand Identity
Are you bold, minimal, playful, serious, or premium?
💰 Your Budget
3D and mixed media are more expensive than 2D or motion graphics.
Use a decision tree like this:
| Goal | Best Animation Type |
|---|---|
| Explain product features | 2D, Motion Graphics, Screencast |
| Share success data | Infographic, Kinetic Typography |
| Train or onboard users | Whiteboard, Screencast |
| Emotion-driven branding | Character Animation, Mixed Media |
| Show physical product | 3D, Stop Motion |
| Drive quick sales | Kinetic Typography, Social Cutdowns |
Final Thoughts
Animation isn’t just about aesthetics it’s about impact. The right animation style can transform how your audience perceives, understands, and remembers your message. Whether you’re simplifying a process, showcasing a feature, or telling a brand story, these 10 types of animation give you creative tools to stand out and connect with your audience.
So next time you plan a campaign or content piece, ask yourself not if you should use animation but which type will tell your story best.
