In the business world, where polished presentations, statistics, and buzzwords dominate, humor often takes a back seat. But what if we told you that laughter could be your brand’s secret marketing weapon? When paired with the right visuals, videos with animation and humor can turn even the driest business topics into compelling stories that engage, convert, and leave a lasting impression.
Whether you’re pitching a SaaS platform, onboarding employees, or marketing a financial product, adding humor to your business videos doesn’t mean sacrificing professionalism it means enhancing relatability. In this blog, we’ll explore why videos with animation are the perfect canvas for humor, how to strike the right balance, and real-world tips to make your next business video both funny and effective.
Why Humor Works in Business Communication
Humor is a universal language. It disarms, connects, and makes messages memorable. In an era where audiences are bombarded with content 24/7, attention is hard-earned and humor helps break through the noise.
Here’s what humor achieves:
- Humanizes your brand
- Increases retention (funny videos are more memorable)
- Builds emotional connection
- Improves shareability
- Increases watch time on social media and websites
But humor alone isn’t enough the delivery matters. That’s where videos with animation come in.
Why Videos with Animation Are Perfect for Humor
Animation gives you freedom that live-action can’t. You can bend reality, exaggerate reactions, and deliver absurdity without breaking immersion.
Here’s why animated videos are ideal for humor in business:
1. Visual Exaggeration
You can make a character’s eyes pop out when they see pricing, or have them melt into a puddle during Monday meetings — impossible (or expensive) in live-action, but easy in animation.
2. Tone Control
Animation naturally feels more playful, making humor feel appropriate even in serious industries like tech, finance, or healthcare.
3. Character-Driven Comedy
Animated characters can embody your customer, your product, or even an idea. This opens up endless comic potential — think of the famous “Dumb Ways to Die” campaign.
4. Universal Appeal
Animated humor transcends culture, language, and age groups. A quirky visual gag is more universally understood than wordplay-heavy jokes.
Types of Humor That Work in Animated Business Videos
When using videos with animation to incorporate humor, not all styles work equally well. Here are a few that hit the sweet spot:
✅ Relatable Humor
Create moments your audience identifies with:
- “When you realize your invoice is overdue…again.”
- “Trying to explain SEO to your boss…”
✅ Exaggerated Visual Comedy
Use animation to dramatize ordinary experiences:
- A team member literally buried in paperwork
- A coffee mug growing legs and walking out when the office runs out of caffeine
✅ Unexpected Outcomes
Set up a standard business scenario and then deliver an absurd twist:
- A boardroom presentation that turns into a space mission
- A sales call answered by a dinosaur in a tie
✅ Satirical or Self-Aware Humor
Poke gentle fun at your own industry or brand:
- “Our AI is smarter than your entire IT team (we’re kidding… kind of).”
When (and Where) to Use Humor in Animated Business Videos
You don’t have to make your entire video funny. Strategic humor placed in the right moments can lighten the mood and enhance your message.
Great Places to Add Humor:
- Opening hook: Grab attention with a surprising visual gag
- Transition scenes: Keep energy up between sections
- Analogies or metaphors: Use humor to simplify complex ideas
- Calls-to-action: Make the CTA moment feel less salesy
Types of Business Videos That Work Well with Humor:
- Explainer videos
- Product demos
- Customer onboarding
- Internal training videos
- Brand campaigns
- Social media ads
Real-World Examples of Humor in Animated Business Videos
1. Slack – “So Yeah, We Tried Slack”
This animated video walks viewers through a fictional office trying Slack for the first time. The humor comes from exaggerated personalities and workplace chaos something every team can relate to.
2. Dropbox – “What is Dropbox?”
An early classic, Dropbox used a simple stick-figure animation style with light humor to explain a complex concept in a human, easy-to-understand way.
3. Mailchimp – Brand Campaign Animations
Mailchimp has mastered quirky, surreal animation mixed with dry humor like making a “marketing robot” feel like an awkward intern. Their brand feels friendly, not corporate.
These campaigns prove that adding humor through videos with animation doesn’t cheapen your message it enhances it.
How to Strike the Right Balance: Humor + Value
Injecting humor into business animation doesn’t mean turning your video into a comedy sketch. The goal is to complement not compete with your core message.
Follow These Guidelines:
- Know Your Audience
Avoid jokes that might confuse or alienate your target market. What’s funny to a startup founder may not land with a corporate CFO. - Stay On-Brand
Match humor with your brand’s tone. If you’re generally sleek and serious, consider dry humor or subtle wit. - Don’t Overdo It
One well-placed joke can enhance clarity. Too many, and you’ll lose your message. - Test Before You Launch
Share drafts with a few team members or customers. If they laugh at the right moments (and still remember the message), you’re on the right track.
Tips for Writing Funny Animated Scripts
Writing humor for animated business videos takes a light touch. Here’s how to get it right:
- Use contrasts: Set up a formal or serious tone, then flip expectations.
“Our software is powerful. Like, ‘rocket-to-Mars’ powerful.” - Incorporate character quirks: Give animated personas funny habits or catchphrases.
“Carl, the over-explaining coworker, is back again with charts.” - Keep it tight: Humor needs timing. Use short sentences, quick reveals, and punchy dialogue.
- Play with visuals: Sometimes, the funniest moments are silent a well-timed eye-roll, an over-the-top fall, or a desk literally catching fire from too many emails.
Tools to Bring Animated Humor to Life
Creating funny videos with animation is easier than ever with the right tools.
Recommended Platforms:
- Vyond – Great for business-focused animation with character expressions and voiceover syncing.
- Toon Boom – Ideal for custom animations with more artistic control.
- Animaker – Drag-and-drop friendly with prebuilt templates and effects.
- Adobe After Effects – Perfect for kinetic text, transitions, and professional motion graphics.
- Powtoon – Simple and effective for explainer videos with humor.
Pair these with a witty script and a skilled voice actor, and you’ve got a recipe for attention-grabbing content.
Final Thoughts
Humor has the power to make people feel something and when people feel, they remember. In the world of B2B and corporate content, that emotional connection is often missing. But with the rise of digital storytelling, videos with animation have become the perfect medium to reintroduce humanity, laughter, and lightness into business messaging.
Whether you’re explaining software, onboarding a new hire, or launching a product, humor can help you connect. And when you animate it, you open up endless creative possibilities to surprise and delight your audience.
So next time you sit down to plan a video, don’t be afraid to ask: “How can we make this a little more fun?”
