How To Make Memorable Animated Commercials

Animated commercials are a powerful way to engage audiences and communicate your brand message. They are fun, engaging, and can help you stand out in a crowded market. In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of making animated commercials, provide examples, and answer common questions about how much they cost, how long they take to make and how to make animated commercials that are memorable.

Hire Video Igniter’s Animators To Create Animated Commercials Like This

Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animated video for you. Check out our animation portfolio here. Request access to our demo reels and price sheet here.

Contact us or schedule a call to start making your video.

Are you looking for an example of a different kind of animated commercial? Send us a message to let us know what kind of animation example you want to see and we will follow up with relevant production samples.

 

How to make an animated commercial?

Here’s a brief overview of the process to make an animated commercial:

Determine your target audience and marketing objective

Before you start creating your animated commercial, it’s important to specify your target audience, what you want to communicate, what you want to show and what you want to achieve with the advertisement.

Hire An Animator, A Studio, or VideoIgniter.com

Now that you know what kind of commercial you want to make, you can start looking for an animator that’s capable of producing the type of animation you envision.

Check out this companion article for more tips on how to hire an animator.

Develop The Script

After you’ve hired an animator to help with your project, it’s time to develop your script. You can write it yourself and save some money on your production budget. Or you can hire your animator to create it for you. In either case, your script should be concise, engaging, and convey your message clearly.

Create A Storyboard

A storyboard is a sequence of sketches and instructions that explain what sorts of visuals our production team will create for each part of your script. You can create the storyboard yourself using our storyboard template or you can hire an animator create it for you.

Develop Concept Art

There are many different animation styles to choose from, including 2D, 3D, motion graphics, frame-by-frame and stop-motion. Our art team will help you design custom concept art that suits your brand and budget.

Create Illustrations

After the concept art is approved, our art team will create all of the custom illustrations for your animated commercial. You get an opportunity to review them and request revisions before approving the art for production.

VoiceOver & Music

Our team will audition voiceover talent and identify soundtracks that will enhance the presentation of your animated commercial. Let us know which voiceover artist you prefer and we’ll oversee the recording of the full voiceover. You get a chance to listen to it and request revisions before approving the recording for production.

Animate

Now that the voiceover and illustrations are approved, we can animate your commercial!

Review & Edit

Once the animation is complete, give it a detailed review (ideally with members of your target audience) and send us your feedback. We’ll incorporate your revisions and render out the final draft for you to use.

What are the benefits of making animated commercials?

1). Increased engagement: Animated commercials are visually appealing and can capture the viewer’s attention quickly. They are more likely to be shared on social media, increasing your brand’s exposure.

2). Cost-effective: Compared to live-action commercials, animated commercials are often less expensive to produce. You don’t need to hire actors, rent locations, or purchase expensive equipment.

3). Flexibility: Animated commercials allow for flexibility in visual storytelling, making it easier to convey complex ideas in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

4). Brand recognition: Animated commercials can help increase brand recognition and build brand loyalty through memorable characters and visuals.

5). Versatility: Animated commercials can be used in various marketing channels, including TV, social media, and your website. They can also be repurposed into shorter clips, GIFs, or memes, extending their reach.

How To Make Your Animated Commercial Memorable

Earlier, we explained how to make an animated commercial – but how to you make an animate commercial that is effective and memorable? Here are some tips to keep in mind when developing the script, storyboard and visual style for your animated commercial:

Keep it simple

A clear and concise message is key to making a memorable animated commercial. Keep the storyline simple. Stay focused on the main message you want to communicate.

Focus on storytelling

Develop a narrative that connects with your target audience emotionally and keeps them engaged.

Use music and sound effects

Music and sound effects enhance the overall impact of your animated commercial. Watch a commercial with just a voiceover and no music and you’ll feel how awkward, empty and lifeless the commercial is without music and light sound effects.

Use memorable characters

Animated characters can make your commercial more memorable and relatable. If you don’t already have a mascot for your brand, develop a custom character that embodies your brand’s values & personality in a way that your audience can connect with.

Create a unique visual style

An animated commercial with a unique visual style can help your message stand out from the rest. Develop a distinct look and feel that reflects your brand’s personality and captures the audience’s attention.

Use humor

Humor is a great way to make your animated commercial memorable. Use humor that is relatable to your target audience and that aligns with your brand’s values.

Keep it short

A shorter animated commercial is more likely to be remembered. Keep the commercial under 30 seconds if possible to ensure it’s memorable and impactful.

What does it cost to make an animated commercial?

The cost of creating an animated commercial varies depending on several factors like: animation style, length, complexity, and production quality.

A simple 2D animated commercial can cost as little as $5,000-$15,000, while a complex 3D animated commercial can cost upwards of $100,000.

How long does it take to make an animated commercial?

The time it takes to make an animated commercial depends on the project’s complexity and length. On average, a 30-second 2D animated commercial can take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks to complete. A 3D animated commercial takes 2-3x more time to produce.

What does it cost to run an animated advertisement media campaign?

The cost of running an animated media ad campaign depends on several factors, including:

• The platforms you advertise on…
• The duration of the campaign…
• And your target audience.

On average, a social media campaign can cost between $2,500-$25,000/month while a TV commercial can cost upwards of $100,000 for a single placement.

Check out these companion articles for a deep dive on video marketing and video promotion services Video Igniter can help you with.

Where To Use Your Animated Commercial For Maximum Impact

Creating a great animated commercial is only half the battle. To get the best return on your investment, you need to distribute it strategically across the channels where your audience already spends time. An animated commercial isn’t just for TV—it can be adapted and deployed across dozens of digital touchpoints.

Start with your website. Placing your animated commercial on your homepage or key landing pages can instantly improve engagement and conversion rates. Visitors understand your offer faster when they see it explained visually.

Next, consider social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Each platform has its own optimal video length, aspect ratio, and style. For example:

• Square or vertical animated commercials perform better on mobile-first platforms.

• Short, punchy versions work well for TikTok and Instagram Reels.

• Slightly longer, more informative cuts can succeed on YouTube and LinkedIn.

You can also use animated commercials in email marketing campaigns. Adding the word “video” to an email subject line often increases open rates, and including a short animated commercial can improve click-through rates.

Other high-impact placements include:

• Trade show displays and event screens

• Sales presentations

• App store listings

• Digital billboards

• Pre-roll ads on streaming platforms

By planning distribution ahead of production, you can design your animated commercial in multiple formats and lengths, ensuring it performs well everywhere it appears.

How To Adapt One Animated Commercial Into Multiple Ads

One of the biggest advantages of animated commercials is how easy they are to repurpose. A single 30-second animated commercial can be transformed into a full suite of marketing assets.

For example, you can create:

• A 6-second bumper ad for YouTube

• A 10-second social media teaser

• A silent, captioned version for autoplay feeds

• A vertical cut for Instagram Stories or TikTok

• GIFs or short loops for display ads

• Still frames for banner ads or thumbnails

Because everything is created digitally, your animation team can quickly re-edit scenes, adjust timing, or swap text to create multiple variations. This makes animated commercials especially efficient for campaigns that require frequent testing or updates.

Repurposing also improves brand consistency. Instead of creating separate visuals for each channel, you maintain the same characters, colors, and messaging across all touchpoints.

Key Metrics To Track For Animated Commercial Performance

To improve the effectiveness of your animated commercial over time, it’s important to track performance metrics. These insights help you understand what’s working and what needs adjustment.

Common metrics include:

View-through rate (VTR):
The percentage of viewers who watch your animated commercial to completion. A higher VTR usually means your content is engaging.

Click-through rate (CTR):
Measures how many viewers clicked your call-to-action after watching the animated commercial.

Conversion rate:
Tracks how many viewers completed your desired action—such as signing up, purchasing, or requesting a demo.

Cost per conversion:
Helps you understand the financial efficiency of your animated commercial campaign.

Engagement metrics:
Likes, shares, comments, and watch time can reveal how your audience feels about your content.

By analyzing these numbers, you can create improved versions of your animated commercial. For example, if viewers drop off early, you may need a stronger hook in the first few seconds.

Best Lengths For Animated Commercials By Platform

While many animated commercials are around 30 seconds long, the ideal length depends on where the ad will run. Tailoring the duration to each platform can significantly improve results.

6 seconds:
Best for YouTube bumper ads and quick retargeting campaigns.

10–15 seconds:
Ideal for Instagram, TikTok, and short social media placements.

20–30 seconds:
A standard length for most online ads, pre-roll placements, and TV spots.

45–60 seconds:
Works well for more complex products or brand storytelling on YouTube, websites, or landing pages.

When planning your animated commercial, it’s smart to design a master version that can easily be trimmed into shorter cuts. This approach maximizes flexibility and extends the lifespan of your campaign.

How Animated Commercials Support Brand Consistency

Animated commercials are especially effective for brands that want a consistent, recognizable identity across all marketing materials.

With animation, you can define:

• A signature color palette

• A custom character or mascot

• A unique motion style

• Consistent typography and iconography

Once these elements are established, they can be reused in future animated commercials, explainer videos, social posts, and presentations. Over time, audiences begin to recognize your visual style instantly, even before they see your logo.

This level of consistency is harder to achieve with live-action commercials, where lighting, locations, actors, and production crews can vary from shoot to shoot.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Creating Animated Commercials

Even well-intentioned animated commercials can fall flat if certain mistakes are made. Avoiding these pitfalls will help you produce a stronger, more effective ad.

Overloading the message
Trying to communicate too many ideas at once can confuse viewers. Focus on one clear takeaway.

Weak opening hook
If the first few seconds aren’t compelling, viewers may scroll past your animated commercial.

Inconsistent branding
Using colors, fonts, or styles that don’t match your brand identity weakens recognition.

No clear call-to-action
Every animated commercial should tell the viewer what to do next—visit a website, download an app, or make a purchase.

Ignoring captions
Many people watch videos without sound, especially on social media. Captioning ensures your message is understood.

By planning carefully and working with experienced animators, you can avoid these common issues and produce an animated commercial that delivers measurable results.

Conclusion

Animated commercials are an effective marketing tool that can help you achieve your marketing objectives. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can create an engaging and visually appealing commercial that resonates with your target audience. Remember to choose an animation style that aligns with your brand and marketing objective, and don’t forget to measure the campaign’s success to refine your approach in the future.

Still have questions about animated commercials?

Do you have a question about animated commercials that wasn’t addressed in this FAQ? Use this form to send us your question and we’ll follow up with an answer. We’ll also post the question and answer to this page so other people can benefit from the knowledge.

What is Video Igniter Animation?

Video Igniter Animation is an online animated video production service. By working with our team online, you can get your custom animated video or explainer video produced faster and for less than hiring a brick and mortar animation studio.

We can help you create any kind of 2D animated video or 3D animation you can imagine. Check out our animated video portfolio!

Watch our explainer video on our home page to learn more about how we can help you create an animated video. For examples of the kinds of animation our team can produce, check out the demo reel below:

 

Looking For An Animated Commercial Producer In The U.S.?

Video Igniter is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Success Stories & Testimonials

“Video Igniter offered us the critical combination of creative value, clear communication, and patience with stakeholder feedback. We ended up with truly high-quality design assets for our video series largely due to the extra level of commitment — and the right balance of efficiencies with flexibility in the process when called for.”

Larry Schlessinger – Sr. Creative Program Manager, Amazon Web Services

“Video Igniter came to us with a number of creative and engaging ideas and were able to create an exciting, impactful video in a short period of time. And the best part was that it cost much less than other options of similar quality. The video they made is a great marketing tool for us.”

Alex Raymond – Founder, Kapta Systems

“I am beyond satisfied with my experience with Video Igniter. The first drafts of the work were almost exactly what I had in my head when developing the concept. After that each step along the way was seamless until arriving at a perfect finished product. And all this at a tremendous value. Anyone who has considered creating a marketing video should check out Video Igniter.”

Anonymous Customer Feedback

Get in touch!

Schedule a call to discuss your animated video project.

Get a quote for us to create your animated video.

Request access to our newest price sheet.

Create your Video Igniter account, fill out a creative brief for your video and we’ll begin production as soon as we receive your production deposit.