Animation vs Live Action – Which Should You Choose?

Whenever we get started on a new project, one of the first things we ask our clients is whether they want animation or live action for their video. Sounds simple enough, but you might be surprised by how many questions are thrown up when considering animation vs live action. 

Will it be more expensive to make my video in animation vs live action? Is my vision too outlandish for live action? How will other businesses view my business if we use animation? What even are the differences between animation and live action? Allow us to shed some light on the situation…

What is Animation?

In its simplest terms, animation is a method of filmmaking that uses multiple hand-drawn or digitally crafted images to create the illusion of movement. While animation was once confined to novelty shorts played at the start of feature-length films, now animation is used everywhere, from digital billboards and television adverts, to instructional videos, kids’ programmes and animated movies. 

There is a common misconception that animation is ‘just for kids’ when in reality, animation is used to great effect by all sorts of industries as a way to communicate complicated or abstract ideas in a concise and accessible manner. Think back to the last presentation or training video you watched. You might not have realised it, but animation likely played a part in its creation and why you were able to understand it. If you feel the film didn’t contain any animation, was it mundane to sit through?

What types of Animation are there?

There is a wide variety of animation styles to choose from, each with its own identity and intended audience. Below is a list of some of the most popular types of animation, along with the sort of films and videos that are best suited to them. 

• 2D Animation – Traditionally hand-drawn, but now predominantly digital, this type of animation is best suited to films, cartoons and television adverts.
• 3D Animation – Computer-generated images using wire frame models and realistic textures, animations of this quality are found in blockbuster movies, high production television shows, kids’ programmes and television adverts.
• Stop Motion – Created by gradually moving and photographing physical objects, this animation style is commonly used in short films and classic kids’ programmes.
• Character Animation – Focused on bringing to life realistic people and fantasy creatures, this type of animation is seen in film, television, kids’ shows and adverts with brand mascots.
• Whiteboard Animation – Featuring simplistic illustrations against white backgrounds, this kind of animation is often used in instructional and educational videos.
• Infographic Animation - Small yet effective animations intended to highlight images and information, animations like this can be found on webpages and digital billboards, as well as in presentations, instructional videos and educational content. 

What is Live Action?

As the name suggests, live action refers to a film made in a physical location, relying on traditional methods such as costumes, sets, lighting and sound equipment to create convincing characters and narratives.

What types of Live Action are there?

As with animation, live action comes in numerous forms that suit distinct purposes and appeal to different audiences. Below is a list of the most common types of live action, as well as the intentions behind each style. 

• Advertisements – Depending on the size of the brand or its target audience, this type of live action presents a product or service in a manner that makes it more appealing to its main demographic.
• Event Videography – Compiling footage of real people, places and events, this example of live action attempts to capture real stories as authentically as possible.
• Interviews – As straightforward as filmmaking gets, this type of live action records the experiences and perspectives of real people.
• Vlogs – Immensely popular on social media, this informal style of live action allows individuals to form a more personal connection with their audience.
• Explainer Videos – From quick demos to quantum physics, this style of live action attempts to explain complicated topics or processes in an accessible way. 

The Pros and Cons of Animation vs Live Action

Now that you have an overview of animation vs live action, we can get down to the nitty-gritty of why animation is better than live action for your brand video, or why live action might be the best medium to capture the messaging of your next campaign. 

Pros of Animation

• Boundless Possibilities – There are no limits to the people and places you can create with animation. Whether you want your video set against an exotic backdrop, in an era of ancient history, in a futuristic landscape or an entirely fictional universe, animation allows you to transform a blank canvas into any setting you can imagine.
• Understanding the Abstract – If the strengths of your product or service are hidden behind some technical language or complex process, animation is the perfect tool to translate those abstract ideas into something easy for your audience to understand.
• Emotional Impact – While not true of all animation, the first ten minutes of Up alone are a testament to the emotional power animation can possess in the right context.
• Streamlined Production – Without the need for physical locations, sets, costumes or even actors, you can simplify the video production process and potentially reduce costs.
• Longevity – It is much easier to make additions or amendments to animation during production or even after production has completed. This means that, should your brand message evolve after the completion of your animated video, you have the option to tweak or add to your existing video rather than create an entirely new project. 

Cons of Animation

• Longer Timeframes – Depending on the type of animation you choose and the length you want your video to be, animation can take significantly longer to complete.
• Less Authentic – No matter the quality of your animation, some audiences will struggle to connect with animated characters or worlds, while certain subjects might not lend themselves to the format.

Pros of Live Action

• Authentic Performances – If you want to forge a genuine connection with your audience, nothing compares to telling real stories with real people. Live action is the ideal medium for capturing the human experience and offers the most straightforward route to producing an authentic and emotive video.
• Accessibility – The quality of consumer cameras and domestic drones is improving all the time, making it easier for businesses on a budget to get recording and get their brand name out there.
• Shorter Production – While production times will vary from one project to the next, shooting live action footage typically takes much less time than recreating the same material in animation.

Cons of Live Action

• Set in Stone – Unless you have access to the actors, location, the crew and anything else used in the original shoot, it is very difficult to make amendments to live action video after shooting has wrapped.

When to use Animation vs Live Action

You may have noticed there is a lot of crossover between the advantages and disadvantages of animation and live action filmmaking, with the benefits of one medium corresponding to the detriments of the other. This is because while neither animation nor live action is any better than the other, certain narratives simply work better in animation than in live action. At the same time, there are plenty of subjects that lend themselves to live action more than animation. 

Say you run a charity that raises money for research into a particular disease. If you wanted your video to inform people about the nature of the disease, its signs and the impact it has on the body, you might pick animation over live action in order to visually depict the disease and its symptoms in a way that is easy to understand. 

On the other hand, if you wanted your video to connect with your audience on an emotional level as a way to incentivise donations, you might use live action to capture the experience of one person suffering from the disease. By turning their case study into a video for your charity, you can authentically represent what life with the disease is like, while hopefully tugging at some heartstrings.

When choosing between animation and live action for your video, having a clear understanding of your audience and your message is key. If you are unsure whether animation or live action is the best fit for your campaign, or you would like a rundown of all the services we have to offer, get in touch so that we can figure out the best way to get across the goals of your business.