10 explainer video examples

Summary

The explainer video is a format that has gained a lot of success. It is a video that aims to educate users, inform them, help them solve a problem. We have already talked in depth about what an explainer video is and how to write an effective script. In this article we will present 10 examples of successful explainer videos.

The best explainer video examples

Within the world of video marketing, there are many options for using video. The explainer video is one of the most common formats, alongside promotional videos and advertisements.  

But what is an explainer video? It’s a very short video that aims to educate the audience by presenting a small aspect of your company or brand as a whole. Their goal, often, is to explain how a product or service works or how it offers a resolution to a possible problem. We have already talked about how to create an explainer video with Babelee, now get inspired with these great explainer video examples!

There are several examples of explainer videos: among the most common today are the 2D or 3D animated videos, where a story is shown to the viewers through an animated character that represents the ideal customer. There are animated videos thatinclude motion graphics, whiteboard videos, screencasts, or classic live-action videos. In short, there is not a single perfect format to follow for your video, but there are better ways depending on what you want to communicate and the industry of your target audience.  

Example 1: explainer video and tools  

Animated videos are the most successful type of explainer videos, because they are more immediate and enjoyable for viewers. There are many types of animated videos that you can create, and each of them is better suited to certain areas or objectives. Let’s look at an example of an explainer video that shows the usefulness of a tool and its functionality in how it solves a problem. 

An effective example of an animated video is the one created by Crazy Egg, a tool for marketers that creates a visual representation of the most clicked sections of the page, shows where visitors are coming from, which elements of the page are the most read and cause the most interactions, and which parts of the page are the most ignored.  

The video created by Crazy Egg is in 2D technique and is based around a character who interacts with the different sections of the video, all accompanied by a voiceover. The goal of this explainer video is to present the product and solve the problem of user conversion. Or rather, it shows the tool in action, specifically how the product is the ideal solution for resolving the problem. The scene is dynamic and to the point, enough to not lose the viewer and to keep their attention. The humorous cut and the vintage style, in line with current trends, make the video nice and catchy.  

Example 2: explainer video and communication 

Animated videos, however, aren’t always just built on characters. An example of such an animated explainer video is from Slack, “Communications Without Chaos” the business messaging app that connects people to the information they need. By bringing people together and allowing them to work as a consolidated team, Slack’s goal is to transform the way organizations communicate. 

In fact, that’s exactly what the video shows. Playing with their brand, breaking it down into many pieces, mutating and rebuilding it, Slack explains why its platform is ideal for business communication. The voiceover guides us on this visual and auditory journey into this reality, accompanied by relaxing music that plays in the background as the video recreates “Communication Without Chaos”. It’s an ideal example for companies who want to strengthen their brand awareness. 

Example 3: explainer video and software 

Another interesting example of an explainer video, this time about software, is one created by Microsoft “How does Microsoft Azure work?” to educate the public about its Microsoft Azure product. Azure is a cloud platform created by Microsoft to enable organizations to create, deploy, and manage services and solutions that previously required investment and deployment in local services and infrastructure.  

A conceptually complicated tool that needs a clear explanation: and that’s what Microsoft does! The short video, with voiceover, explains exactly how the product works, using animations to represent, in a concrete way, what happens inside this virtual software. 

It’s a great example of how B2B businesses can use the explainer video format. 

Example 4: explainer video and apps 

Animated explainer videos in 3D format are a more complex and expensive type of video. They are widely used in mobile app development. Its format makes it possible to really unleash your creativity and create really sensational and captivating videos. An example is the video created for Boostation.  

Boostation is a mobile application that allows you to clear the cache of your smartphone. The purpose of the video is to show the solution to a problem, which helps clean the internal systems of a phone.  

The creativity of this video lies in representing the problem of overloading with a metaphor, that of the city. A 3D city is represented on the smartphone, where each element represents the working apps of the smartphone, a city that becomes unlivable because of pollution and continuous rain, that thanks to Boostation, can be cleaned up. 

It’s a creative and funny way to show us what happens inside our smartphone, but above all a resolution to the age-old problem of full memory. 

Example 5: explainer video and apps in live-action 

Another type of explainer video is the live-action video. The format looks like that of an advertisement and the protagonists are human beings. Their presence is interspersed with catchy writing. The advantage of these videos is that they enable a simpler and more immediate identification of the audience on an emotional level. Their purpose is both to promote a certain product and to educate the viewer. With this video, Unroll.Me – Email doesn’t have to suck shows us how you can quickly dispose of uninteresting emails.  

No one likes to receive junk mail, emails that we’re no longer interested in receiving and that only serve to clutter our inbox. This video shows, effectively and in just 30 seconds, a problem and how it can be solved easily, all accompanied by a sense of satisfaction of the protagonists, which can only be contagious. 

Example 6: explainer video and insurance 

The most complex industries are where explainer videos are most useful. Take the insurance industry, for example. It’s often tricky to approach this topic with lots of written text. But here’s an example: Epipheo – How To Choose The Right Insurance Plan.

This animated video explainer helps users choose the insurance plan that’s right for them. The video gives us the story of Bill, the main character who wants to implement his basic insurance plan. The purpose of the video is to provide clarity and it does so by rushing to the character’s car, through dynamic writing, images, and a voiceover that highlights all the possible choices and paths to take.

It’s a complex theme, that through storytelling and simple, creative solutions, helps users make the right decision. 

Example 7: explainer video and banking 

Another complex area is the world of banking. Certain industries, such as this one, need explainer videos to help users. This specific example is a motion graphic video. This type of video doesn’t necessarily have to have a story to tell, in fact it’s the ideal format to break down a complex concept into multiple parts and make it accessible. This is an example: Drip Capital.  

Drip Capital offers its customers financial solutions that provide a low-cost line of credit that traders and importers can take advantage of with just one click. This is a fairly complex concept for those who don’t understand the subject, but thanks to this explainer video, it becomes accessible and easy to use.  

Example 8: Screencast video  

Another explainer video example is the screencast video. Its purpose is almost exclusively aimed at educating the audience, and it is commonly used to explain the process of using a product or service, where it helps by directly showing the computer screen. A voiceover guides the user through the use of a platform or software as in a sort of instruction manual that, instead of being written down, directly shows the audience how to act. Here is an example: Screencast Video. 

Example 9: explainer video and pharma 

It’s common for styles to sometimes intersect. The infographic video from pharmaceutical company Omega Pharma is another great example of a simple, yet engaging video. 

The infographic approach is juxtaposed with minimal animations that use stick figures to explain their USP along with the company’s history. The excellent script highlights what makes Omega Pharmacy better than its competitors. The company’s USP is that patients can avail themselves of their products without a prescription, and the friendly voiceover identifies this. 

Just a few visual elements and data. Another example of simplifying a complex reality through an explainer video.  

Example 10: Whiteboard video 

In this final explainer video example, we’ll look at the whiteboard video. Its function is to tell a story through a voiceover and drawings on a whiteboard. It is a very useful format for approaching complex topics, simplifying them with the help of drawing. In this case, the example is about the world of finance and through a concrete example and narration, the voiceover communicates that Capital Asset Management is the best choice for greater financial peace of mind.  

This mode of video helps even those outside the industry understand the complex dynamics behind these types of transactions and make a more informed decision.  

Explainer videos have the great advantage of showing what is often little understood, in creative and engaging ways. Inspiring, educating, and making people understand are the objectives, and these explainer video examples are a great demonstration of that.