What animated videos are and where to start

An animated video is a sequence of still images, drawings, or digital objects that move across the screen to tell a story or explain an idea. Unlike live-action video, you build animation frame by frame — either by drawing each one yourself, using pre-made characters and objects, or letting software create the motion between two key positions you set.

The path you take depends on what you already have and how much time you want to spend. If you have a script and a message but no animation experience, the fastest route is a tool like Animaker, Powtoon, or Canva's animation features, which let you drag pre-built elements onto a timeline and set them moving. If you want to draw your own characters or have more control over every movement, you will need software like Adobe Animate, Blender, or Procreate Dreams — but these have a steeper learning curve.

Before you pick a tool, decide what kind of animation fits your message: explainer videos (simple shapes and text moving to narration), character animation (a figure walking, talking, or reacting), motion graphics (text and icons animating in rhythm with music), or stop-motion (photographing physical objects in tiny position changes). Each one uses different software and takes a different amount of time.

Key Takeaways

  • Animated videos are built frame by frame or by setting keyframes that tell software how to move objects between two positions.
  • Beginner-friendly tools like Animaker and Canva use drag-and-drop templates, while professional tools like Adobe Animate and Blender give you more control but require learning.
  • You need a script or storyboard before you start animating, so the visuals match what you want to say.
  • The time from script to finished video ranges from a few hours (using templates) to weeks (if you are drawing characters yourself).
  • Most animation software lets you add voiceover, music, and sound effects after the movement is done.

Planning your video with a script and storyboard

Before you open any software, write down what you want to say. A script is the narration or dialogue — the actual words that will play while the animation happens. Keep it short: a 60-second video needs roughly 150 words, and a 2-minute video needs about 300 words. Read it aloud to hear how long it actually takes.

Next, sketch or describe what happens on screen during each sentence. This is your storyboard — a simple sequence of what the viewer sees. You do not need to draw well; stick figures and labeled boxes work fine. The point is to know whether you are showing a person walking, a chart growing, text appearing, or something else. Without this, you will waste time animating things that do not match your words.

Write down any sounds you want besides the voiceover: background music, a bell ringing, a whoosh when something moves. Note where they happen in the script. This makes it much faster to add them later, because you already know the exact moment they belong.

Choosing between template-based and blank-canvas tools

Template-based tools like Animaker, Powtoon, and Canva come with pre-built characters, backgrounds, and animations you can customize. You pick a template that roughly matches your message, swap in your own text and colors, and the software handles the timing. Most of these tools let you record or upload voiceover, then sync animations to the words automatically. This route takes hours, not days.

The trade-off is that your video will look similar to thousands of others made with the same tool. If you need something unique or want to animate your own drawings, you need a blank-canvas tool. Adobe Animate, Blender, and Procreate Dreams let you import artwork or draw directly in the software, then set keyframes to control exactly how things move. These tools have steeper learning curves — expect to spend time watching tutorials — but you have complete control.

A middle ground is using a template tool to build the structure and timing, then exporting it and refining it in a more advanced tool. Many professionals start this way: they use Canva or Animaker to lock in the pacing and narration, then import the video into Adobe Premiere or After Effects to add polish.

Building your animation frame by frame or with keyframes

There are two main ways software creates motion. Frame-by-frame animation means you draw or place an object in a slightly different position for each frame, like a flip book. This gives you the most control but takes the longest — a 10-second animation at 24 frames per second needs 240 individual images. Stop-motion and hand-drawn animation use this method.

Keyframe animation is faster: you tell the software where an object starts and where it ends, and the software fills in all the frames between. You set a keyframe at the beginning (a circle at position A), move to a later point in time, set another keyframe (the circle at position B), and the software draws all the motion in between. Most modern tools, including Animaker and Adobe Animate, use keyframes because they save hours of work.

When you are building in a template tool, you usually just drag objects and set timing — the keyframes happen behind the scenes. When you are using a blank-canvas tool, you manually set keyframes by moving an object, clicking a button to record that position, moving forward in the timeline, moving the object again, and clicking record again. The software interpolates the motion between those two points.

Recording and syncing voiceover to your animation

Most animators record voiceover after the animation is roughed in, because hearing the actual words helps you time the movement correctly. Some tools let you record directly in the software; others require you to record in a separate app like Audacity (free) or GarageBand, then import the audio file.

Once your voiceover is in the timeline, watch it play and adjust animation timing to match. If the narrator says "the number doubled," the animation should show the number changing at that exact moment. This synchronization is what makes animation feel intentional rather than random. Most tools let you see the audio waveform on the timeline, so you can see exactly where the narrator pauses or emphasizes a word.

If you do not want to record yourself, many tools have text-to-speech built in — you type your script and the software reads it aloud in a chosen voice. The timing is automatic, which saves time but sounds less natural. Paid tools usually have better-sounding voices than free ones.

Adding music, sound effects, and final polish

After animation and voiceover are locked, add background music and sound effects. Most animation software has a built-in library of royalty-free music and sounds, or you can import your own from sites like Pixabay, Freepik, or YouTube Audio Library. Keep the music quieter than the voiceover so the words stay clear.

Sound effects make animation feel alive: a whoosh when something moves fast, a pop when something appears, a gentle chime when text lands. Use them sparingly — too many sounds distract from the message. Place them at moments that match the animation, not randomly.

Before you export, watch the whole video at least twice. Check that text is readable, colors are consistent, timing matches the narration, and nothing is cut off at the edges. Most tools let you preview at different sizes, which helps catch problems that only show up on phones or small screens.

Exporting and choosing the right file format

When you are ready to share, export your video in a format that matches where it will be watched. MP4 is the most universal format — it plays on phones, computers, and most websites. MOV is common if you are working on a Mac. WebM is smaller and works well on websites. Most tools default to MP4, which is the safest choice.

Pay attention to resolution: 1080p (1920 × 1080 pixels) is standard for most uses, including YouTube and social media. If you are making a video for a phone app, 720p (1280 × 720) is often enough and exports faster. Higher resolution takes longer to export and creates larger files, but looks sharper on big screens.

Before you export, check whether the tool is compressing your audio and video. Some free tools compress heavily to keep file sizes down, which can make the video look blurry or sound muffled. Paid tools usually give you control over compression quality — choose "high quality" if you have the storage space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know how to draw to make an animated video?

No. Template-based tools like Canva and Animaker come with pre-drawn characters and objects you can use. If you want to animate your own drawings, you can import artwork from any source — commission an artist, use stock illustrations, or draw in a separate app like Procreate and import the images. The animation software does not require drawing skill.

How long does it take to make a 2-minute animated video?

Using a template tool with a script already written, expect 2 to 4 hours. If you are drawing characters yourself or building from a blank canvas, add 1 to 3 weeks depending on complexity. Most of the time goes to planning and animation; voiceover and music are usually quick once the visuals are done.

Can I use copyrighted music in my animated video?

Not without permission. Use royalty-free music from libraries like YouTube Audio Library, Pixabay, or Epidemic Sound. Most animation tools include royalty-free music in their libraries, so you can use it without worrying about copyright strikes if you upload to YouTube or social media.

What is the difference between Animaker and Adobe Animate?

Animaker is template-based and beginner-friendly — you drag elements and set timing, and it handles the animation. Adobe Animate is a blank-canvas tool where you draw or import artwork and manually set keyframes. Animaker is faster for simple explainer videos; Adobe Animate gives you more control for custom character animation or motion graphics.

Can I edit my video after I export it?

Yes, but it is harder. Once you export to MP4, you have a video file, not an editable animation project. If you need to change something, go back to your animation software, make the change, and export again. This is why it is important to save your project file (not just the video) so you can edit it later.