When it comes to the fast-paced world of marketing, you have just a few seconds to grab attention and leave a lasting impression.
And that’s where 30-second explainer videos shine. These short, engaging videos pack a big punch, delivering your message succinctly while holding your audience’s attention and interest.
From startups to global brands, businesses are increasingly turning to 30-second explainer videos to communicate effectively with their audience of potential customers and drive conversions.
Whether social media ads, product launches, or internal communications, these videos prove the adage “less is more” when it comes to engaging audiences.
In this article, we’ll showcase 15 of the best 30-second explainer videos and explore why they work so well. Plus, we’ll answer common questions about the benefits, costs, and creation process of these short-form marketing powerhouses!
As full-time creative weirdos ourselves, we’ll let you in on a little trade secret.
Often, the best way to draw inspiration and hit the right idea– is to check out how others are doing it right and learn from them. It’s true!
And to help you do that, we’ve compiled a handpicked list of the 15 best 30-second explainer videos here.
Let’s start by looking at…
This is a great example of typographic animation or kinetic type, mixed in with some good old-fashioned infographic animation, to great effect.
An added bonus of not using a voiceover is that the video works perfectly well even if the viewer has their sound muted, although the music does add that dash of life and energy to the video’s already dynamic animation.
Have you ever seen that circus act where someone tries to spin dozens of plates at once, and keep them constantly spinning, frantically jumping from one to another?
Well, marketing often seems like that act, like there are so many things to run at once.
Zapier’s automation makes that a lot easier and simpler. But the magic in their animated explainer video is that it doesn’t go into technical details.
Rather, it gives you a sense of what it feels like to have Zapier in your toolkit. This is where the vibrant, colorful visuals come in, stylistic and full of positive energy.
“Professional” doesn’t mean “boring”-- or at least, it doesn’t have to. Microsoft’s animated explainer videos take this idea seriously.
And by seriously, we mean, fun, cool and slick, without getting silly or irreverent.
Take this video for their collaboration with DocuSign, for example.
It’s clean and clear and explains things really well, but it’s also got just a touch of lively animation and bright, upbeat music to pique your interest.
It’s not just a great example of an app or product demo, it’s just a great animated explainer video overall.
We keep saying that animated explainer videos are more art than science.
It’s not just adding some visuals to a voiceover and calling it a day– the visuals work hand-in-hand with the script, amplifying and reinforcing it.
The end result is a whole that’s greater than the sum of all its parts.
And this deceptively simple-looking video by Zendesk is an example of that.
The visuals bring complex, abstract ideas from the script to life, and make it all look simple and straightforward. We especially love the character animation at the end, tying it all together.
Another great example of typographic animation, this video from Transfix is delightfully lively, with a friendly voiceover and just the right touch of humor to keep things light and interesting.
The animation, too, may look simple but it’s carefully crafted to be dynamic and interesting, but not so busy that it would distract from the script or message. This is how you do it!
We mentioned earlier how Microsoft has a unique style to their videos, and here’s another example.
It’s businesslike, but not boring, and maintains your interest throughout, without using flashy gimmicks or screaming for attention.
The animation is still lifting its weight here, even though it’s more subtle and understated, and amplifies the script perfectly.
Creating a great animated explainer video that really stands out from the crowd is easier than you might think.
In this lovely demo video for Miro, what really grabs your attention is the soundtrack, which subversively shifts from sublime classical music into an energetic modern beat.
It’s unexpected and adds that twist to the story that really keeps you watching!
When it comes to showing off your brand’s personality, this animated character explainer video is one of the best B2B marketing videos we have seen yet.
This startup explainer video is made by the cool folks at XPLAI for a meal kit startup called Gobble.
This video has gone above and beyond to make Gobble’s offering more exciting and engaging.
The visuals stay true to the brand’s color scheme, giving it a personal touch of its own and that goes a long way in building an emotional bond with your customers.
We all know we each have a digital footprint. Corporations are paying handsomely for our personal information. But what do we get out of it?
Yext’s video explains how they want to flip the script and empower users again, and make search work for both customers and the businesses they patronize.
The video is a mix of live action and animation, with a lively and energetic voiceover that powers its story.
Doctors and therapists at small clinics have enough work on their hands already, managing dozens of clients, juggling schedules, and keeping track of billing.
So SimplePractice created management software to make everything as smooth and easy as possible and used animated explainer videos to tell everyone how it all works.
The script makes sure to address every pain point faced by the practitioner of any small clinic. And note how the video uses both character animation and simplified screenshots to explain how their platform works to make their professional lives much easier and better.
Regardless of your business, it’s always all about the numbers. And churn is a big headache for any business, eating up your time, energy, and profits.
Recurly has set out to end that effectively and easily. But how does it all work?
That’s where explainer videos come in. They used animation to quickly explain their offering.
Some upbeat music and choice text tell the entire story, boosted with some slick infographic animation, all combining to pack a punch in just thirty seconds.
Picking a career is probably the most important decision of your life– and we have to make it while we’re still finishing up with school! It can be overwhelming and confusing.
Fortunately, universities and colleges have embraced modern media, putting out explainer videos that really speak their young audience’s language.
Like this one from James Cook University in Australia. Created by Vidico, it presents a bright future in the world of data sciences.
It’s a pretty textbook example of an animated explainer video, with bright and dynamic graphics and a friendly natural voiceover.
As we’ve already covered, creating a great animated explainer video is about more than just adding some moving images to a voiceover reading a script.
There’s an art to creating visuals that use metaphors and motion to not only complement the script, but actually amplify it.
And this video for Deloitte is an example of this. The visuals not only capture the viewer’s interest and hold their attention, but they use familiar symbols and clever movements to really illustrate the points and ideas being presented.
With live-action video, it’s a challenge to present ideas that are abstract in nature. But this disadvantage is turned into an advantage with animation– with the help of some creativity and imagination.
If a picture is really worth a thousand words, then how much information could you communicate through video?
This animated infographic explainer video is a good example of this. In just thirty seconds, Maersk explained how their latest offering innovates clever solutions in international shipping.
This is already a massively complex field with many moving parts, but the video breaks it all down using clever graphics and animation in a way few other formats could accomplish in such a short time.
FedEx is the world’s largest package delivery service, so it stands to reason that they take customer satisfaction very seriously. And a big part of that is good, clear communication with their customer base.
Which is why they’ve invested in animated explainer videos. Not to be confused with regular ads, these videos are more like product demos that help their customers make the most out of their services and offers.
Using cute character animation, this video deftly and succinctly explains a common problem, and how to fix it easily, all in just thirty seconds.
Short-form explainer videos are powerful because they’re quick, engaging, and to the point. Here are some standout benefits:
To dive deeper into why explainer videos are a must-have for businesses, check out our blog on the benefits of explainer videos.
Creating a high-impact explainer video in just 30 seconds might sound challenging, but with the right approach, it’s entirely achievable. Follow these steps:
For a more detailed breakdown, check out our guide on how to make an explainer video.
Costs for a 30-second explainer video vary depending on factors like style, complexity, and production quality. Here’s a rough breakdown:
While DIY tools can be tempting, investing in a professional team ensures a polished, brand-aligned video. For more details, explore our blog on explainer video costs.
Short explainer videos are the perfect way to engage modern audiences with limited attention spans.
As these 25 examples show, a well-executed 30-second video can deliver impactful messaging, captivate viewers, and drive real results.
Whether you’re launching a new product, explaining a complex concept, or boosting brand awareness, investing in 30-second explainer videos is a smart strategy for businesses of all sizes.
Explore our blog for more insights on short-form vs. long-form explainer videos and start crafting videos that resonate with your audience today!
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