What is a Doodle video?
You know when you were a kid, bored in a long maths lesson, and you’d sketch silly little drawings in the back of your book? Those are (in basic terms) doodles. Well, imagine if the essence of that could be captured and brought to life once more, through animation? A doodle video is a branch of animation, which features a distinctly creative and youthful style. Doodles can be defined as drawings done impulsively, without loads of pre-planning or conscious thought.
They’re most commonly black and white, done using a pen or pencil, and have a lot of creative, goofy elements. As such, in the context of animation, doodle videos feature a hand-drawn illustration style, are usually black and white, with a plain coloured background, and are both funny and super creative.
What are different types of doodle videos?
Within the label of doodle videos, there are a number of niche video types. Each type is set apart by either its own slightly different style, layout or composition. So, the four main types of doodle videos are:
1) Whiteboard animation
Whiteboard animation videos - one of the most popular of all the doodle video types - create the effect of the doodles being drawn on a whiteboard. Often, they are made to look like a hand is drawing a doodle on a whiteboard, then rubbing out the drawing, to draw the next illustration in the video. The sequence of these drawings (paired with the voice over) create the narrative. These videos are usually done in black and white (or featuring the primary colours), have simple line-drawn illustrations, and feature a cartoon-ish style.
2) Blackboard animation
Similarly to (but also, the opposite of) whiteboard animation is blackboard animation. The style and aesthetic is largely the same, only blackboard animations feature a blackboard as the background, and the ink pens are swapped for chalk.
3) Notepad videos
Notepad videos, again, feature hand-drawn, cartoonish illustrations. But, notepad videos use notepads as the background. This trait gives the video type a range of unique features. For instance, the images can be ‘drawn’ with a wider range of colours. Plus, the animator can choose whether to keep the background plain, or to include lined paper (which gives the video a charming, ‘back to school’ theme). Then, once the drawing has been completed, a hand turns the notepad onto the next page, to start the next drawing. With notepad videos, you can really play up to the creative, childlike essence of doodle videos.
4) Glassboard videos
Glassboard videos are, on paper, very similar to whiteboard and chalkboard videos. However, its slightly altered properties lend the video a completely different look and feel. The illustrations on glassboard videos take place on a transparent pane of glass, and the drawings are done using marker pens, held by a hand. The use of a glassboard takes the viewer away from the school classroom vibe of a whiteboard, and towards a more academic, scientific or lecture-style of discussion. As a result, these videos are most commonly used for informative videos. They’re a great way to make more challenging or dry content more engaging.
Why use doodle animated videos?
So, you now know what doodle animation videos look like. But the big question is, why should you use them? What benefits do they provide, which can’t be unlocked by other types of marketing content? Well, if you’re still not completely sold on doodle videos, see our five top reasons why doodle animated videos should be used below:
1) They neatly explain a complex business element or process - thanks to their combination of voice over and clear, simple illustrations, doodle videos are a great way to break down complex information.
2) They’re perfect for storytelling - the fun aesthetic and human element of these videos gives them an immediate charm, and makes it easy for you to create a compelling story.
3) They’re simplicity at its finest - we love all animation styles equally. But, if it’s a clean, simple aesthetic that you’re after, doodle videos are the perfect choice.
4) They feature a human touch - the use of hand-drawn illustrations (and sometimes, even a hand in the video actually ‘drawing’ the illustrations) gives the videos an extra layer of humanity, and a relatable feel.
5) They add a sense of fun to your brand image - they’re a far cry from the usual plain corporate videos. Doodle videos offer that same clarity of communication, but in a style that is both minimalist and personable.
How to make a doodle video?
There are two main ways that a brand marketer can create a doodle video:
1) Work with a specialist animation agency - one option is to enlist the assistance of professional animators, and work with them to create your video. The process will start with a first meeting, in which you share your initial vision with the animators. Then, they’ll work with you to take the video through its draft forms, completing the illustrations,
adding the animation, recording the audio, and making any edits required. You can create a doodle video that is firmly on brand, but made with precision and artistry, while giving you full flexibility throughout the entire process. Then finally, once the final version is approved, it’s all yours.
2) Use an animation video maker that specialises in doodle animation - or, you could do it yourself, by using an online animation video maker. Usually, these digital tools work by providing you with customisable templates, and a library of pre-made animated images, GIFs, fonts, transitions and colour palettes. Then, you can drag and drop these
elements into the template. You can also upload a recorded audio to the software.
Great examples of doodle videos
To help inspire the start of your creative process, here are two of our favourite examples of doodle videos:
1) Maker vs Marker
The YouTuber Jonny Lawrence demonstrates whiteboard videos at their finest. These hand-drawn whiteboard videos are extremely detailed, engaging, and full of creativity. Plus, they show how this animation medium can (unexpectedly) work brilliantly well in fantasy or action genres.
2) Explainity channel
In this educational video, the topic of globalisation is explained through the medium of whiteboard animation. It conveys the complex topic succinctly and clearly, through a black and white doodle video, and with over 3.5 million views, you can’t argue with its engagement metrics.
Why work with an animation agency like OK Social?
At OK Social, our talented team consists of specialist animators, script writers, illustrators, designers, videographers, and recording artists. And, if those credentials don’t convince you, we’ve worked with some of the biggest brands in the UK, including Ford, Deliveroo and the BBC. OK Social is renowned for its artistry, creativity, quality and extensive understanding of how to help brands maximise their marketing metrics. So, if you’d like to find out more about doodle videos, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
I’m Jack, the Motion Director here at OK Social. I’ve been working in the world of motion design and animation for nearly 10 years. I had the pleasure of working with leading agencies and brands around the world, such as Samsung, Ford, Shell, Deliveroo, and Starbucks, to name a few.
From a young age, I’ve always been interested in animation, from making stop-motion films in my room as a kid to learning animation on my first computer. It started as a passion and still is to this day. Part of what I do now is more than just animation. I help craft the narratives of the stories we tell to ensure they make an impact to the audience and remain worthy of their attention.
So how do I do that? It starts with asking the right questions, leading to solving the right problems. First, diagnose what the problem is. Then, we can start to see if we can help. I believe that communication plays a key role in delivering a smooth and successful project. Looking into the future, I’m excited to expand my knowledge into creating more engaging stories that make a difference.
