4 Inspiring Ways Motion Graphics is Influencing Video Production

Sometimes simplicity is the most effective tool you can use when conveying a message. Whether you are in marketing, entertainment, or education, motion graphics has found its home as one of the best ways to put a spark in your content.

Whether your outlet is television, film, YouTube, or Vimeo, video production has taken a huge leap in quality with the average content creator. We’ll outline four ways motion graphics has gone from high-end production companies, to the part-time artist working from home, and how it is changing the landscape of entertainment.

1. The After Effects, Effect

With the age of technology thriving, and Moore’s Law still holding true, anyone with a decent computer and internet connection can truly become a one-stop-shop for hours of web-based content. With consumer based products like the Adobe Creative Suite, which includes editing software such as After Effects and Premiere, the average teenager has more producing power than some production companies had 20 years ago.

With this unreal spike in amateur-produced content, video communities such as YouTube have become massive sources of entertainment, with hours of video being uploaded every second. Some may say the only problem is the lack of traditional hardware, such as high-end production cameras, which holds back the true quality and production-value of the content uploaded to sites like YouTube.

Due to this, motion graphics and animation has seen huge upswing in creation, with the artist only needing their imagination and the software to produce their videos, according to VIA Productions. Leaving no one held back from creating amazing (or maybe not-so amazing) motion graphics and sharing them with the world. Either way, the ability to view and create this content has never been greater, with its popularity only on the rise.

2. Traditional Animation

Children’s animated movies have always seen massive success, dating all the way back to the original pioneers such as Walt Disney. With the advances of technology, CGI movies have been a mainstay since the huge success of early films like Toy Story and A Bug’s Life. Since then, CGI based films have proven to be some of the most popular and financially successful films to ever be released. As of the end of 2016, Disney alone had three animated films rank in the top ten for highest grossing films.

The influence these films have had on traditional video production is obvious, with computer generated content gaining ground over normal point-and-shoot based videos. As animated options become easier to produce for the every-day editor, and the exposure with Hollywood films stays consistent, the animated “trend” will seemingly stay massively popular.

3. The Age of Information

One of the best implements of motion graphics, and traditional graphics for that matter, is the ease of publishing data and news in an entertaining and informative ways. Instead of traditional reporting, major news outlets are choosing to use ‘infographic’ style representations of their content.

The rise in infographics came with an equal rise in motion animation graphics, with daily videos and reports being represented in a flashy animated form instead of the ‘talking-head’ style of days past. Acting as one of the most practical and business relevant uses of motion graphics, editors and animators seemingly have become just as important as reporters and journalists.

4. Invisible CGI

While the traditional use of animation, CGI, or motion graphics persists in common media, one of the most impressive uses is meant to go seemingly unnoticed. Recent CGI technology has been able to successfully infiltrate live action films, with the audience none the wiser. While it usually consists of background elements, lighting effects, and other subtle additions, they have recently advanced to a much more aggressive level.

In the latest addition to the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: Rogue One, the filmmakers have successfully included fully CGI characters, leaving viewers completely unaware. This has opened the door for actors and actresses of days past to find new life in current films.

The influence of animated elements in video production are evident, leaving marks on nearly every corner of video production. As we grow further into technology, time will only tell where motion graphics will find use next.