How to Make an Animated Explainer Video (DIY or Fast)

You want to make an animated explainer video that explains your business in under a minute, but you don't know where to start. Do you learn a new tool and spend a weekend on it, or hand the job to someone else and get your time back? Either path works, and this guide covers both, plus real prices for every option, from DIY tools to done-for-you studios.

To make one, write a short script with a hook, problem, solution, and call to action. Keep it to about 150 words per 60 seconds of video, record a voiceover, then animate it yourself or send it to a studio. DIY takes hours to learn. A done-for-you studio can deliver a finished video in about 7 days.

DIY or Done-For-You: Which Path Actually Fits Your Time and Budget?

There are two real ways to build your own explainer video or get one made for you: learn a tool and animate it yourself, or hand your script to a studio and let them build it for you. DIY costs less money but costs you hours, often a full weekend the first time. Done-for-you costs more but gets you a finished video without touching software you've never used.

Neither path is wrong. If you like tinkering and have a free Saturday, DIY tools are cheap and you'll learn a skill you can reuse. If your time is worth more than the price difference, or you want something that looks clean on the first try, a done-for-you service makes more sense.

The rest of this guide works like a decision tool. It shows the real steps for building your own video, the real prices at every level, and the mistakes that trip up first-timers, so you can pick what fits you instead of guessing.

Need an explainer video? Get a 30-second explainer for $297 → We write the script, record the voiceover and animate it, delivered in 7 days.

How Do You Make an Animated Explainer Video Yourself?

You make an animated explainer video yourself in six steps: write the script, time it to length, pick a style, record a voiceover, animate the scenes, then review and export the file. Most business owners can get through all six in an afternoon if they don't get stuck on the script.

Step 1: Write your script using the hook-problem-solution-CTA structure

A simple explainer script has four parts: hook, problem, solution, and call to action (Biteable). A call to action is the line that tells the viewer exactly what to do next, like call, click, or book. The hook grabs attention in the first line, the problem names what's bugging your customer, and the solution shows how you fix it.

Step 2: Time your script to your target video length

Plan on about 150 spoken words per minute of finished video, so a 60-second script runs about 140 to 160 words (Breadnbeyond). Read your script out loud with a timer before you touch any animation tool. If it runs long, cut it instead of speeding up the voiceover.

Step 3: Pick an animation style that fits your industry

Whiteboard animation is the budget-friendly workhorse for step-by-step teaching and professional services, 2D motion graphics is the all-round style for most businesses, and live action adds a real face or product when trust matters most (Pexo). Pick one style and stick with it through the whole video. Mixing styles mid-video is a common sign of a rushed DIY job.

Step 4: Record a voiceover (human or AI)

You can record your own voiceover, hire a human voice actor, or use an AI voice generator. A calm, clear pace matters more than a fancy voice. Listen back and ask yourself: would a stranger understand this on the first listen?

Step 5: Animate your scenes in a DIY tool or send your script to a studio

If you're building it yourself, most DIY tools let you drag pre-made characters, backgrounds, and text onto a timeline. If you're going the done-for-you route, this is the point where you'd send your script to a studio instead and let them handle the animation.

Step 6: Review, revise, and export the final file

Watch the full video start to finish before you export it. Check that the pacing matches your voiceover, the text is readable, and the call to action is clear on screen, not just spoken. Export at 1080p so it looks sharp on both desktop and mobile.

How Many Words Should Your DIY Script Have?

Your DIY script should run about 150 spoken words per minute of finished video, so a 60-second video needs roughly 140 to 160 words and a 90-second video needs roughly 210 to 225 words (Breadnbeyond). Most explainer videos run 60 to 90 seconds total (Knowlify), so aim for that range unless you have a specific reason to go longer.

Before you animate anything, read your script out loud with a phone timer running. If a 60-second script takes 75 seconds to read at a normal pace, it's too long. Cut sentences, not just words, since short sentences read faster than long ones squeezed into a tight time slot.

A common script split is Problem 30%, Solution 40%, Proof 20%, Action 10% (Content Beta). For a 150-word script, that's about 45 words on the problem, 60 words on your solution, 30 words proving it works, and 15 words telling the viewer what to do next. Overwriting is the top reason DIY scripts run long and lose viewers halfway through.

Copy This Sample 60-Second Explainer Script

Here's a full sample script built on the Problem 30%, Solution 40%, Proof 20%, Action 10% split (Content Beta). Swap in your business name, service, and call to action, and you have a working first draft.

Problem (30%): Running a small business means juggling a hundred things at once. Customers land on your website, and if they don't understand what you do in the first few seconds, they leave. That's a sale you never even knew you lost.

Solution (40%): That's where [Your Business Name] comes in. We help [type of customer] get [specific result] without [common pain point]. Instead of guessing what to do, you get a clear plan, a real person to talk to, and a process built for businesses like yours.

Proof (20%): We've helped [number, if you have one] customers solve this exact problem, and our process is built to fit into a busy week, not add to it.

Action (10%): Ready to get started? Visit [yourwebsite.com] or call [phone number] today.

Change the bracketed parts to match your business, then read it aloud and time it. If it runs over 60 seconds, trim the solution section first. That's usually where extra words hide.

How Should the Video Change for a Plumber, Dentist, Law Firm, or Gym?

Your video's style and tone should change based on your industry: trade businesses do well with simple, practical animation, while professional services need a calmer, more trustworthy look. There's no single right style, but matching your industry's expectations makes your video feel like it belongs on your site.

A plumber explaining a common repair benefits from whiteboard's step-by-step feel. A law firm explaining a service benefits from 2D motion graphics because it feels more polished and less like a classroom.

Length matters too. Shorter explainers of 30 to 45 seconds suit awareness campaigns and ads, while 60 to 90 seconds suits website and sales use (Yum Yum Videos). A gym running a social ad should aim short and punchy, while a law firm's homepage video can afford the extra 30 seconds to build trust.

What Do DIY Tools, AI Studios, and Done-For-You Services Actually Cost?

Explainer video costs range from about $99 for a DIY tool you run yourself to $50,000 or more for enterprise brand films from large studios, depending on style, length, and who does the work (Yum Yum Videos). Here's how the full ladder breaks down, from cheapest to most expensive.

AI-assisted explainer videos from studios typically start around $1,500 to $4,000 (Creamy Animation), and a fully custom 60-second animated explainer from a North American studio typically runs $5,000 to $10,000, with premium 3D or character work pushing above that (Vidico).

Our two flat-rate packages sit near the bottom of that ladder, and you don't have to touch the software yourself. Our 30-second explainer is $297 one-time (normally $497): we write the script, record a human voiceover, and animate it, delivered in 7 days with 3 revision rounds and a money-back guarantee. Our 60-second explainer follows the same process for one flat fee, and if your project needs something more custom, like specific characters or a longer format, pricing starts from $1,299, planned on a free 30-minute call with a fixed quote within 24 hours.

Want something bigger? Book a free 30-minute video call → We plan your custom video with you and send a fixed quote within 24 hours.

What Mistakes Do First-Timers Make When DIYing an Explainer Video?

The most common DIY mistakes are a script that runs too long, a robotic-sounding voiceover, a style that doesn't match the industry, no clear call to action, and skipping the revision pass. Each one shows up differently on screen, but all of them cost you viewers.

• Script too long: viewers drop off halfway through. Fix: cut to about 150 words per minute of video and read it aloud with a timer.
• Robotic AI voice: the video feels cold or hard to trust. Fix: test a few AI voice options or use a human voiceover if the budget allows.
• Mismatched style: a law firm using a cartoon mascot feels off, a plumber using a stiff corporate style feels distant. Fix: match style to industry expectations (see the table above).
• No clear call to action: viewers finish the video and don't know what to do next. Fix: say and show the exact next step in the last 10% of the script.
• Skipping revisions: the first draft rarely gets pacing and tone right. Fix: watch the full video once with fresh eyes a day later before you publish it.

Do DIY Explainer Videos Convert as Well as Professional Ones?

DIY explainer videos can convert just as well as professional ones, but it depends on whether the video fits the page it's on, not on who made it. The often-quoted 80 to 86% conversion lift from adding video to a landing page comes from data collected before 2020.

Modern results range from a 10% drop, when the wrong video sits on the wrong page, to a 100% lift, when the right video sits in the right spot (Foundry CRO). That's a wide range, and it means the tool you used matters less than whether the video fits the page and the offer.

That said, a rough-looking video (bad pacing, robotic voice, unclear message) can hurt trust more than having no video at all. If your DIY skills aren't there yet, a clean, simple video, even a short one, usually beats a polished-looking one with a confusing message.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need design or animation skills to make my own explainer video?

No. Most DIY explainer video tools work by dragging pre-made characters, backgrounds, and text onto a timeline, so no drawing or animation training is required. You'll need patience to learn the tool's interface, usually an hour or two the first time, but no design background.

Is an AI voiceover good enough, or should I hire a human?

An AI voiceover can work fine for internal videos or quick tests, but a human voiceover usually sounds warmer and builds more trust for customer-facing videos. If your video is going on your homepage or in an ad, a human voice is worth the extra cost or effort. Our explainer packages both include a human voiceover as part of the price.

Can I use the same explainer video on my website and in ads?

Yes, but you may want two different lengths. Shorter explainers of 30 to 45 seconds suit awareness campaigns and ads, while 60 to 90 seconds suits website and sales use (Yum Yum Videos), so a 60-second homepage video might need a trimmed 30-second cut for ads.

How many revisions should I expect to need before the video is right?

Most explainer videos need two to three rounds of revisions before the pacing, wording, and visuals all line up. Our explainer packages both include 3 revision rounds so you're not paying extra to get it right.

What file format should my finished explainer video be in?

Export your finished video as an MP4 file at 1080p resolution. That format plays cleanly on websites, social platforms, and most ad networks without extra conversion.

The short version

Making an animated explainer video comes down to one honest choice: spend your own hours learning a DIY tool, or hand your script to someone who builds it for you in about 7 days. Either way, the same rules apply: keep your script to about 150 words per minute, match your style to your industry, and always end with a clear call to action.

If you've got a free afternoon and want to learn a new skill, DIY tools start around $99 and put you in full control. If your time is better spent running your business, our 30-second explainer gets you a finished, professional video for $297 one-time, with custom projects available after a free planning call.

Ready to get your own video made? Order a 30-second explainer for $297 and have it in 7 days, or book a free call if you want a custom video from $1,299.

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