It is said that a single minute of video can convey as much information as 1.8 million characters of text, highlighting its exceptional ability to communicate information. Capitalizing on this advantage, it has become standard practice for companies and educational institutions to incorporate video into their teaching methods.
In particular, “animated video learning materials” are gaining attention across a wide range of settings—from textbooks used in compulsory education for elementary and junior high school students to multilingual learning for languages such as English and Chinese and to certification preparation materials for business professionals.
Why are animated video learning materials gaining so much attention? In this article, we will explore the following topics related to animated video learning materials:
“The pros and cons of incorporating video learning materials”
“Reasons for utilizing animation in video learning materials”
We hope this serves as a helpful reference for deciding whether to incorporate animation into video learning materials, which can streamline explanations and prevent reliance on specific individuals.
When you hear the words “learning” or “educational materials,” what comes to mind?
Many of you probably think of the thick textbooks and reference books you held in your hands countless times during your school days.
However, in recent years, it’s not just printed materials—video-based learning resources have also become widespread.
With video recording and editing becoming more accessible, and the ability to easily upload videos to platforms like YouTube, many companies and individuals are now distributing video-based learning resources, which has significantly transformed the way we learn.
Advantages of video-based learning materials
High learning effectiveness can be expected
Even abstract concepts that are difficult to grasp through text alone can be conveyed intuitively through video.
For example, when teaching someone how to fillet a fish, having a demonstration video in addition to a written explanation makes it much easier to understand.
Furthermore, while monotonous learning materials often lead to a loss of focus or drowsiness, video-based materials tend to deepen understanding, which can boost learners' motivation.
Video-based learning materials are easy to remember
It is said that information learned through videos is twice as likely to be retained as information learned through text.
According to research findings published by the National Training Laboratories in the United States, the learning retention rates (Learning Pyramid) are as follows:
The learning retention rate is a metric that quantifies how efficiently you can memorize the knowledge you wish to retain.
Lectures... Attending lectures or classes → Learning retention rate: 5%
Audiovisual... Learning through videos or animations → Learning retention rate: 20%
In other words, learning through video materials is easier to understand and leads to better retention than text-based learning.
*The relationship between the Learning Pyramid and learning retention rates is still debated among experts. Additionally, because individual differences exist, this does not necessarily mean that retention will double.
Can be watched repeatedly
You can watch video lessons as many times as you like, starting from any scene you choose.
Since you can focus on reviewing only the parts you didn’t understand, you can study efficiently.
For content providers, being able to release content at their own convenience is also a major advantage.
Consistent quality
Just as there are popular instructors at cram schools and the like, it’s easy to imagine that differences in teaching style and nuance among instructors can lead to variations in quality.
With video-based learning materials, however, the same content can be delivered regardless of how many students there are, so there are no variations in quality.
High information density
With videos, you can supplement the visuals with narration, captions, graphs, and diagrams.
As a result, it is said that a video contains 5,000 times more information than text—equivalent to 1.8 million words or approximately 3,600 web pages.
*Based on research findings from the U.S. research firm Forrester Research.
Disadvantages of video-based learning materials
Simply watching is not enough to retain the information
Depending on the subject matter and how the video is structured, simply watching a video and thinking you’ve learned something won’t help you retain the information.
Take programming as an example: simply watching videos won’t make you a programmer.
After watching videos to learn the basics, you need to practice—specifically, by writing source code.
For English learning, you might practice pronunciation by repeating after the video or write down sentences as you watch.
In other words, simply watching videos isn’t a complete solution; you need to identify the skills you want to acquire and build on your learning.
Of course, the same applies to learning from textbooks.
Not everything is available as video-based learning material
It is true that video-based learning materials are becoming more prevalent.
However, this does not mean that all knowledge and information has been incorporated into these materials.
Until now, knowledge and information have been preserved and passed down in the form of “books.”
Depending on the industry, the information available in video format is still only a small fraction of the total.
In other words, if you want to gain deeper knowledge, it is highly likely that you will need to find and study books.
It seems like a good approach to learn the basics through video materials and then use other media, such as books, if you want to delve deeper.
Animated video materials
So far, we’ve been discussing video-based learning materials, but recently, animated video content has been gaining attention over live-action videos.
Since animation offers a wider range of expressive possibilities than live-action video, it allows for the creation of content that conveys a greater amount of information.
Implementation in educational settings
Animation is also being incorporated into the curriculum for elementary and middle school students.
Kyoiku Shuppan’s “Math You Can See” makes full use of live-action footage and animation to help students learn calculation methods and spatial geometry in a hands-on way.
Animation plays a key role in employee training and on-the-job training (OJT)
Animated videos are proving invaluable for improving internal efficiency and providing on-the-job training (OJT) to new employees.
Due in part to the impact of the novel coronavirus, more and more companies are adopting video-based learning materials that allow employees to study online from home.
These materials are easier to understand than text-based materials and offer the added benefit of reducing costs associated with venues and instructors.
Animation allows us to convey more information than live-action footage and can depict concepts at a higher level of abstraction.
In the sample video for “Math You Can See” mentioned earlier, the disassembled view of a cylinder was presented using animation; I believe explaining this through text or verbally would be extremely difficult.
Another advantage is the ability to use characters. Characters are memorable, and they can easily use tones and phrases that people wouldn’t normally use in everyday speech.
As an example of English language learning, I’d like to introduce a video explaining the “present perfect” and “present perfect progressive” tenses.
Expressions involving the timeline can also be easily conveyed through animation.
Live-action video production involves many steps—including casting, filming, and editing—and requires a large crew, which tends to drive up costs.
With animation, there is no need to arrange for voice actors.
If you opt for indie animation—video production by individual animators—you can keep costs even lower.
Easy to make revisions
With animation, not only are mid-production revisions easy to make, but even after completion, you can continue to refine the content as you release it to meet the needs of viewers or learners.
With live-action, making revisions requires starting over from casting, followed by filming and editing, which consumes a significant amount of time and money.
Drawbacks of animated video materials
Live-action footage tends to be more realistic
It is often said that while animation tends to produce more abstract visuals, live-action footage is better suited for conveying realism.
To achieve realism, one approach is to incorporate elements of animation into live-action footage.
If you’re unsure about what kind of video will best convey your message to viewers, please feel free to consult with us.
The more detail you add, the higher the cost
While there is no actual filming involved, the more you focus on the visuals, motion, and special effects you want to achieve through animation, the higher the cost will be.
Prices vary depending on the type of animation, so please be sure to check out this article for more information.
Start by consulting an animation production company!
We’ve discussed how animation can be a valuable tool for video-based learning materials.
If you’re considering using animation—whether to distribute educational content on YouTube, create training videos for employee on-the-job training or to improve efficiency, or to brand your company’s materials through animation—please feel free to contact us.
At NOKID, we have a large team of illustrators and manga artists, and we handle all voice-over recording in-house, allowing us to deliver high-quality content.
Feel free to contact us!
Tokuma Kanna
Founder and CEO of NOKID Inc., a premier creative studio specializing in short-form animation and graphic design. With a focus on narrative-driven visual storytelling, he has spearheaded high-profile projects across the global entertainment landscape. His portfolio includes the acclaimed VALORANT: YORU TYPICAL DAYS cinematic, the Hatsune Miku x Seven Premium 15th Anniversary campaign, and Koda Kumi’s music video "100 no Kotoba-tachi e." As a leading producer in the PV and MV sectors, Tokuma continues to redefine the intersection of animation and contemporary digital media.
