When people think of 3D animation, they often think of hyperrealistic scenes in movies, like CGI or VFX —however, this is not the only time they see it. 3D is also often used in video production on a much smaller but impactful scale, especially in a 3D explainer video.
What does 3D look like in a company video? When would you opt for 3D in your explainer video? And what are the benefits? In this post, we’ll also examine what 2.5D is and its features
and benefits.
First, the kind of 3D animation you often see in explainers and animated videos is stylistic 3D (as opposed to hyperrealistic environments, though that is used for high-impact promotional videos). This is used in animated video production to create wonder and an immersive environment with more depth and full range movement, which can be done with 3D models and 3D cameras.
3D animation can vary in look and feel, but generally, it creates a sense of wonder and gives the brand or organisation a high-level feeling with a bigger impact. We’ve included some 3D explainer video examples throughout the post to show the scope of what can be achieved and the variety in style and feel.
Benefits of 3D Animation in Explainer Videos
Engaging and Immersive Visuals
3D animation can create immersive and engaging visuals, making the content more memorable – it stands out because you don’t see it every day. With so many explainer videos on the market, including 3D in your explainer is often more eye-catching and spectacular. The dimensional quality creates a higher quality visual experience that’s difficult to achieve with 2D animation, which can result in higher engagement rates and better retention of your message.
Visual Clarity for Complex Concepts
3D animation can show complex concepts, processes, or products that would be more difficult to explain with live-action filming or 2D animation alone. In the studio, we often find for ‘invisible’ industries like finance and tech video where there isn’t much to physically see, addding a 3D element can make it more tangible and exciting to watch.
3D Models can move apart, spin around, and change to ensure the audience can see exactly what is important—for example, the inner workings of a machine. Including voiceover and text labels creates a very clear holistic message, whether for marketing or training purposes.
Versatility Across Industries
3D animation can be used in video production for various topics, from scientific explanations for healthcare products or complex machinery, to high-end retail product demonstrations.
3D Models and the look and design can vary so much; no set style exists. 3D can be used in a fun way to bend reality, create alternate universes, or in a very technical way to enhance communication.
Full Customisation
A video production company with specialised 3D skills can tailor and create 3D models and environments to match the specific brand or style of the explainer video. The whole scene is designed, modelled and styled bespoke to their exact vision.
Existing royalty-free 3D Models can be licensed and/or altered to suit, or created bespoke to match your needs exactly.
If your organisation also has CAD models of products (or similar), then a video production company can often use these to make the animation exactly and fit the product offering for a precise and accurate product demo.
Applications of 3D Animation in Explainer Videos
Product Demonstrations
3D allows products to be showcased from every angle. To showcase product features, functionality, and benefits in a visually appealing and informative way. It can be used creatively, imagining that the product can spin, animate apart, etc., to show all the intricacies and provide a comprehensive visualisation for the audience.
Educational Content
3D is excellent for helping to explain complex scientific concepts or educational topics. Abstract concepts can be visualised in three dimensions, making learning more intuitive and exciting, and more learners are likely to pay attention.
Marketing and Branding
3D can be designed and modelled from scratch with your brand and campaign in mind; any scenes, models, textures etc, will look inherently you. It can make your brand look dynamic and powerful and create memorable and impactful messages. So the video has that wow factor but is still instantly recognisable on a scroll.
3D in marketing videos doesn’t just have to be a physical product. For example, software screens inset into a 3D monitor or laptop moving in 3D space can suddenly become much more dynamic than static screens, adding another level of dynamism.
Technical Explanations
3D animation excels at visualising technical processes, systems, or equipment, whether explaining a complex machine’s inner workings or demonstrating molecular structures, 3D animation makes the invisible visible and the complex understandable.
CGI
CGI 3D animation can used in an entertaining way to create larger-than-life videos, for example, hyperrealistic elements combined with real footage. This is very high-end, as making the 3D elements belong to the real life filmed scene with accurate movement, lighting, texture, and shadows is labour-intensive. It costs more, but it can be very effective at catching attention.
Ai in 3D
There are advances with AI in 3D animation; however, I still notice a lot of poor continuity. So, a character or environment might look quite different from scene to scene and getting it close is tricky. The ability to tailor it to exactly what you need is also quite limited, and the morphing animation you see so much on social media has limited use and varies in quality.
We often find many companies are looking to AI for cost-saving purposes. However, we still see that most AI outputs need fairly substantial human editing to refine anyway.
You also need to be an excellent, prompt engineer to create valuable outputs on a business level, so hiring this person or building up your skills can also add to costs where you may have thought that AI is a cheap alternative way of doing things.
Where Ai in 3D can be helpful is Concept Visualisation, using a program to quickly generate rough concepts for client approval or help to brainstorm ideas.
There are also programs emerging where AI can be used in the asset generation stage to create basic models and textures, which may be helpful, though we haven’t tried it yet, so I can’t confirm.
The 3D Animation Production Process
To give you a bit of insight into the cost and work that goes into 3D video, we’ve included the production process. Video studios may vary this methodology, but the creation of a 3D animated explainer video usually follows a structured process similar to this, with the opportunity for client review and feedback at each stage to ensure the video stays aligned to goals.
- Concept Development and Scripting (1-2 weeks)
- Defining script content, objectives, target audience, and key messages
- Creating an exciting story that aligns with your brand and audience
- Developing a script that balances information with engagement
- Storyboarding (1 week)
- Visual planning of each scene – a written description
- Establishing camera angles, transitions, and timing
- Client review and approval before production begins
- 3D Modeling (2-3 weeks)
- Creating digital 3D assets (characters, environments, products)
- Rigging to prepare models for animation
- Animation (2-4 weeks)
- Bringing models to life through movement
- Creating camera movements for dynamic scenes
- Adding secondary animations for realism
- Usually, they would send a wireframe animation or Pre vis for review – showing the movement but without any texture and lighting.
- Lighting and Rendering (1-2 weeks)
- Once the models and movement are confirmed, add texturing to add surface details and materials.
- Setting up 3D lights to enhance visual appeal in the scene
- Rendering final frames (computer intensive)
- Post-Production (1-2 weeks)
- Adding sound effects and music
- Incorporating and professional voiceover narration
- Colour correction and visual effects
- Final editing and client revisions
Total timeline: Approximately 8-14 weeks, depending on complexity and revisions
3D Explainer Video Cost Considerations
One potential challenge of utilising 3D is that companies cannot generally do it in-house. 3D animation is a specialised skill that requires specialised equipment, so it needs to be considered.
It’s also labour intensive, involving more than just the movement, and often includes modelling, rigging, animation, texturing, and lighting – this may be 1 person or each role is done by a specialist in their field.
3D Character animation, in particular, is quite labour-intensive, as you expect a 3D character to look and move in a much more realistic way than a cartoon-style character. So, this work takes more refinement.
If the scene is quite complex, the texturing and lighting can also add up to ensure it gives a real feel and is fully immersive. Low-budget 3D, where they have cut corners, often stands out in a bad way – the point of it is to blend in and feel reel, as soon as it goes jenky, in terms of look, movement or vfx, the illusion is lost.
To save cost on a 3D explainer video production, you may include just some 3D in your animated video. So that the rest is a 2D video, but one section utilises 3D to explain something or create a few small moments of super high impact – for example, a 3D spinning globe, a 3D animated logo or just a short section of a 3D product in a longer 2D video or filmed video production.
A small section of 3D in your explainer video can be a great way to add some extra oomph while lowering costs compared to a full 3D production—a video production company should be able to advise on how to mix this together seamlessly.
Exploring 2.5D Animation in Explainer Videos
2.5D is also used in explainer videos, but you may have noticed it a bit less. 2.5D has some of the look of 3D, but it won’t move in the same way.
An example of 2.5 D could be an object or scene drawn with a more 3D perspective or some cool extruded text. It will enhance your visuals and give the appearance of 3D, but maintain a more simplified production process compared to full 3D animation. You won’t be able to spin around it or make it move fully in 3D space.
This is great for the budget while giving extra dimension and visual excitement, helping draw the audience in. 2.d D is ideal for brands with a more illustrative or graphic visual identity. This kind of animation is also quicker to create so timelines can be shortened slightly.
Parallax scrolling is another quick example of this, where the background moves at a different pace from the foreground. This simple technique gives a cool effect.
Importantly, 2.5D is less resource-intensive than pure 3D, which requires more specialised programs like Cinema 4D and equipment to create. This is why it’s generally lower cost; it’s less labour-intensive and resource-intensive to create.
Here’s an example of 2.5D – most of this is drawn in a very 3D style, bringing depth, but only parts are full 3D.
Understanding 3D Animation Costs
While pricing varies based on project specifics, here’s a very general guide:
| Animation Type | Basic/Short (30s) | Standard (60-90s) | Complex/Premium |
| Full 3D | £3,000-£5,000 | £5,000-£15,000 | £15,000-£30,000+ |
| Partial 3D | £2,000-£4,000 | £4,000-£8,000 | £8,000-£15,000 |
| 2.5D | £1,500-£3,000 | £3,000-£6,000 | £6,000-£12,000 |
Key factors affecting cost:
– Video duration
– Model complexity
– Number of unique assets required
– Number of scenes required
– Character animation requirements
– Rendering complexity (lighting, textures, environments)
– Revision rounds included
We’ve written a post that goes into more detail about what elements make up the cost of an explainer video
Summary: when to use 3d in explainer videos
3D animation in explainer videos creates immersive, high-impact visuals that help brands stand out. Unlike the hyperrealistic CGI seen in movies, explainer videos typically use stylistic 3D to create depth and movement.
Key benefits include engaging visuals that capture attention, greater clarity for complex concepts, versatility across industries, and brand-aligned customisation. 3D animation excels in product demonstrations, educational content, marketing, and technical explanations.
The production process typically takes several weeks, from concept development to post-production. Cost considerations include the required specialised skills and labour intensity, especially for character animation, equipment, and software. For budget-conscious projects, incorporating limited 3D elements or using 2.5D animation (which creates the appearance of depth without full 3D movement) can provide visual impact at lower cost.
And, while AI tools for 3D animation are advancing, they still face challenges with continuity and quality, often requiring substantial human editing to achieve professional results.
Ready to Explore 3D Animation for Your Brand?
If you’re considering how 3D animation could elevate your explainer videos, we’d love to help bring your vision to life at Digital Finch.
Get in touch if you’d like a free consultation – just a 30-minute discovery call to discuss your project needs or just ask for a custom quote if you have a project brief for a detailed proposal.
