Charity Animation Guide: Storytelling Without Using a Camera
Animation isn’t just for Saturday morning cartoons or big-budget Pixar movies — it’s a seriously powerful tool for charities, non-profits, and anyone trying to tell a story that matters. Whether you’re tackling tricky topics or trying to explain the unexplainable, animation opens up a whole new world of creative storytelling.
Let’s dive into how animation can help your cause and what it really takes to make one.
So, What Is Animation?
In simple terms, animation is the art of bringing still images to life. Whether it’s 2D drawings, 3D models, or even simple text and graphics, animation creates the illusion of movement — perfect for storytelling, explainer videos, or grabbing attention on social media.
It can be anything from fully illustrated characters with voices and emotions to simple motion graphics that make your stats and messages pop.
Why Animation Works So Well for Charities
1. Tackling Difficult Topics
Some stories are just too sensitive, complex, or invisible to film. Animation helps you visualise things you can’t easily capture — like mental health struggles, complex medical conditions, or the impact of climate change over decades.
2. Protecting People’s Privacy
Want to tell a powerful real-life story but need to protect someone’s identity? Animation’s your best friend. You can tell true stories without showing faces or locations, keeping everyone safe while still hitting that emotional impact.
You can find an example where we did exactly this (and point 1) for Safer London here.
3. Making the Complex Simple
Ever tried explaining the inner workings of a charity project… and just watched eyes glaze over? Animation breaks down complex systems, data, and processes into easy-to-understand visuals — perfect for reports, funding pitches, or awareness campaigns.
A good example is this film we created for NOC.
4. Versatility Across Platforms
Animations work everywhere — social media, websites, presentations, emails. And because it’s all designed from scratch, you can easily tweak things for different formats and audiences.
This is something that we were able to do for Activity Alliance’s GOGA programme.
How Does the Animation Process Work?
Here’s a quick rundown of the typical steps:
- Brief and concept — What’s the story? Who’s the audience? What do you want them to do after watching?
- Scriptwriting — Crafting a story that flows well in around 1-2 minutes (because attention spans… aren’t what they used to be).
- Storyboard — Sketching out the key scenes so you know what it’ll look like.
- Design and illustration — Creating the characters, backgrounds, and all the visuals.
- Voiceover and sound — Adding narration, music, and sound effects.
- Animation — This is the bit where it all comes to life!
- Review and tweaks — Checking everything works and making those final changes.
Depending on complexity, this process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
What Does an Animation Cost?
Ah, the million-dollar (or hopefully less) question. Animation pricing can vary wildly depending on:
- Style (simple motion graphics vs. fully illustrated characters)
- Length (short social snippets vs. 3-minute explainer videos)
- Complexity (lots of custom designs = more time = more cost)
As a rough guide:
- Simple 2D animation: £1,500–£3,000 per minute
- Character-driven 2D animation: £5,000–£8,000 per minute
- 3D animation: £10,000+ per minute
For most charities, 2D animation hits the sweet spot — engaging, affordable, and flexible. A little FYI – We don’t usually recommend making animations longer than 2 minutes. Animation tends to work best when it’s short and sweet!
Can You Make an Animation Cheap… or Even Free?
We get it — not every charity has a few grand sitting around for a video. And judging by search trends, plenty of people are Googling “how to make an animation for free”. So, here’s the honest answer:
Yes — there are tools out there that let you make animations yourself, either free or on a tight budget. But (and it’s a big but)… they come with a learning curve. Creating professional-looking animation takes time, even with templates.
That said, if you’ve got the time and patience, here are some options:
Free Animation Software:
- Canva (Free version) — Great for simple animated text and graphics.
- Animaker (Free version) — Basic drag-and-drop animation.
- Blender — Powerful 3D animation tool, but with a steep learning curve.
- Krita — Good for 2D frame-by-frame animation (more for illustrators).
Affordable Paid Animation Software:
- Vyond — User-friendly with templates (Starts around £40/month).
- Toonly — Cartoon-style animations, easy to use (One-off licence fee).
- Adobe After Effects — Industry-standard but pricier and complex (around £20/month).
- Powtoon — Simple, web-based animations (Free version available, but paid plans are better).
Final Thoughts: What’s Right for You?
If you’re after a professional, polished animation — especially for a big campaign or a sensitive topic — investing in a creative team is worth it. But if you’re testing the waters or need something simple for social media, there are DIY tools out there that can get you started.
Either way, animation is an incredible way to connect with your audience, tell your story, and stand out. If you need help with one, we’d love to have a chat with you so feel free to reach out.
