Using AI to Generate Animated Explainer Videos
Introduction to AI-Generated Animated Explainer Videos
Animated explainer videos have become one of the most effective ways for brands, educators, and marketers to communicate ideas clearly and engagingly. Traditionally, producing these videos required a combination of scriptwriters, illustrators, animators, and video editors—often with high costs and long lead times. Today, artificial intelligence is reshaping this landscape. AI-driven tools can now automate large portions of the explainer video production process, from script generation to voiceovers and animation, reducing production time from weeks to minutes.
In this article, you will learn how AI can streamline explainer video creation, the best tools available, the benefits and limitations of AI-driven animation, and how to integrate AI-generated content into a professional production workflow. Whether you are a marketer, educator, entrepreneur, or content creator, AI-powered video generation offers new opportunities to scale your content strategy efficiently and affordably.
How AI Transforms the Explainer Video Creation Process
AI improves every stage of the explainer video workflow. Instead of treating scriptwriting, voiceovers, animation, and editing as separate tasks, AI tools combine these elements into automated pipelines. Below are the major areas where AI provides significant advantages.
1. Automated Scriptwriting
AI can generate clear, concise scripts customized to your topic, audience, tone, and goal. By inputting your key points or product details, AI writing systems create a polished narrative that requires minimal editing. This significantly reduces the planning phase while still ensuring the script aligns with brand messaging.
2. Storyboarding With AI
Traditional storyboards require artists to sketch each scene. AI tools now generate dynamic scenes automatically based on script content. AI systems identify keywords, themes, and actions to visually represent the message. This process accelerates planning while providing a strong creative foundation for the final video.
3. AI-Generated Voiceovers
The rise of neural text-to-speech models allows creators to produce natural, expressive voiceovers without hiring voice actors. AI voiceovers offer multiple accents, genders, emotions, and speaking styles, enabling fast experimentation to find the perfect tone for your video.
4. Automated Character Animation
AI animation engines produce character movements automatically by analyzing dialogue and scene context. They generate lip-syncing, gestures, and expressions with minimal manual input, making them ideal for explainer videos that require clarity and storytelling but do not demand custom frame-by-frame animation.
5. Fast Video Rendering and Editing
Once the script, voiceover, and animation elements are in place, AI platforms can render the final video within minutes. Built-in editors allow you to refine visuals, adjust timing, change colors, and modify character behaviors. This workflow lets creators quickly produce multiple variations for different platforms or audiences.
Top AI Tools for Creating Animated Explainer Videos
A variety of AI tools help creators generate animated content with little technical expertise. While the market evolves rapidly, several platforms stand out for their features, ease of use, and affordability.
1. AI Animation Platforms
- Tools like Animaker, Renderforest, Powtoon, and Vyond use AI to streamline animation and templates.
- Users can generate scenes automatically by entering text or choosing recommended visuals.
- AI-powered lip-sync and motion generation enhances animation quality.
- Some platforms offer commercial-use licenses for businesses.
2. AI Scriptwriting Tools
- Advanced language models create explainer video scripts based on user prompts.
- Tools help structure content into introduction, problem, solution, and conclusion.
- Output can be optimized for SEO, conversion, or educational clarity.
3. AI Voiceover Generators
- Neural voice generators produce realistic audio narration.
- Options for tone, pacing, emotion, and character voices.
- Ideal for multilingual video campaigns.
4. AI Video Editors
- Automatically align visuals with audio.
- Generate transitions and scene timing based on script cues.
- Offer instant redrafting and revision suggestions.
Comparison of Popular AI Explainer Video Tools
| Tool | Strengths | Best For |
| Tool A | Fully automated animation pipeline | Beginners and marketers |
| Tool B | High-quality character animations | Professional video producers |
| Tool C | Advanced voiceover generation | Multilingual projects |
| Tool D | Strong template library | Fast turnaround content |
Benefits of Using AI to Create Animated Explainer Videos
AI offers numerous advantages that make it appealing for brands, educators, and content creators. Below are the most significant benefits.
1. Speed and Efficiency
AI reduces production time by automating scriptwriting, animation, and editing. Videos that once required weeks can now be created in under an hour. This speed allows businesses to scale content production significantly.
2. Lower Production Costs
AI tools eliminate the need for large teams of writers, animators, and editors. With a single subscription-based tool, creators can produce unlimited videos at a fraction of traditional costs.
3. Consistency in Style and Branding
AI templates and style presets ensure that each video follows a consistent visual identity. This helps reinforce brand recognition across multiple campaigns.
4. Multilingual Global Reach
AI voiceovers and translation tools enable creators to produce multilingual explainer videos quickly. This makes it easy to target global markets without hiring multiple voice actors or translators.
5. Ease of Use for Non-Experts
Even users without animation or editing experience can create professional videos. AI-based automation handles repetitive tasks, letting creators focus on messaging and storytelling.
Limitations of AI-Generated Explainer Videos
While AI brings powerful advantages, it also presents certain limitations to consider.
1. Limited Artistic Flexibility
AI-generated animations rely on templates and preset styles. Highly custom or stylized animations may require manual design or professional animators.
2. Risk of Generic Visuals
Because many users rely on the same AI templates, visual styles may begin to feel repetitive if not customized properly.
3. Voiceover Emotional Limits
AI voiceovers are improving rapidly, but some emotional nuances remain difficult to replicate compared to professional human voice actors.
4. Copyright and Usage Concerns
Some AI tools have licensing limitations. It is important to review commercial-use policies before publishing videos. Always ensure compliance with the tool’s licensing terms.
How to Create an AI-Generated Animated Explainer Video: Step-by-Step
Below is a step-by-step workflow to create your own explainer video using AI tools.
Step 1: Define Your Objective
Before using any AI tool, determine the purpose of your video. Are you explaining a product, teaching a skill, or introducing a new concept? Your objective will guide the script and story direction.
Step 2: Generate a Script
Use an AI writing tool to develop a clear, structured script. Provide a detailed prompt with your target audience, key messages, and specific points to include. Review and refine the generated script until it matches your goals.
Step 3: Create a Storyboard Automatically
Upload your script to an AI animation platform. The system will generate scene suggestions, character movements, and visual layouts. You can adjust the storyboard manually if required.
Step 4: Generate AI Voiceovers
Choose voice styles that match your video’s tone. Experiment with multiple voices to find the best fit. Apply pacing and emotional settings for improved delivery.
Step 5: Animate the Video
Once the voiceover and storyboard are set, the platform will automatically animate characters, objects, and transitions. Customize colors, backgrounds, and timing to align with your brand style.
Step 6: Render and Export
Review the final cut and make revisions. Then export in the desired format for YouTube, social media, presentations, or internal training.
Recommended AI Tools and Resources
Below are some recommended platforms and resources to help you get started. These affiliate links allow you to explore tools used by professional creators.
For more guides and tutorials on AI content creation, visit our learning hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to make an AI-generated explainer video?
Most AI tools can produce a complete animated video in under an hour, depending on your level of customization.
Can AI replace professional animators?
AI is ideal for fast, scalable explainer videos, but custom animations still benefit from human creativity and expertise.
Are AI-generated videos safe to use commercially?
Yes, as long as the platform provides commercial use rights. Always review licensing terms before publishing.
Do AI voiceovers sound natural?
Modern AI voices are highly natural and expressive, though some emotional tones may still sound model-generated.
Can AI create videos in multiple languages?
Yes, many AI tools support multilingual voiceovers and automated translation, making global video creation easy.
