Logo animation is a relatively new branding and corporate identity tool used primarily in company video content. And as video becomes an increasingly ubiquitous form of content, animated logos are becoming more common these days.

What brands do not go to to stand out and be remembered by potential buyers! But in no case does not do without a logo. It is with him that the target audience associates the company, so saving on corporate symbols is more expensive for yourself.

In the wake of the total passion for animation and its presence on websites, applications, presentations and advertising, it seems reasonable to want to revive the logo. Let’s consider interesting options for using animated logos, show examples and give introductory prices.

What is the meaning of an animated logo

Most companies have a classic static logo – the “face” of the brand. Nowadays, the trend is animation, with the help of which they breathe new life into the logo and make letters, numbers, signs and other elements dynamic in order to catch and hold the viewer’s attention at first sight, arouse additional interest, and be better remembered.

Today, any brand from micro to large businesses that creates media content should have such a tool. If a company enters the online and / or media space, be it TV, YouTube, Tik-Tok, any social networks, an animated logo becomes a necessity.

The first impression still plays an important role in the presentation of anything, so leaving the logo in a static state is boring to the audience while your competitors captivate them!

Some animated logos have even become legends. Remember the Metro Goldwyn Mayer studio? And if the name itself doesn’t tell you anything, then you definitely saw and remembered its logo at least once!

Initially, the creation of animated logos was popular among the direct producers of content – film studios, video productions, creative teams, etc., but since today every company becomes a media in order to break through the advertising noise, the business has also appreciated the high efficiency of the tool.

A little about our brand

In promoting our own brand, we also use 3D logo animation. The very first version of the logo animation looked like this:

Very simple and unpretentious, but the logo coped with the task – it served us as an interruption, introduction and end (packshot) in many commercials.

Then it was modified and turned into the current logo, which migrated to all elements of the corporate identity, as well as to numerous videos:

After creating the new static logo, we moved on to animating it and made three different versions accompanied by sound effects:

The first version of the logo we use the most

Since our activity is closely related to 3D, three-dimensionality was added to one of the versions of the logo animation

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the animation of our logo, and at the same time, it does its job quite well. Depending on the goals that you are pursuing, the degree of detail of the movement and creativity of the logo can be different – and further you will see this in the examples.

In the world of information chaos, it is extremely difficult to keep the attention of the audience. The movement on the screen is just what fascinates and does not let you look away. Even if in front of you is not a bright picture, but only flashing letters or numbers replacing each other. So how to use such videos?

8 Interesting Uses for an Animated Logo

1. Add it to the top of your corporate video

Today it is impossible to imagine the world of advertising and product promotion without video. 99% of marketers use classic and animated videos for different purposes. According to the results of the 2019 surveys, 88% of them intend to attract even more video content. You can imagine the level of competition.

If your video starts with an animated logo, you will stand out from the rest, declare yourself as a professional. After all, not every company is ready to invest in the creation of logo animation. In such a simple way, you will increase your brand awareness in the first seconds, as, for example, the Render Forest did:

2. Put it at the end of the video

The animated logo looks no less impressive at the end of the video – on the packshot. The advantage of this option is that at the end it looks more organic than at the beginning, while at the same time it allows you to reach the logo from the director’s point of view and present it interestingly to the viewer. This will be a great reminder of your brand and act as a kind of call to action.

3. Draw attention to the brand at the exhibition

It is not so easy to make yourself known at the exhibition: there are many participants, all stands are similar to each other. An animated logo catches the eye and is memorable, helping to keep the viewer’s attention to the end . After weeks and months, the visitor of the event is unlikely to remember the advertising slogans of your competitors. But the brand’s creative presentation on the screen will surely be recognized in a different setting. Another plus for the company!

At one time, we animated the logo of Warner Bros, the largest Film production company in US. According to viewers, the video captivates, attracts attention, and impresses with its scale. At exhibitions and specialized events, such “chips” will certainly become a trump card.

To make it not just a dull screensaver before the presentation of the holding, but a whole story, they came up with a concept:

4. Use an animated logo in your e-signature

Today, everyone has an email. Business correspondence in the B2B segment is especially relevant. Each letter is accompanied by a signature, usually official and boring. From it, the recipient learns the name, position, contacts, but more often no one reads this information. Why not diversify it with a logo animation? Your addressee will probably look at it again, which means you have a chance to get feedback.

Two important points. First, do not overdo it with animation, after all, business correspondence implies a discreet communication format, this is not a messenger. Secondly, the GIF should not weigh too much, so take care of the format and compress the file size as much as possible.

5. Add it to a classic presentation

At the presentation of a product, service or company, it is more important than anywhere else to keep the attention of the audience. When monotonous shots follow each other, viewers quickly lose interest. Logo animation will enliven your video and your story, add zest to them, and increase loyalty.

6. Use it on social networks

Today, the audience has moved massively to social networks, so marketers are looking for effective ways to attract the attention of jaded users. Video traditionally leads this race. People prefer dynamic pictures to static ones, so animated elements become a trump card in the hands of entrepreneurs. Creating a logo animation is your chance to stand out.

What’s stopping them from using it?

For example, for the Double Way blockchain project, we made an abstract logo animation that can also be used in social networks (animated posts, embedding in native content, Facebook covers, Instagram Stories, etc.):

7. Place an animated logo on your own site

Visitors to your site will surely notice the animated logo on the home page. But it is important not to go too far: the animation should be shown only once. If there is too much of it, people will not perceive the main message of the site. Continuous movement will become a source of irritation, which means that you will not see a regular buyer or a new client. So do it, but be careful!

In the animated logo, we tried to convey the concept and spirit of the logo as accurately as possible – the non-stop and consistent movement of the chain of blocks (cells) containing information and embodying blockchain technology.

To do this, we created a video in a single corporate color, and a continuous pan of the camera holds the eye until the very end, until the brand name appears on the screen. You can use it as you like, including at the end of the videos.

8. Bring your banner ad to life with animation

Today you will not surprise anyone with an ordinary advertising banner. Each site is literally immersed in them, and the viewer has successfully adapted and confidently maneuvers between them. Do you want to join the slender ranks of those who throw advertising money down the drain? If not, then make a logo animation and test the online banner of the new format and see the difference!

Instead of a boring static banner, you can use, for example, such an animated version as we did for advertising a foreign online marketplace.

Logo Animation Design Guidelines

1. Keep the timing

The maximum is 30 seconds, but such a long duration for logo animation already claims to tell a whole story about the brand. Ideally stick to 5-10 seconds.

And remember that the quality of a logo is more important than its duration. Agree, you will watch a 3-hour film, but only if it is of interest to you. It’s the same here.

2. Simple logo animation is done inhouse, complex logo animation is done by professionals

If you do not claim the image effect of an animated logo, you can develop it on your own or with the help of artists and designers within the company.

If you need to develop a creative concept or a whole story, contact the video production. Screenwriters, an art director and other necessary specialists will also be involved in the work to make a first-class visual product in a cool, up-to-date style. Especially if 3d graphics appear in the logo animation, it is better to delegate it.

There are things that you are unlikely to produce on your own. Well, for example:

3. First we update the logo, then we animate it

If you haven’t updated your identity and corporate identity for a long time, rebrand first, and then think about animating the logo and other elements. At the same time, we do not recommend running this work either, because the animation can also use small crackles that you draw at the final stage of the formation of the firs. style.

4. Before designing a logo, decide what main idea you are conveying

You don’t have a minute or two to explain who you are and what you do, so think about your business goals, customer needs, and what one short message you want to convey to your audience. Not two ideas, not three. One!

5. Use sound design

Sound effects are 50% of the impression of the picture, so be sure to sound the logo, no matter what it is and no matter how long it lasts. Remember the Metro Goldwyn Mayer logo at the beginning of the article, half the impression of it is the roar of a lion!

6. Update your logo animation with every rebrand

Do not forget that each update of the corporate identity will entail a redistribution of the logo animation.

7. Adapt to a large number of formats and languages

At the very beginning of creating a logo animation, decide for which platforms you need it and in which languages, then it will take longer and more expensive to redo it. You can also make several unique versions of the logo at once.

Instead of a conclusion

In an age of video dominance, every self-respecting company should have an animated logo. Today, these are no longer frills, but only part of the corporate identity, the same as corporate colors, symbols, and traditions. If you still haven’t created one, ask yourself, is your brand trending?

If you are interested in a creative concept and powerful design – call us! Want to experience how it works in practice, with simpler tricks? Start freelancing. And who knows, maybe this idea will appeal to you and your business!

Good luck!