Hand-drawn animation
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Why hand-drawn animation works

Hand-drawn animation is powerful because it gives you complete control over style, pace, and focus. You decide exactly what the viewer sees—and, more importantly, what you leave out. That makes hand-drawn animation ideal for explanations, change, onboarding, and brand stories that need to feel accessible. Are you unsure whether “drawn” is the best format, or do you prefer a cleaner look (typography/icons/data)? Then consider having motion graphics created as well .

You should choose "hand-drawn" if:

  • want to simplify abstract or complex information
  • is looking for a warm, relatable style (without actors or locations)
  • want to create a single visual style that you can reuse later (series, social media posts, presentations)

Proud partners

We are privileged to work for these wonderful brands and are proud of the trust we have earned from our 700+ customers.

"I loved working with Animation Agency. They provided excellent animations, understood our brand from the start, and were also a joy to work with."

Dana Connor

Dana Connor

TransIP

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B2B Marketing Director

"Very fast party, contact is nice and personal, additional questions were addressed immediately and we were well thought of. Super satisfied!"

Anneloes Kuipers

Anneloes Kuipers

Solar Plan

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Social & Creative Marketer

"We can recommend Animation Agency to anyone looking for high-quality animation videos. Their combination of quality, speed and customer focus is truly unique."

Dami Munter

Dami Munter

Schleifenbauer

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Marketing Manager

What is a hand-drawn animation?

A hand-drawn animation is a 2D animation in which illustrations (hand-drawn or with a hand-drawn look) are brought to life. It can be character-driven (cartoon-like), illustrative (calm and brand-specific), or “sketch-like” with texture and line work.

Important: In the industry, “drawn animation” is often used interchangeably with “whiteboard animation” or “explanimation.”

That’s possible, but it’s not the same thing. Whiteboard is a specific format (drawn animation + voice-over), whereas “drawn” can also refer to fully illustrated content without the hand-drawn effect. Are you specifically looking for the whiteboard style? Check out our whiteboard animation services.

Uses of hand-drawn animations

Hand-drawn animation works in a surprising number of situations:

  • Explanation of processes, policies, or services (internal/external)
  • Onboarding and awareness (teams, customers, citizens)
  • Education (curriculum, microlearning)
  • Brand story and culture (values, vision, change)
  • Social content: short clips and snippets
  • Series (content calendar): recognition + speed in production
  • Accessibility and comfort

    Animated graphics should remain pleasant to view, even for people who are sensitive to motion. DigiToegankelijk recommends, among other things, that it should be possible to pause or turn off animations and that flashing should not occur more than 3 times per second.
    In addition, WCAG states under “Animation from Interactions” (AAA) that motion triggered by interaction must be turnable off unless essential.
    And for moving content lasting longer than 5 seconds (WCAG 2.2.2), users must be able to pause, stop, or hide it.

    That is why we offer the following upon request:

    • a reduced-motion version
    • Recommendations for autoplay and controls on pages
    • versions suitable for quiet consumption

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    Style variations

    Illustrative (brand-first): Custom illustrations in your style: sleek, modern, and distinctive. Perfect for B2B, government, and healthcare.

    Cartoon/character (accessible and energetic): Moreexpression, humor, and relatability. Ideal for campaigns, onboarding, and social media. Learn more about this style by exploring what cartoon animation is.

    Whiteboard/explanimation (focus on explanation): Ideal when you want to explain something step by step, using the “drawing moment” to grab the viewer’s attention.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Hand-Drawn Animations

    What is the difference between hand-drawn animation and whiteboard animation?

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    How much does it cost to have a hand-drawn animation created?

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    How long does the process take?

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    Can you implement our corporate identity?

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    Will I also receive assets that I can reuse later?

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    Does this also apply to government or healthcare?

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    Our approach

    We operate in the same way you’ve come to expect from our other services: a streamlined process, direct communication, and attention to detail.

    1. Intake & Objectives: Target audience, channel, tone of voice, and “What should someone understand or do after the session?”
    2. Script & storyboard: We translate your content into scenes that build logically and are a pleasure to watch.
    3. Styleframes (your artistic style): Youcan see in advance what the illustrations will look like: line art, color, character design, and compositions.
    4. Animation + audio: We bring everything to life with perfect timing—and can provide different versions if you need them for multiple channels.
    5. Delivery: Formats for web, social media, and presentations + a clear export package.

    What you'll receive upon delivery

    You'll receive a package that's ready to use right away and is future-proof in case you want to expand later:

    • Hand-drawn animation in the agreed-upon style and length
    • Exports in multiple formats (16:9, 1:1, 9:16)
    • Subtitles (optional) and/or text versions for silent playback
    • Still frames (useful for the web/PowerPoint)
    • Optional: individual illustrations/characters as reusable assets
    • Optional: short clips (5–10 seconds) for social media or website sections

    Would you like to ensure your brand remains consistent in motion (intro/outro/loops)? If so, this pairs perfectly with having a logo animation created.

    Accessibility and comfort

    Animated graphics should remain pleasant to view, even for people who are sensitive to motion. DigiToegankelijk recommends, among other things, that it should be possible to pause or turn off animations and that flashing should not occur more than 3 times per second.
    In addition, WCAG states under “Animation from Interactions” (AAA) that motion triggered by interaction must be turnable off unless essential.
    And for moving content lasting longer than 5 seconds (WCAG 2.2.2), users must be able to pause, stop, or hide it.

    That is why we offer the following upon request:

    • a reduced-motion version
    • Recommendations for autoplay and controls on pages
    • versions suitable for quiet consumption