Bringing History To Life With Animation

The history of our planet is as fascinating as it is extensive. It covers the story of every establishment on earth, makes up the very foundation of modern society and even shapes each of us into the people that we are today. It literally encompasses everything that has ever happened across the globe. Literally. Think Ancient Egyptian rituals, the fall of the Roman Empire, the aftermath of World War II or the invention of the internet. Within all of these major events, there are the niche snippets of history that are unknown to most but just as intriguing.

For example, did you know that the University of Oxford is actually older than the Atzec Empire? Mind blowing stuff.

But these rich historical stories are so often reduced to no more than a dull timeline in a shoddy textbook that would bore even the most enthusiastic history buff half to death. So how can you recreate the emotional value and intricate narrative of our planet’s history in a captivating manner? The answer is – you guessed it – through the world of animation.

Excuse the cliché, but animation has the ability to bring history to life. If you are looking for an alternative way to use video as a means of delving into the past, animated history videos are a fantastic vehicle for helping others visualise what is otherwise impossible to portray. As for where you might use them, here are a few ideas.

History of a Brand

These days it takes more than glitzy imagery and sharp sales jargon to effectively advertise your company. More and more modern brands are looking to add an element of storytelling to their overall marketing strategy. By transforming conventional branding into a story format, companies add a layer of emotional connection and transparency to their brand, which in turn helps people create lasting connections between it and the audience.

In fact, studies have shown that individuals are 55% more likely to buy a product from a brand with a good story behind it. One of the best ways of creating such a brand story is by outlining the history of how you became the company that you are today through an animated timeline.

One such project that we created here at The Animation Guys outlined the history of the famous Business Design Centre in Angel, London. From its beginnings when it hosted cattle markets as the Royal Agricultural Hall to its modern-day function as an influential hub of business, the building’s story is an intriguing one. For this project we used snippets from various historical sources, creating seven separate clips of animated history and installed them alongside the escalator in the hall’s grand entrance. 

The animated clips help outline what has shaped the Business Design Centre into the institution that it is today. Greeting visitors as they enter the building, it is a cohesive and captivating means of providing historical context that would otherwise go unnoticed. That is what telling your brand’s history through animation can achieve.