Are we experiencing a true bombardment of content, graphics, and videos generated by artificial intelligence? Perhaps! And is there a way to prevent “machine learning” from dominating human creativity? Perhaps! Are we talking about hand drawings on a whiteboard? Perhaps… Read on! It raises a bigger question: are whiteboard animations still relevant in the age of AI?
You’re watching yet another AI-created animation today. Of course, there’s nothing you can fault it for. It’s effective, aesthetic, even… perfect. And that’s just it! Doesn’t this perfectionism somehow ‘spoil’ the entire experience? And suddenly… a simple hand drawing on a whiteboard stops you in your tracks. And then you understand that there’s something wonderfully human about watching ideas unfold stroke by stroke on a digital canvas.
But why does your brain seem to come alive when it sees that characteristic whiteboard style? It turns out there’s solid science behind this phenomenon, which might explain why these seemingly simple animations hold their ground against AI-powered competition.
Let’s take a closer look at this collision between traditional visual storytelling and cutting-edge technology. We’ll explore whether whiteboard animations can survive (and even thrive) in our increasingly automated creative environment. We’ll also try to convince you why the human touch might be more valuable than ever before.
The rise of AI in animation industry – game changer?
Right, so here’s the thing about what’s been happening in animation lately. It’s been absolutely mental. AI powered tools aren’t just knocking on the door anymore. They’ve basically kicked it down and made themselves at home🤣.
The capabilities we’re seeing now would have seemed like pure fantasy just a decade back. We’ve gone from manually tweaking every single aspect of character rigging to watching artificial intelligence handle complex animation processes like they’re simple arithmetic problems. Character rigging happens automatically now. In-betweening gets done by algorithms. Tasks that used to take weeks are finished in hours. Honestly, it’s made many of us wonder what role traditional animation techniques will play moving forward.
Are whiteboard animations still relevant in the age of AI?The numbers and facts speak for themselves:
- The global animation market is heading toward £23 billion by 2032, and AI is driving much of this growth. [1]
- Modern AI animation tools handle rendering without human input.
- They process motion capture data instantly.
- Basic character animation runs automatically.
- Production timelines have shrunk considerably.
- Costs have dropped across the board.
For studios trying to stay competitive, these tools have become essential rather than optional.
But here’s where things get interesting:
AI hassome equally specific blind spots!
While AI excels at handling repetitive processes and generating content at scale, it still struggles with the nuanced aspects of storytelling that make animations truly compelling. The technology can mimic surface-level features and replicate existing styles, but it often falters when deeper understanding and emotional nuance are required.
What AI excels at (and where it stumbles)?
Right, so AI has definitely found its sweet spot in animation production.AI powered video creation tools have become particularly valuable for:
handling repetitive tasks,
generating realistic motion graphics,
creating complex simulations.
All these activities traditionally consume significant production time. These systems can automate keyframe animation, lip-syncing, and crowd generation with remarkable efficiency. However, the limitations become apparent when we examine the creative aspects…
Current AI systems cannot grasp the subtleties that make narratives compelling — which is why clients increasingly ask, are whiteboard animations still relevant in the age of AI, when emotional nuance truly matters. They produce sequences that look technically correct but feel emotionally empty. What exactly do we mean here?
– Understanding why a pause matters in dialogue requires cultural knowledge AI lacks.
– Recognising when sarcasm serves a story demands contextual awareness these systems don’t possess.
– Irony depends on multiple layers of meaning that algorithms struggle to process.
These are not pieces of information we made up. Research consistently reveals a fundamental problem with AI-generated content. Animations lack what we can call authentic human connection. You’ll probably agree that hand-drawn imperfections often convey more emotion than perfect digital lines?
AI optimises for technical correctness, but loses unique flaws and personalisation, and these are exactly what create emotional impact. Those small inconsistencies that make traditional animation feel alive are smoothed out by algorithmic perfection.
What do we think about this?
Every day we observe how technology effectively follows patterns, but cannot understand why breaking those patterns sometimes serves the story better. This gap between technical capability and genuine artistic vision and creativity remains significant.
Animation techniques – the human advantage
Animation techniques are really about bringing stories to life through human insight. Traditional animators have something no algorithm can replicate. They possess lived experience and emotional intelligence.
They understand how light affects facial expressions – because they’ve observed it countless times.
They grasp human relationships – because they’ve experienced them personally.
This is a real-world knowledge!
Example: Professional whiteboard presentation explaining protective equipment requirements and emergency procedures (for Silgan).
Human animators excel at capturing subtle emotional changes in characters. They notice micro-expressions that reveal true feelings. They understand when someone is hiding emotions or trying to appear confident.
AI-generated video generation often produces characters that look technically proficient at first glance, but their expressions frequently feel mechanical. They look good (ok, usually perfect😄) but lack the layered emotions.
The craft behind whiteboard animations
- Visual storytelling mastery
Human animators know instinctively when to slow down for dramatic effect. They understand how to pace information reveals. They build suspense through carefully timed visual elements. This knowledge comes from understanding human psychology rather than following algorithms.
- Contextual awareness
They adapt their approach based on specific audience needs. They consider cultural sensitivities that might affect reception. They modify their style for different learning objectives. This flexibility stems from genuine social awareness and experience.
- Emotional resonance
They create characters with distinct personalities that viewers actually care about. They infuse animations with emotions that feel real. They understand what makes audiences laugh, cry, or feel inspired because they share these same human experiences.
Explainer videos – the numbers don’t lie!
This section of the article is for everyone who needs numbers and spectacular research to believe😃. Here they are.
1.
Research conducted by Dr Richard Wiseman at the University of Hertfordshire proved that whiteboard animations enhance knowledge retention by 15% compared to traditional talking head videos. [2]
2.
Most educational interventions struggle to achieve even a 5% increase in learning outcomes, yet whiteboard animations deliver three times that improvement simply through their visual format.
3.
Multiple studies have confirmed that whiteboard animations excel at simplifying complex concepts and making them accessible to diverse learning styles. The progressive revelation technique where viewers watch content being drawn in real-time creates what researchers call “guided attention,” helping learners follow logical sequences more effectively than static presentations.
4.
A comprehensive study conducted at the Chinese University of Hong Kong involving over 500 students found remarkable results.
Over 95% of students agreed that whiteboard animations helped them understand course texts and clarify complex concepts.
The study showed that 91% of students reported increased interest in topics after watching whiteboard animations, while 89% found them helpful for tutorial discussions. [3]
The psychological appeal of progressive revelation
Whiteboard animations work because they show information differently than other video formats.
What exactly do we mean? Most videos present complete ideas immediately. Whiteboard animations reveal concepts step by step instead, transforming static images into dynamic visual narratives. Your brain follows along as each element is drawn on screen. This creates natural engagement. Because we human beings are programmed to pay attention to things being created in front of us.
Researchers call this reaction “perceptual arousal.” It’s simply our brain’s automatic response to movement and gradual information revelation.
Another point we mentioned in the graphic above – the “curse of knowledge.”
Subject matter experts know their fields very well. They often forget what it’s like to learn something for the first time. This leads to explanations that skip important steps. Experts assume certain connections are obvious when they’re actually not obvious to beginners.
Whiteboard animations prevent this problem. The format forces creators to show every step visually. You cannot jump from one concept to another without drawing the path between them. Each step gets explained as it appears on screen.
And did you know that people learn better when information comes through multiple channels simultaneously?
Reading text alone uses only visual processing. Listening to audio alone uses only auditory processing. Whiteboard animations effectively combine both these channels. you see concepts being drawn while simultaneously hearing explanations.
Read also: Creating engaging video with hand drawn animation: A how-to guide
AI powered tools for animation – the current landscape
We won’t overlook AI’s potential in this article, of course. Only fools would deny that AI has brought enormous changes to the animation industry.
Animation professionals who dismissed AI just two years ago now use these tools daily. The technology has become essential rather than experimental for many production workflows.
Current AI animation platforms and AI assistance have genuinely revolutionized production processes. Tools like:
Runway ML,
Adobe Firefly,
DeepMotion,
handle tasks that traditionally consumed enormous amounts of time and resources.
Background creation now takes minutes instead of days. Motion tracking algorithms extract data directly from standard video footage. Audio-visual synchronization happens without manual adjustment. These improvements have convinced studios that previously rejected digital solutions to embrace AI integration.
AI excels particularly well at handling repetitive, technical tasks that don’t require creative decision-making.
Crowd scenes that once needed entire teams can now be generated by algorithms.
Environmental backgrounds get created without traditional modeling work.
Basic character movements follow preset patterns efficiently.
What else? Obviously costs. Cost considerations make these tools attractive for many businesses but… as we already wrote AI tools show clear limitations when projects demand sophisticated storytelling or emotional connection with audiences.
AI systems create visually acceptable content (no two ways about it!) but frequently lacks the depth required for effective communication.
They miss:
- cultural nuances,
- contextual references,
- emotional subtleties.
The collaborative future
Rather than viewing AI as competition, many animation studios are adopting hybrid approaches that leverage the strengths of both human creativity and artificial intelligence.
AI handles technical heavy lifting rendering, basic animation sequences, and repetitive tasks.
While human animators focus on creative direction, character development, and emotional storytelling.
This collaborative approach works really well when teams want to create engaging explainer videos that blend technical know-how with genuine educational impact. Studios that have user-friendly AI tools at their disposal can whip up different versions of explanatory content pretty quickly.
The most successful animation projects in 2025 are those that strategically combine these complementary strengths, using AI to enhance rather than replace human creativity.
Complex concepts made simple – the whiteboard advantage
One of the most compelling arguments for whiteboard animations style lies in their unparalleled ability to break down complex concepts into digestible, engaging content. It’s becoming a crucial business advantage as you know our world gets more complex and information-heavy by the day. Given this advantage, it’s fair to ask: are whiteboard animations still relevant in the age of AI?
Research consistently backs this up. Whiteboard animations outperform other video formats when you need to explain:
technical subjects,
abstract concepts,
processes with multiple moving parts.
The way viewers watch ideas develop step by step creates a mental framework that genuinely improves understanding and helps information stick.
Example: Whiteboard animation (hand-drawn illustrations) for QIAGEN about how their work helps people worldwide.
The technique really shines when you’re dealing with abstract or invisible concepts. It’s allowing teams to create engaging explainer videos that bring complex ideas into focus. Concepts that would fall flat in live-action (like data flows, business processes, or theoretical frameworks) suddenly become clear through whiteboard illustration.
Why we’re still the right choice for your animation needs?
After looking at what’s happening with animation tech right now and what it means for how businesses communicate, one thing becomes pretty clear:
Success is going to belong to those who can smartly mix human creative thinking with tech efficiency.
At Explain Visually, we’ve deliberately set up shop right where these two worlds meet, making the most of the creative possibilities without forgetting aboutmodern technical expertise.
Our approach gets that while AI can take care of loads of technical animation stuff, it can’t do the strategic thinking, understand cultural nuances, or solve creative problems the way humans do. When you work with us, you’re gettinganimated videos and a team that actually knows how to use visual stories to hit your specific business goals.
Creating animated explainer videos that drive measurable impact
Our work history shows what we can do!
We’ve helped clients achieve remarkable results through strategic animation, specializing in creating high quality videos that combine creative vision with proven business outcomes. See Case Studies.
What sets our work apart is our focus on creating videos that inspire action. Every visual choice, timing decision, and narrative element serves the ultimate goal of:
Helping your audience understand, remember, and act upon your message.
Ready to discover how strategic animation can transform your business communication?
Contact us for a consultation where we’ll explore how our proven methodology can help you achieve your specific objectives through the power of human-centered visual storytelling.
𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 – 𝐁𝟐𝐁 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨:
• We create whiteboard animations for businesses
• We create corporate explainer videos
• We create visual storytelling for companies
Source
[1] Data Bridge: Global Animation Market Size, Share, and Trends Analysis Report – Industry Overview and Forecast to 2032 link: Animation Market – Global Market Size, Share, and Trends Analysis Report – Industry Overview and Forecast to 2032 | Data Bridge Market Research
[2] Video Scribe The psychology behind whiteboard videos & 15% learning increases link: The psychology behind whiteboard videos & 15% learning increases
[3] THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG Micro-Module Courseware Development Grant link: THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
