Who doesn’t love to doodle? The word itself evokes a sense of playfulness, so it’s not surprising that doodle effects have become such a popular video storytelling tool.
Adding doodle effects to your videos is a charming way to communicate complex topics and make information easily digestible. Hand-drawn animations also add an element of fun and whimsy to any video project. In this article, we’ll be exploring different types of scribble and doodle effects, how big brands are using them, and the best ways to incorporate hand-drawn effects from the Motion Array catalog into your own work.
What are doodle effects?
Doodle effects, or scribbles, refer to visual animations made up of hand-drawn lines. Doodle effects can take many forms, including handwritten typography, sketchbook scratches, simple shapes, or more detailed animated characters.
Doodle effects can be created from scratch in After Effects, but you certainly don’t need to be an expert with motion design software to use them. The pre-made templates found in Motion Array’s catalog are easy to modify, making it super easy to achieve the same effect without being a pro designer or illustrator. Like the handwritten text and drawings that inspire its name, these animations come in a variety of styles. Motion Array’s doodle effect catalog includes animations that appear to have been drawn by pencil, ball-point pen, marker, and paint.
The lines and shapes that make up doodle or scribble effects generally move in an active and engaging way, which makes for a great storytelling tool. Doodle effects are an all-purpose tool that can be found in explainer videos, corporate communication videos, advertisements, as title cards or transitions, and in popular music videos.
Why use scribbles and doodles?
Scribbles and doodles are a popular video storytelling tool because they make it easier to process complicated information. The hand-drawn elements of a doodle video usually have small imperfections that can make the final product feel more authentic. Scribbles and doodles also tap into childhood nostalgia and add a quirky, fun element to a video project. These animations look like something that might have been drawn into the margins of a school notebook, scribbled on the front of a binder, or included in a letter to a childhood friend.
These playful animations have been used in explainer videos for a long time. News organizations use them to help readers understand complex current events and data sets, while sales and marketing departments might use them to help sell services to potential new clients. Ultimately, scribbles and doodles can help make complicated information easier to understand and retain by using playful animation. Cisco uses simple animations to clearly explain its Mobility Express Solution in an employee’s training video. Although the information isn’t the most entertaining, it does a good job of explaining what the product solution is and how it can help Cisco customers.
Scribbles and doodle videos have become popular storytelling tools in pop culture too. Bruno Mars used the technique in his 2017 video for “That’s What I Like.” This video has Bruno dancing against a plain backdrop and as he sings animated figures that are referenced in the track appear around him.
He used the technique again in the collaboration with Rosé for “APT.” In this video those doodles appear as accents, flashing on the screen when the performers hit the drum cymbals, as lyrics when they sing the chorus “APT,” and at key moments when the two performers connect physically. We love the lightning bolts that show up when Rosé gives Bruno a kiss on the cheek and the little cupid style bow that appears when Bruno launches a heart shaped arrow across the set into Rosé’s heart.
Titles and Transitions: Animated handwritten titles and lower-thirds add a handmade charm to any video project, while a dynamic illustrated transition will keep your viewer engaged. Many of Motion Array’s doodle motion graphics come packaged with animated titles and transition slides to give your final video a unified style. Plus, there are a ton of styles to choose from. The hand-drawn colored pencil pack and this animated marker pack are some of our current favorites.
You can even add a sound effect of a marker scribbling on paper for an added playful punch.
Stand-alone doodle video: If you want to create a video that only uses animated characters and doodles without being a professional illustrator, the animated faces in the Funny Squad Bundle are a great choice for something that calls for silly storytelling.
The text-based Off the Grid template would be great for an explainer video or an animated event announcement.
Pro-tip: Want to use your own handwriting and drawing for your doodles? You can actually use your phone to record your screen in a program like Adobe Express and then add those hand-drawn elements as an overlay in your video editing program. Check out this tutorial to get started.
Get started with doodles and scribbles today
Hand-drawn doodle and scribble animations are very on trend right now, but these playful elements have never really gone out of style. They are a great addition to a wide range of video projects, but also can be used as a stand-alone storytelling tool.
Motion Array’s scribble and doodle motion-graphic templates make it easy to integrate this authentic and handspun style into your videos.
Ready to start experimenting with this charming style of animation? Explore the full collection of Motion Array’s scribble and doodle asset catalog today.
