Showing The Impossible
One way to save the current global supply chain crisis? Transport packages more efficiently.
Natilus, an innovative startup, has developed the Natilus Automated Cargo Aircraft to answer the call for more efficient transportation without a rise in costs or carbon emissions. To explain this concept, a visual representation was created to show how Natilus is reimagining the transport sector.
The only challenge? The product doesn’t exist yet. And creating a strong product demonstration video without a product you can touch can be overwhelming at the start. Normally, the product development process is long and tedious, especially for products as big and complex as self-flying cargo planes.
Getting big ideas, or big products or services launched takes a long time. Creating an explainer video can help secure the funding needed to build a prototype. Getting the money to build your product, but needing a product to get money can be a chicken and egg scenario.
For Natilus, they had to decide how to visualize the necessity and positive impact the plane could have on our planet without having the product made yet.
Consumers and investors need to see it to believe it. This video shows how the Natilus autonomous cargo plane concept works, in a sleek, exciting way.
Using 3D Animation to Show How A Product Works
We recognize the challenge and understand the mission: explain the pain points that most people don’t realize exists, and offer a sensible, exciting solution.
3D animated explainer videos make it possible. It’s the perfect medium to tell this story for a few reasons:
- The product doesn’t currently exist.
- Even if it did, it’s very large and could have an impact on the workflow of shooting day.
- Shooting on an airport tarmac can be dangerous and prohibitively expensive.
- A real camera can’t capture dynamic angles practically or affordably.
Diving into the product via an explainer isn’t enough. The target audience needs to be excited too! Nautilus’ bold ideas deserve attention from investors and potential customers who believe that their vision for the future of freight is achievable.
A successful investor pitch video is as informative as it is engaging. People walking past the booth at a trade show need to stop in their tracks. Watch. Understand instantly, and remember.
With this direction in mind, we made FOMO the centerpiece of our vision and introduce the cargo plane in a way that pulls investors in without sounding pushy.
When website visitors have a good explainer video teaching them the key selling points, the concept can be understood efficiently. This supporting video made a significant leading factor in the launch of their new product.
At Motion Giraffx, we’re big fans of animating airplanes. With our CG lenses, we have the ability to capture angles, reach speeds, and show views that live-action video product can only dream of. With the right production processes and partners, there are endless possibilities. Contact us with the form below for your video marketing needs!
Our Process for Animating Product Demo Videos
There are many types of explainer videos. Some variables that alter the cost and schedule to create a product demo are budget, timeline, complexity, and existing assets. To create videos for social media, investor meetings, trade shows, or press releases, 3D animation might be right for you! Here is a breakdown of key phases of this project.
Scriptwriting
Even though this video doesn’t have a voice over, it’s still important to have script to outline on-screen text and visuals. Collaborating with the Natilus subject matter expert, we outlined the plan for the story with a simple 2-column chart.
Mood board
Looking at inspiration for similar products launched helps us focus on what to do and what to avoid. Using AI and good ol’ Google, our team creates and sources images to develop a mood for the video. We study the competition so that that we can do it better. The look and feel in the mood board is reflective of the brand, target audience, and intended use.
Story board
With buy-in for the style and outline, we illustrate each scene of the story. This sketchy sequence allows us to see what works or doesn’t work before spending expensive time in 3D world. In this phase, our clients can make big changes without big expenses. Referencing the mood board and storyboard together shows our clients a peek at the final look and flow of the video.
Animatic
Holy 90’s Batman! Don’t worry – it will look worse before it looks better. This is not a bait and switch, just trust the process! To an untrained eye, this video might look really low-quality. This draft version allows the client an opportunity to once again make changes cost-effectively. In this phase, we review timing, accuracy, composition, editing, and on-screen text. It doesn’t include all the fancy bells and whistles, but the animatic should give you a near-complete picture of the content of the video.
Rendering + Compositing
For most animated videos, there are 24 frames per second. Which means that for 1 minute of animation, the computer quickly flashes 1,440 in sequence to create the illusion of motion. Just like a flipbook. “Rendering” means that the computer calculates how light realistically bounces off and within 3D objects in order to create a beautiful, life-like image.
“Compositing” is the art of combining multiple elements together to form a single image. This includes adding graphics, text, and other elements like stock footage or special effects. Each frame of animation may be comprised of anywhere between one to hundreds of layers to create the final image. We add color correction and grading at this stage to bring a cohesive look and feel to the entire video.
After the video is complete, it needs to be exported for all of your various uses, including social media or broadcast. This is where the computer takes all the elements of the animation and combines them together into a final video file.
5 Star Review
”Motion Giraffx did a promo video for our company. They quickly grasped the concept and put together an incredible story telling video with out of this world CGI!! They were also very easy to work with. Highly recommend.
Natilus
