An animated explainer video is an excellent option for economically publishing video. Despite costing less than other types of video, it is highly effective in serving its purpose. A survey found that 83% of business people who deploy explainer videos on their homepage have a satisfying result.

Coming up with an animated explainer video is a challenge of its own. If you want to create your animated characters from scratch, it can be even more challenging and time-consuming.

Furthermore, you may develop crappy characters if you are not an experienced designer. One way to drastically minimize the time for creating an animated video is using character animation templates.

You can choose and use a wide range of character animation templates from After Effects for free. Let’s explore more about character animation templates.

How to effectively utilize Character Animation Templates?

If you Google online, you will find plenty of character animation templates to download and use. You can use them for business videos, product videos, and more. In this article section, I will tell you how you can effectively harness the power of character animation software to make a fantastic video.

1. Make a list of character animation templates that you need

First, you need to have a plan about the type of video you want to create.

Make a list of character animation templates that you would probably use in your project, as per the nature of the project. For instance, you can download plenty of animated characters with formal dresses from the character sheet animation template if you want to make an animated video to explain a business concept.

When you develop a concept and a story, you will have a rough idea of what type of animation characters you need for the video.

However, it is also true that you may not have the exact figures in your mind. That is why I recommend you go for a character animation template download so that you have a list of characters you may use to have plenty of options to allow you to come up with the best version of the animation video.

Here is the list of free Adobe animation template that you can download. Check it out and use those characters to create your video.

2. Use layer tools

Only downloading a character is not enough to create your video. You need to segment your characters’ parts into various layers.

It will help you edit and make specific changes. You should name the layers according to the nature of the details of the character’s body. It will give you better character control to create a fantastic video.

An excellent character animation software will let you create layers and segment them. Plenty of great software tools enable you to create head-up display videos in demand today. It also allows you to do HUD video edits as per your need.

3. Turn your animation character to a puppet

The previous tip suggested you create layers for your characters. After creating your characters, you must completely control your character animation template. You can do that by turning your animation character into a puppet. It allows you to control the movement of your characters.

You can turn your animation character into a puppet by adding characters to a scene.

4. Give some life to your puppet by teaching it a real-life expression

Only turning your animation characters into a puppet is not enough. You need to give your characters some life to get the most out of your characters and use them for your videos.

You can do it by using your facial expression and web camera. An animation tool like Character Animation After Effects lets you use a web camera and your face to teach facial expressions to a puppet.

To teach your puppet, you need to look directly at your puppet and keep facial expressions neutral. After that, you should click “Set Rest Pose.” Once the red tracking dots appear on your face, you can teach various facial expressions to your puppet. It will make your puppets ready to act in the real world.

5. Record, save, and edit

It is time to record the character's movement now. Tap the record button to teach facial expression and end the take when it ends. Try to explain one facial expression at a time.

Use multiple expressions of properties feature of the animation software you use. For starters, you can use Adobe animation software, which is simpler.

It is an excellent choice to separate lip-sync behaviours from daggers and record them separately. To check out the progression of your animated character, click play.

Getting the exact type of behaviour you want in the role is challenging. For refining the character’s behaviour, you always have the option to edit it.

6. Put pieces together and make a video

Once you finish editing all the characters you will use in your video, it is time to assemble them. Give every character the scene and facial behaviour at first. After that, bring them together and start using keyframes for recording the video.

7. Troubleshoot

The final thing to keep in mind is troubleshooting. You may think that you have carried out your project correctly. However, that is a rare case.

Most of the time, you will always have something to edit and solve. You might need to change character behaviour, expression, and so on.

What else can you do?

Here are some other things that you can do after you finish all the must-do stuff if you are carrying out your tasks in Adobe software:

1. Integrate the scene and characters via the dynamic link

Integrating Adobe After Effects scene with your Adobe animator using an active link is possible. If you link both, the character animator will update itself automatically, according to the updates in Adobe After Effects.

2. You can export the image sequence

You can export the PNG sequence and WAV file in the same location. It will allow you to import video in PNG sequence and audio in WAV file in After Effects.

Ready to save time with Character Animation Templates?

The wide range of character animation templates is a gift to an animator. However, you need to know how to use them effectively. There are plenty of ways to use the templates. The tips I have mentioned are essential tips that will help you move on and explore more creative ways to utilize your character animation templates after Effects.

You can create many fun and exciting animated videos if you master the art of using templates for character animation. Explore courses and books that will lead to mastery. For now, follow the instructions in this article and start using character templates to make awesome explainer videos. Start now with the character animation template download.

Hopefully, you found this article helpful. Are you eager to share your thoughts with your community? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

Also, if you want some professional help to create character animation videos, contact us now.

Frequently Asked Questions

To create your own character animation, start by designing your character's appearance and personality. Next, choose animation software that suits your needs, like Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, or Blender for 3D animation. Create a storyboard or script, then rig and animate your character using keyframes or frame-by-frame techniques. Add sound, music, and dialogue as needed, and refine your animation until you're satisfied with the result.

You can animate a character for free using software like Pencil2D, Krita, or Blender. These programs offer robust animation capabilities without a cost. Additionally, there are online platforms and mobile apps, such as Synfig Studio and FlipaClip, that provide free tools for character animation. Explore tutorials and resources available online to help you get started with these free options.

Designing a character for 3D animation involves conceptualizing the character's appearance and personality. Once you have a clear concept, use 3D modeling software like Blender, Maya, or ZBrush to create a three-dimensional model of your character. Pay attention to proportions, volume, and practicality for movement. After modeling, rig the character by setting up a skeletal structure and controls. Finally, you can animate the character in 3D space.

Various software options are used for character animation, depending on the style and complexity of the project. For 2D character animation, popular choices include Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, and Clip Studio Paint, for 3D character animation, software like Blender, Autodesk Maya, and Cinema 4D are commonly used. The choice of software often depends on an animator's preference, the project's requirements, and the level of expertise.