09 Jun Animated vs. Live-Action Corporate Videos

At Perpetua, we get asked this question by clients often: What are the benefits of animated vs. live-action corporate videos and what is right for us? Both styles are powerful, effective and engaging when done well. But the right choice depends on your goals, your audience, your message and your budget. Let’s have a look at the benefits of each;

Why Live-Action?

Live-action video works best when authenticity, emotional connection and real-world context matter most. If you want to show off your people, your workplace culture, your product in action or real customer testimonials, live-action is the stronger choice.

There’s something powerful about seeing a real person speak directly to the camera. It creates trust. It humanises your brand and it helps audiences relate to your message on an emotional level.

Best use cases for live-action:

• Company culture videos
• Customer testimonials
• Product demonstrations
• Behind-the-scenes or “day in the life” stories
• Event coverage

That said, live-action does come with a few logistics to manage. You need the right locations, talent, lighting, sound and production crew. It can be more cost-effective when you already have access to these resources internally – your staff or customers, your office, your products. But if your shoot requires actors, travel or location hires, the budget can scale quickly.

Why Animation?

Animation opens the door to limitless creativity. It’s perfect when you need to explain something abstract, visualise a process or brand the experience from start to finish. No physical sets – just a blank canvas and the power of design and storytelling.

Animation allows for total control over tone, style, pace and branding. It also works wonders when you need multilingual versions, updates over time or consistency across global markets.

Best use cases for animation:

• Explainer videos
• Training modules and step-by-step instruction videos
• Internal communications
• Product overviews (especially for tech)
• Compliance or safety videos

So once we’ve worked through which style will work best for your goals, our next conversation is to decide on 2D or 3D animation? The answer to that can largely be based on budget but there are some other factors to take into account too;

2D animation is generally less expensive as it doesn’t require complex modeling, lighting or rendering, and therefore can be completed more quickly. The clarity and simplicity of 2D make it ideal for conveying abstract ideas, infographics, or step-by-step instructions. And editing or updating 2D assets – like changing text, voiceovers or colours – is often easier and more affordable.

On the other hand, 3D animation allows for photorealistic rendering of objects, environments and people, making it perfect for product visualisation, architecture or technical demonstrations. You can also create more immersive scenes with sweeping camera angles, pans and zooms, enhancing viewer engagement. And a well-executed 3D can give a brand a premium, cutting-edge feel. 

So… Which One Is Right for You?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of animated vs. live-action corporate videos. And sometimes the best solution is a hybrid approach. We often combine live-action footage with motion graphics, animated overlays or fully animated intros/outros to get the best of both worlds.

Our job isn’t just to make videos – it’s to help you communicate powerfully and effectively to your audience. That starts with understanding your message and who you’re targeting, then choosing the right format to bring it to life.

Whether you lean toward the authenticity of live-action or the versatility of animation, we’re here to help you make the decision that delivers real impact. Let’s talk about your goals and figure out what will work best for you.

For examples of our work in animation, check out our page here – https://www.perpetuaproductions.co.nz/services/animated-video-production/

And for examples of live-action corporate video, have a look here – https://www.perpetuaproductions.co.nz/services/corporate-video-production/