Launch.
One of our favorite words at the studio. Launch is an exciting word: it represents new beginnings, new opportunities – a blast-off into exciting new spaces.
Anyone who has had a hand in getting a new organization or company off the ground knows this: brand launch is so much more than putting a new logo out into the world.
We partnered with the Organic Trade Association to design and launch a logo rebrand for their 40 year anniversary. In only two minutes, we recount the accomplishments of the OTA and set the stage for all that is to come.
It’s about starting a conversation, building emotional resonance, and earning trust. And the most powerful way to do that?
Storytelling.
From startup unveilings to major rebrands, stories are what captivate people’s attention and make them care. Storytelling is ever more important in today’s crowded digital landscape, where countless brands compete for seconds of attention.
We have the solution: A brand launch video that tells a meaningful story can be the difference between being remembered, or being a victim of the insta-scroll.
In today’s blog, we’ll explore the power of video storytelling, the emotional and strategic benefits of telling your story, and how to craft an unforgettable narrative that launches your brand into lasting relationships with your audience.
With nearly fifteen years of experience helping brands across industries get their message out to the masses, we’ll share examples from our studio and walk you through how to partner with us to bring your story to life.
What is the Power of Video Storytelling?
Today, we’re arguing that storytelling with video can truly rise above the ever more saturated digital landscape. Let’s start with this fundamental question: What is the power of video storytelling?
In other words, how can a video impact awareness for your brand launch?
Storytelling 101
When you introduce a new brand, a static image or block of text just doesn’t cut it. When you tell your story through animation, voiceover, and music, your audience doesn’t just understand what your brand is: they feel it.
Video storytelling combines sight, sound, and motion to evoke emotion, build connection, and make information more memorable.
Stories in videos work especially well because stories are human. We’re hardwired to connect with narratives that follow familiar arcs: struggle, change, resolution.
When your brand launch video taps into that hardwiring by showing the problem your brand solves, the “why” behind your work, and the values that guide you, it becomes something your audience can relate to instead of just consume.
This emotional resonance isn’t fluff. Tapping into the point of view of your audience guarantees your brand story will stick in viewers’ minds long after the video ends.
Don’t believe us? Check out this story reported by Brimco, in which Rob Walker and Josh Glenn found that customers were 55% more likely to buy a product when they resonated with the story behind it!
Storytelling is an important part of human history. Check out this handy breakdown of the basic format for effective storytelling, as told by our beguiling mascot, ChickenKnight.
How Does Storytelling Engage Audiences?
The effectiveness of storytelling comes down to two key things: attention and empathy.
First, stories grab attention. We’re bombarded with ads, content, and information every day. But our brains are trained to notice stories: they activate more regions of the brain than facts alone.
A compelling narrative in your launch video draws the viewer in and holds their focus longer than a traditional marketing pitch. And we know that attention translates quickly to your bottom line: In fact, Forbes cites a case where infusing narrative into a sponsorship product campaign supercharged revenue by 30%.
Second, stories build empathy. They put a human face on your brand and invite viewers to care. When a story is told visually, especially through animation, it becomes universally accessible, transcending language and cultural barriers. This is especially important when you’re figuring out how to launch a brand online, where your audience could be anywhere in the world.
In this example, notice how inviting visual setting and delightful relatable characters invite viewers to connect with ReadSource from the moment they press play. As the welcoming voiceover explains their history and rebrand, audiences have already built a connection to the mission – and in turn, the ReadSource brand. Click here to see more from their project.
3 Benefits of Storytelling in Brand Launch Videos
Let’s break down some specific benefits of storytelling in the context of brand launch videos:
1. Emotional Connection = Memorable Brand
When someone feels something while watching your video, whether that’s joy, curiosity, inspiration, or even a little tug at the heart, they’re more likely to remember your brand. Stories create an emotional context that facts and figures just can’t match.
2. Clear, Compelling Communication
A story can simplify even the most complex ideas. Instead of explaining what your product does in technical terms, a narrative shows a relatable character solving a problem using your brand. That’s much easier for viewers to follow, and share.
3. Stronger First Impressions (And Lasting Ones)
You only get one shot at a first impression. By launching your brand with a thoughtful, animated story, you create an immediate and lasting sense of identity. People get a feel for your tone, your values, and your vision. Once they have an understanding of who you are, they have more reasons to stick around.
This positive, welcoming voiceover provides a sense of warmth and ease to audiences considering an overnight stay with IHG Garner Hotels. Click here to see more from their project.
How Storytelling Improves Engagement Across Platforms
One of the most common questions we get at our custom animation studio is how does storytelling improve engagement? These days, no brand can stand to make an investment that doesn’t guarantee a reliable return.
We know from experience that whether you’re launching on social media, your website, or through an email campaign, a strong story gets more clicks, shares, and reactions.
Berks County Library partnered with us to increase enrollment in their SummerQuest Reading Program: an outcome that would impact their federal funding.
The result of their animation was outstanding. Across their launch, BCPL reported 56k views of their video, with 26% of viewers watching the animation in it’s entirety.
Most importantly for both the organization’s funding and the important outcomes of childhood reading, sign-ups for the SummerQuest program increased. Emily Orischak, Community Relations Coordinator for the BCPL reported that more youth participated in the program than any summer before.
SproutSocial tells us that not only does short form video deliver the highest ROI, the average time that adults in the United States are spending intaking social video content is increasing!
Why Animation? To Supercharge Impact.
As you view the variety of brand launch video examples from our studio, you may be wondering:
Why use animation at all?
Animation gives you total creative control. Want to show your product in action, walk through an abstract idea, or build an emotional world in 60 seconds? No problem. Unlike live action, animation isn’t bound by logistics, or even reality!
Check out this blog to take a deeper dive into the many ways custom animation can support individualized audience management. We explore ideas for enhancing audience engagement with messaging that stands out!
The flexibility of animation also offers a powerful way to align visuals with your brand identity and target audiences.
We spend time in the kickoff of every project we produce to grasp the desired tone of our clients, and it includes so much more than a color palette: shapes, transitions, and characters can all reflect your vibe, whether you’re playful and bright or bold and minimal.
And when it comes to accessibility and global reach, animated brand awareness videos can resonate with viewers across cultures. Translation and subtitling is affordable, and videos can even be localized to your unique audience segments.
We’re proud to partner with our clients to develop custom characters that represent their values, because we know that stories we can see ourselves reflected in are the most memorable of all.
Tips for Crafting a Story-Driven Brand Launch Video
If you’re planning a launch, here are a few expert tips for telling a great story:
Ready to Launch With Storytelling That Works?
If you’re wondering how to launch a brand online, don’t just hope for the best – partner with the best!
Lead with a story that grabs attention and builds loyalty by choosing animated video. A strong brand launch video doesn’t just announce you, it plants the seed for long-term connection and growth with your community.
Let’s build your story together.
