A great explainer video makes a complicated idea click in about a minute. The examples below are real explainer videos we produced for brands across healthcare, finance, government, nonprofit, and enterprise, each with a short note on what it does well and how long it runs. Use them as a reference for pacing, structure, and how to keep a viewer watching to the end.
By
Larry Mutenda
What is an explainer video? An explainer video is a short animated video, usually 60 to 120 seconds, that explains what something is, how it works, or why it matters, in plain language. Most use 2D animation or motion graphics with a voiceover. The examples below run from under a minute to about three minutes and span healthcare, finance, government, nonprofit, entertainment, and enterprise.
The examples are drawn from real client work across a range of industries, so you can find one close to your own subject. For each we note the real runtime and the single job the video is doing, because the best explainers make one idea clear rather than covering everything.
Every example clears the same bar: it explains a real subject to a real audience in plain language, it leads with the problem or the question rather than a feature list, and it holds up as a piece of craft. For narrower picks, see our guides to the best SaaS explainer videos and software and B2B explainer videos.
When shortlisting SaaS video production companies, weigh these six factors. These factors help you determine whether a studio can solve the communication problem behind the video, not just make something that looks good. At Creamy Animation, we focus on storytelling, because story matters; it helps answer three questions: what, how, and why.Â
Clarity first: a first time viewer should understand the subject after one watch. Right length: long enough to be clear, short enough to hold attention. One core message: the video resists explaining everything. Production craft: script, animation, voice, and sound working together. Real work: every example is a produced video for a real organization.
A quick side by side before the full breakdowns, with each video industry, style, and real runtime.
| # | Brand | Industry | Style | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fujitsu | Enterprise technology | 2D animation | 3:20 |
| 2 | Dr. Bill | Healthcare & fintech | Motion graphics | 1:05 |
| 3 | Mental Health Commission of Canada | Nonprofit & health | 2D animation | 0:56 |
| 4 | Makers Making Change | Nonprofit | 2D animation | 1:05 |
| 5 | World Shipping Council | Environment & policy | 2D animation | 1:49 |
| 6 | Small Business BC | Government & education | Motion graphics | 3:18 |
| 7 | Hometown Quotes | Finance & insurance | 2D animation | 1:08 |
| 8 | Empowered Startups | Education & business | 2D animation | 1:18 |
| 9 | Warner Brothers | Entertainment | 2D animation | 1:16 |
| 10 | Tourism Burnaby | Travel & government | 2D animation | 2:55 |
More inspiration: our software and B2B explainer video examples.
Fujitsu is a global technology and services company. Industry: enterprise technology. Length: 3:20. Style: 2D animation. A longer runtime suits an enterprise story, and the video uses it to walk through a complex offering without rushing.
So we can show what shaped each one: the audience, the subject, and the choice that made it land. That is the difference between a portfolio and a stock roundup.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a national nonprofit. Industry: nonprofit and health. Length: 0:56. Style: 2D animation. Under a minute, it introduces a broad mission with warmth rather than statistics, the right call for an awareness piece.
Makers Making Change connects volunteer makers with people who need assistive devices. Industry: nonprofit. Length: 1:05. Style: 2D animation. It explains a two sided program simply, so both volunteers and recipients understand their part.
The World Shipping Council represents global liner shipping. Industry: environment and policy. Length: 1:49. Style: 2D animation. A policy subject that could feel dry is given a clear narrative, which keeps a specialist message watchable.
Small Business BC is a resource centre for small businesses. Industry: government and education. Length: 3:18. Style: motion graphics. A longer, practical explainer on workplace accessibility, structured so viewers can follow each step.
Hometown Quotes is an insurance lead marketplace. Industry: finance and insurance. Length: 1:08. Style: 2D animation. It frames a clear before and after, a reliable structure for any product that saves people time or money.
Empowered Startups supports founders and entrepreneurs. Industry: education and business. Length: 1:18. Style: 2D animation. It explains a program with several moving parts in a single, easy to follow arc.
Dr. Bill helps physicians handle medical billing. Industry: healthcare and fintech. Length: 1:05. Style: motion graphics. It turns an unglamorous admin task into a clear, reassuring story, which is exactly what a good service explainer does.
Warner Brothers is one of the best known names in entertainment. Industry: entertainment. Length: 1:16. Style: 2D animation. Proof that even a household brand uses a short animated explainer when it needs to make something clear quickly.
Tourism Burnaby is the destination marketing organization for Burnaby, BC. Industry: travel and government. Length: 2:55. Style: 2D animation. A place based explainer that balances information and appeal, useful for any location or community subject.
Start where the viewer already is, with the pain or the question they have, then bring in the answer. Leading with features asks people to care before they understand why.
An explainer that tries to say everything says nothing clearly. Decide the single idea the video must land and cut the rest.
A simple product can be explained in under a minute. A regulated or complex topic may need two or three. Let the subject set the length, not a template.
Industry experience matters most when the subject is technical, regulated, or difficult to explain. A team that understands your audience will ask better questions and get to a stronger script faster.
That does not mean they need dozens of projects in your exact niche. It means they should show they can handle complexity.
Animation gets attention, but the script and voiceover do the explaining. A clear, well paced script is what makes an explainer actually explain.
Most sit between 60 and 90 seconds. Simple ideas can land in under a minute, while complex or regulated subjects may run two to three minutes. The examples here span all of that range.
The common styles are 2D animation, motion graphics, whiteboard animation, 3D, and live action. Most of the examples here are 2D animation or motion graphics, the two most versatile styles for explaining an idea.
It depends on length, style, and complexity. See our explainer video cost guide for current ranges.
Clarity above all. A good explainer leads with the problem, keeps to one message, matches its length to the subject, and lets a clear script do the explaining.
On your homepage, product and landing pages, in paid ads, in email, and in sales and onboarding. A 60 to 90 second cut works almost everywhere.
One explainer can serve several places. A 60 to 90 second version fits the homepage and ads, a shorter cut suits paid social, and a longer version works for onboarding or sales. Plan the edits up front so one production stretches across placements.
The best explainer videos are the clear ones. Every example above takes a real subject and makes it easy to understand in a couple of minutes or less, and every one was produced in house. If you are planning an explainer of your own, these are a fair picture of what the format can do.
15+ years in video strategy and production — specializing in SaaS, B2B, and nonprofit storytelling.
Larry is the founder and Chief Storyteller at Creamy Animation, founded in 2009. He leads a team that creates story-driven videos for businesses and nonprofits. A marketer, designer, and animator, Larry has overseen the production of more than 1,500 videos for Fujitsu, Logitech, Warner Brothers, NFL, Blockdaemon, Astronomer, Canonical, and 370+ others.
For Larry, God is first, and everything else is a blessing that comes from serving Him. When he’s not working, he’s hanging out with his wife and three kids, playing the piano, or pursuing his filmmaking side hustle.Â
