The Best Animated Commercial Videos That Captured Our Hearts

In the world of advertising, animation has a way of bringing stories to life. It makes them more vibrant, more engaging, and more memorable than almost any other video format. The best animated commercials appeal to a broad audience – from toddlers to grandparents – tugging at heartstrings, making us laugh, and delivering a clear brand message that sticks in our minds.

Animated commercial videos have the unique power to define brands and make them stand out. They can build an entire feeling around a product, transporting viewers to another world in just 30 or 60 seconds. It's a powerful storytelling technique that, when done right, is incredibly effective.

We've gathered some of the best animated video commercials here. Some were created by our talented team here at Pigeon Studio, while others are masterpieces that inspire us. Let's dive into what makes these animated ads so brilliant.

Examples of the Best Animated Commercial Videos

#1 John Lewis - The Bear and the Hare

This animated commercial is the undisputed king of holiday ads for a reason. It tells the simple, heartwarming tale of a bear whose hare friend makes sure he doesn't miss Christmas for the first time ever. The strategy was pure emotional connection, focusing entirely on the joy of giving rather than a product. This compelling story creates a powerful bond with the viewer that feels genuine, not commercial.

The execution is a masterclass, blending traditional stop motion animation with hand-drawn 2D details to create a classic storybook feel. Paired with the iconic, sentimental background music, the entire video became a cultural moment. This TV commercial showed that a gentle story can be the most powerful form of marketing.

#2 Vinamilk Animation

For the dairy brand Vinamilk, our team at Pigeon Studio got to create a playful animated video that is pure, bottled joy. The goal was to connect with families by showing the wholesome energy that comes from Vinamilk's products. The strategy was to build a vibrant, magical world where happy cows and cheerful kids celebrate the goodness of milk.

We used a clean and colorful 2D animation style with bubbly characters and dynamic movements to capture the viewers attention. This fun animation and its upbeat music create a positive feeling that sticks, reinforcing the brand's image as a source of health and happiness. It’s a great example of how a well-crafted animation video can say everything it needs to without a single word of dialogue.

#3 Coca-Cola – Happiness Factory

Coca-Cola's "Happiness Factory" is one of those stunning animated commercials that feels more like a mini Pixar movie than an ad. The commercial video takes us on a journey inside a vending machine, revealing a whimsical world of creatures working together to create a bottle of Coke. The strategy was brilliant: to visually bring the brand's long-standing promise of "opening happiness" to life.

Executed with breathtaking 3D animation, this animated video created a rich, detailed universe that reinforced the brand image on a global brand scale. The campaign was a massive success because it didn't just sell a drink; it sold a feeling. This animated ad is proof that investing in high-quality, imaginative storytelling pays off in a big way.

#4 Honda Civic 50th Anniversary

Celebrating 50 years is a huge milestone, so for the Honda Civic, our team crafted an animated commercial that takes viewers on a road trip through time. The strategy was to tap into nostalgia while highlighting the Civic's constant evolution, packing five decades of history into a single commercial video. We wanted to show how it has always been a car for the times.

Using a clever mix of animation styles to represent different eras, we created a visual timeline with a fine-tuned script that tells a story of innovation and reliability. This promotional video was highly effective because it connected with both long-time fans and new drivers. It’s a great example of how animation videos can tell expansive brand stories in a concise and emotionally resonant way.

#5 Wimbledon - In Pursuit of Greatness

Wimbledon's "In Pursuit of Greatness" campaign uses animation to capture the timeless drama and prestige of the tournament. The strategy behind this stunning animated video was to elevate the event beyond just a sport, positioning it as a legendary saga of dedication and triumph. It beautifully illustrates that while players change, the spirit of Wimbledon is constant.

The painterly style is a breathtaking mix of 2D and 3D techniques, and when paired with soaring, cinematic music, it feels epic. This beautiful animated video stands out because it focuses on narrative and emotion rather than just action. It's one of the best animated ads examples of how animation can convey abstract ideas like legacy and greatness with profound impact.

#6 Vinted - The Flower Dress

For Vinted, we crafted a TV ad telling the simple, charming story of a pre-loved dress finding a new home. The strategy for this animated ad was to give the dress a life and journey of its own, highlighting the emotional and sustainable side of second-hand fashion. We wanted to make using the Vinted app feature feel personal and meaningful.

We chose a warm, hand-crafted 2D animation style that feels like a classic storybook. This gentle approach makes the video relatable and heartwarming, helping the Vinted mobile app successfully reached its target audience. This fun animation is a perfect example of how animated commercial videos can tell small, personal stories that leave a big impact.

Watch here

#7 Slack – Work, Simplified

Slack's "Work, Simplified" campaign is a masterclass in using animation to explain what a service actually does. The animated commercial shows a chaotic office full of animals running wild until Slack arrives to bring order. The strategy is a classic problem-solution story, visually demonstrating Slack's value with perfect clarity.

The vibrant, fast-paced motion graphics style breathes life into the potentially dry topic of workplace software. This animated explainer video is disguised as pure entertainment. It’s one of the best animated video ads for a tech product because it makes the benefits instantly understandable without a hint of technical jargon, showing how animation advertising can simplify complicated ideas.

#8 Madrinas Coffee Animated Commercials

When we partnered with Madrinas Coffee, we knew we had to connect with their core audience: gamers. So, we created a series of high-energy animated commercials that ditched the usual coffee ad tropes. The strategy was to create something that felt native to the worlds of gaming, streaming, and anime.

The animation videos feature a fast-paced, anime-inspired style with dynamic action and upbeat music. They were designed to feel like entertainment, not ads. These fun animated video ads were a huge hit, helping Madrinas build an authentic following. This project shows the power of using a specific, tailored style to connect with a niche audience.

#9 Microsoft Loop Introduction

To introduce its new collaborative app, Microsoft Loop, the company opted for a sleek and sophisticated animated video. The strategy was to clearly communicate the purpose of this new app feature without overwhelming the viewer. The goal was to show, not just tell, how Loop helps teams work together more fluidly.

The commercial video uses clean, minimalist motion graphics with fluid, abstract shapes and soothing background music. This gives the entire video a modern and professional feel. This animated explainer video is highly effective because it explains a potentially complex tool in a visually elegant and easily digestible way, perfect for launching a new product to a professional audience.

#10 Mirinda Animated Commercial

For Mirinda, our team was tasked with creating an animated commercial that was as bold and bubbly as the drink itself. The strategy was to associate the brand with pure, unadulterated fun. We threw realism out the window and created a world bursting with color, energy, and playful absurdity.

We used a zany and surreal 2D style, with characters that bend and stretch in impossible ways to grab the audience's attention. This animated video commercial is a visual sugar rush that perfectly mirrors the experience of drinking a fizzy soda. This stunning animated approach successfully captures Mirinda's brand essence, making it memorable and shareable.

#11 Apple - Korean New Year

For the Lunar New Year, Apple teamed up with the animation wizards at Animade to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. The strategy was to create a playful animated video that honors tradition while showcasing the creative potential of Apple products. It’s a loop of endless energy that captures the festive spirit perfectly, positioning the brand as a tool for modern artistry.

The 3D animation style is colorful, soft, and satisfyingly squishy, demonstrating the power of digital tools without feeling like a boring tech demo. This animated commercial succeeds by being a piece of art first and an ad second, grabbing viewers attention through pure visual delight. It’s a great example of how a global brand can localize its marketing with cultural respect and creativity.

Watch here

#12 DoorDash - Design Connects

DoorDash partnered with illo studio to visualize the design system that powers their entire app. The goal? To take the cold logistics of delivery and give them a warm, human pulse. This animated video strips away the code to focus on the flow, showing how a unified design language seamlessly connects the merchant, the dasher, and the customer in a loop of community and ease.

The video uses a minimalist, geometric animation style that is sleek yet warm. By stripping away the visual noise, the motion graphics make complicated ideas look simple and fluid. It’s a great example of how a brand message can be delivered through smart design and smooth transitions rather than complex narratives, making the brand image feel efficient and friendly.

#13 MTV Xmas Party

Forget silent nights! MTV’s holiday spot by Nerdo is a chaotic explosion of energy. The strategy here was to match the channel's rebellious and loud brand identity rather than forcing a traditional sentimental holiday trope. It’s a party on screen that captures the frantic, fun, and slightly messy vibe of a real Christmas bash.

The 2D animation is fast-paced, colorful, and packed with quirky characters behaving badly. It doesn't try to be heartwarming. It tries to be a fun animated video that you want to dance to. This approach works perfectly for their target audience, proving that animated ads don't always need to be tear-jerkers to be effective. Sometimes they just need to be loud.

#14 Levis - Minions

When Levi's collaborated with the Minions, they needed an animated commercial that was as iconic as the jeans and as mischievous as the characters. Directed by Golden Wolf, the spot is a high-octane chase that integrates the product seamlessly into the chaos. The strategy was to borrow the "cool" factor of the animation studio and the popularity of the IP to hype the collection.

The visual style is a stunning animated blend of 2D impact frames and 3D character assets. It’s frantic, stylish, and grabs the audience's attention instantly. This commercial video shows how established brands can let loose and have fun, using animation advertising to tap into pop culture phenomena and create something that feels more like a short film than an ad.

#15 McDonald's - WcNuggets

McDonald's fully embraced the anime community by turning the internet-famous "WcDonald's" meme into a reality. This animated commercial isn't just a nod to the genre - it's a full-blown love letter to it. The strategy was to validate a fan-made universe, making the brand feel incredibly in touch with internet culture and its younger demographic.

The animation style is authentic anime, complete with dramatic angles, speed lines, and an epic scale usually reserved for battle scenes, not chicken nuggets. It creates a magical world that fans recognize and appreciate immediately. This campaign went viral because it treated the medium with respect, resulting in one of the best animated ads that surprised everyone with its quality.

#16 Healtheries - Live Life in the Green

For Healtheries, Panic Studio created a stunning animated video that visualizes what "living in the green" feels like. Instead of showing pills or scientific charts, the ad transports viewers to a lush, vibrant world. The strategy was to associate the supplements with a feeling of vitality, nature, and holistic well-being.

The 3D animation style is soft, tactile, and bursting with life. The characters move through a world that looks like it's made of health itself. It effectively shifts the brand image from clinical to lifestyle-focused. It shows how animated commercial videos can turn a mundane product category into something desirable and fresh through creative storytelling.

Why Use Animated Commercial Videos for Marketing?

So, why are so many brands turning to animated advertising videos? It’s because animation isn't just for cartoons; it's a seriously powerful marketing tool that offers some unique advantages. When you want to tell a story that sticks, animation advertising just works.

Here’s a breakdown of what makes animated videos so effective:

• You can create any world you imagine. With animated videos, you’re not limited by locations, actors, or even the laws of gravity. This customization and flexibility mean we can bring your most creative ideas to life, whether that’s showing a journey inside a vending machine or telling a story about a dress that travels the world.
• It makes complicated stuff easy to understand. Some products or services are just plain tricky to explain with words. Animated commercials, especially explainer videos, can use motion graphics and clear visuals to break down complicated ideas. They transform dense topics into simple, engaging, and digestible messages.
• It forges a real emotional connection. This is where the magic happens. Through creative storytelling, charming characters, and evocative sound design, animated commercials can create a powerful feeling. They can make people smile, feel a pang of nostalgia, or bring a knot to their stomach, building a memorable bond with your brand that goes beyond a simple transaction.
• It crafts a unique and memorable brand identity. The video styles, color palette, character designs, and sound design you choose all come together to define your brand's personality. This consistent look and feel make your brand instantly recognizable, helping you stand out from the competition and stick in your audience's memory.
• They're incredibly versatile and offer great value. The commercial videos we create are just the beginning. The animated characters, scenes, and graphics can be easily repurposed and scaled across different platforms, from a TV commercial to social media clips and banner ads. This reusability ensures brand consistency and makes your initial investment work harder for you.

What Animation Styles Are Used in Commercial Videos?

Walking into the world of animation can feel like walking into a giant art supply store - so many options! But you don't need to know every single one. Most of the incredible animated commercials you see fall into a few key styles, each with its own personality and strengths. Think of them as different tools in a creative toolbox, each perfect for a different kind of story.

Here’s a quick rundown of the most popular styles used to bring brand stories to life:

• 2D Animation: This is the classic style we all know and love, brought into the modern age. Whether it’s drawn frame-by-frame for that timeless, handcrafted feel or created digitally for a clean, sharp look, 2D animation is a powerhouse for character-driven storytelling. It has a unique charm that’s perfect for creating an emotional connection and telling a tale that sticks with you.
• 3D Animation: When you want to add depth, realism, and a cinematic "wow" factor, 3D animation is the way to go. This style is perfect for showcasing a product from every angle, creating immersive, magical worlds (like Coca-Cola's "Happiness Factory"), or bringing characters to life with incredible detail and texture. It adds a layer of polish and sophistication that can make animation videos feel truly epic.
• Motion Graphics: Think of motion graphics as animation for information. This is the sleek, stylish cousin of traditional animation, focusing on moving text, logos, and other graphic elements. It's the go-to animation style for animated explainer videos because it excels at breaking down complex ideas and data into clear, dynamic, and visually engaging sequences. It’s clean, modern, and incredibly effective for tech companies, financial services, and corporate videos.
• Stop Motion Animation: This is one of the most unique and tactile animation styles. It involves physically moving real-world objects or puppets and photographing them frame by frame. The result is a charming, handcrafted look with a tangible quality that digital animation can't replicate. It requires a ton of patience, but as ads like "The Bear and the Hare" prove, it can create a powerful sense of nostalgia and artistry.

How to Create an Effective Animated Commercial Video

Let's peek behind the curtain. Creating an effective animated commercial isn't some dark art - though we admit it helps to have a few wizards on the team. It’s really a thoughtful, collaborative process that turns a spark of an idea into something that gets people talking.

Defining Your Brand Message

Before a single frame is drawn, a successful animated commercial begins with a crystal-clear message. You need to answer one question: what is the single most important thing you want your audience to take away? An effective advertisement animation focuses on one core idea and communicates it without clutter. This message should be authentic to your brand and resonate with your video targets. Using a research resource like a keyword magic tool can help you understand what your audience is searching for and refine your message to meet their needs.

Script Writing and Storyboard Creation

With a defined message, the next step is crafting the narrative. A fine-tuned script is the foundation of every great commercial video. It's not about listing features; it's about telling a compelling story that engages the viewer emotionally. Once the script is locked, a storyboard is created. This is a sequence of drawings that visually maps out the entire animated video, shot by shot. The storyboard is a crucial part of the animation production process, as it serves as the blueprint for the animators, ensuring the final product aligns with the creative vision.

The Role of Voiceover and Sound Design

Sound is half of the experience in any video commercial. A professional voiceover can set the tone, convey key information, and give a human voice to your brand. The choice of talent is critical, as their performance must align with your brand's personality. Alongside the voiceover, sound design plays a vital role. This includes everything from the background music to subtle sound effects that bring the animated world to life. A custom track or carefully selected cinematic music can dramatically enhance the emotional impact of your animated commercial.

Integrating a Call to Action

An animated video commercial is ultimately designed to drive action. A clear and compelling call to action (CTA) tells the viewer exactly what you want them to do next. Whether it's "Look for it in the dairy aisle," "Book a test drive at their local dealer," or "Shop now," the CTA should be direct and easy to follow. It's typically placed at the end of animated videos, often with on-screen text and a voiceover cue, to ensure the message is received loud and clear. Without a strong CTA, even the most stunning animated ad can fail to produce measurable results.

How to Measure the Effectiveness of Animated Commercial Videos?

A beautiful animated commercial video is great, but a beautiful one that also brings in results? That’s the real goal. So, once your masterpiece is out in the wild, how do you know if it’s actually doing its job? It's not about guesswork; it's about looking at the right numbers to see the impact.

Break it down into three key areas:

#1 Are People Actually Watching and Engaging?

First, you need to see if your animated ad is capturing people's attention. Think of these as "vibe check" metrics; they indicate whether your story is connecting with your audience on a human level.

• Viewer Engagement: We look at things like the view-through rate (VTR). In simple terms, are people sticking around to watch the whole thing, or are they skipping after three seconds? A high VTR is a great sign that your engaging story and visuals are keeping them hooked.
• Social Buzz: Likes, comments, and especially shares are the digital equivalent of word-of-mouth. When people share your animated video ad, it means it resonated enough for them to put their own name on it. That’s a huge win.

#2 Is It Driving Clicks and Conversions?

Okay, they liked it. But did they do anything? This is where we get into the advertising performance metrics that connect your commercial video to real business results.

• Click-Through Rate (CTR): Your call to action is there for a reason. We track how many people are actually clicking on it to visit your site, download your app, or learn more.
• Lead Generation: Is the video generating new leads? We can track things like newsletter sign-ups or demo requests that come directly from viewers of the ad.
• Sales: Connecting the dots between someone watching your animated commercial and then making a purchase is the clearest way to measure its return on investment (ROI).

#3 Is Your Brand Becoming More Memorable?

Sometimes the biggest impact isn't immediate. A great animated commercial also builds your brand's presence in people's minds over time, making you the go-to choice when they're ready to buy.

• Brand Awareness and Recall: Brand lift surveys are tools that can be used to ask people if they remember seeing your ad and what they associate with your brand. The goal is to see a positive shift after the campaign runs.
• Organic Search & Mentions: Are more people searching for your brand name on Google? Are they talking about you on social media? An increase in these areas is a strong signal that your animated ad is successfully boosting your brand's profile.

Future Trends in Animated Commercial Video Marketing

The world of animation advertising never sits still - which is what we love about it. While the principles of good storytelling are timeless, the tools and techniques are always evolving. Prepare for interactive storytelling, where you don't just watch an animated commercial; you participate in it. It's like a "choose your own adventure" story for a brand. AI-powered tools are making the animation production process faster. This frees up our artists to focus on what matters most: creative animation and telling great stories. It also opens the door to hyper-personalized animated video ads.

The next big leap is about breaking through the screen entirely with immersive technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Imagine a promotional video where you can step inside a virtual showroom to explore a new product. It's a whole new way to capture the audience's attention and create an interactive experience that's impossible to forget.