Time to start making animated videos? Yay!
Well, you’re in the right place! So let’s talk about Biteable, a free animated video maker and, definitely, the easiest I’ve used so far.
Pros: You can use it online; you don’t have to download anything, and it’s extremely easy, so great for beginners. It includes a lot of ready templates, so you don’t have to edit much – unless you want to.
1. Find a Template
First, you have to choose a template. You can also start from scratch, but I prefer choosing a template, even if I end up changing most of it.
So choose what your video will be about and then click on Find A Template.
2. Edit Content
I’d recommend you to have written the content you want on your video before starting creating the video. It will be easier if you’re not distracted by the animations.
So write down the text and then split it into chunks. Each part will go into a different scene.
Depending on the scene you choose, you may have a few different options. Let’s go through the basic ones together:
Your Text
Here you can fill in the text for this scene. Sometimes, you can have a heading and a subheading, as well.
Font
Here you can choose the font you want for the text in this scene. Be careful and don’t use a lot of different fonts throughout the video.
Like I did on the video above. It was more for demonstration purposes. (And because I totally forgot about it and started fooling around. 😛 )
Your Image
In some scenes, you have the choice to put an image. If there are specific dimensions for the image on the template, try to follow them if possible. Otherwise, the image will not be displayed as it should.
Edit Timing
If the scene is too long or too short, change the duration of the scene here.
Switch Scene
If you don’t like the scene, change it. Go to the timeline on the bottom of the page, click on the arrow on the scene thumbnail and click Switch Scene.
Choose one of the hundreds of scenes and switch it out.
After doing all the changes you want in each scene, click Save & Preview.
3. Pick Colours
After completing the previous step (Congrats, by the way, it’s usually the one that takes the longest to finish), then you can change the primary colours of your video.
While choosing, make sure the contrast is good enough to read the text easily and the colours fit the general mood of the video. For example, if you make a video about baby clothes, don’t use black and white.
4. Choose Audio
And now’s the time to choose the audio clip you want to use as the background music on your video. Check out all the clips and decide based on the purpose of your video.
Music can get you in the mood you need to watch the video and comprehend it better. Don’t underestimate it!
Preview
After you’re done, build your preview to see the video.
Check out for any errors in the content or the timing. If it’s possible, give it to someone else to look at it. Since you made it, you probably can’t see some of the errors. You’re too close to it. Someone else will see any mistakes more easily.
Publish the video
If the preview is fine, then you can publish the video. Now, you can embed it on your site or send the link to someone.
Video Link
The video link is the URL you can use to watch the video online. Anyone can view it as long as they have this link, but they can’t edit it.
After your first try, copy the link and send it to your friends. They’ll have fun for sure!
Just kidding…?
Embed Code
Here you can find the code that Biteable provides you for embedding the video on your blog.
* If you find any mistakes after publishing the video, don’t worry. You can go back and fix them. Just don’t forget to save the changes and rebuild the video.
Final Thoughts
Congrats! You just learned how to make animated videos!
Don’t forget to practise today. It’s not easy to remember if you don’t do it immediately.
Let me know what you think about Biteable and, if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer! Any suggestions are always welcome, so tell me about topics you’d like me to write.
And if you liked this, check out more tools for your blog.
See you next week!
Hi, Jenny and thanks for this post.
I’ve been looking for a way to up the ante with my website and this looks like the perfect way to do that. The steps seem to be pretty easy and the music you used in yours is perfect. Upbeat and ear-catching and I like that you can divide it into frames.
Best of all? I like that its free. I don’t have a lot of cash to spend on videos so this would do just fine.
Is there a set length to the videos? and… Is there a pro version (you know, for when I’m making a ton of money :)?
I’ll be checking this out further.
Wayne
No, there’s not a set length to the videos and yes, there is a pro version with more benefits.
Have a nice day!
I’m definitely not ready for animations yet, as I’m still getting over my design phobia about building a logo. Hee. I’m also tweaking with social media stuff and the like. But I love this idea because videos are IN and I hate being on camera. So this might help me ease into things before I tackle YouTube videos. Thanks a ton for your walkthrough on a fun-looking tool!
If you’re trying to make your logo, check out Canva. It’s a free online tool that’s great for this job!
I haven’t used biteable yet Jenny but after reading this I feel it will be amazing to use this program for my videos
I am just starting out on YouTube so this is so helpful as I will be able to share information so easily
You rock
Go well and thanks again
Thank you, too. I’m glad I could help! 🙂
I really loved your review on Biteable, it was very straight forward and easy to learn, which is great since I know nothing about the topic. I also liked your topic on blogging because it was encouraging to me. I have sometimes wondered about starting a blog but wasn’t sure where to start or if people would like it, now I have a better perspective on what I want to say. This will help me in my website. The 10 + Best Free Web Tools was helpful too. I loved the pictures you chose and how was organized. Your website really flows nicely, it is creative and unique. I enjoyed my time there.
Thank you very much! I’m glad you like my blog.
Have a nice day!
Jenny, I really love this idea. It seems really easy to do.
I will definitely check it out. I have been looking for a way to make videos for a while now but I did not know this program existed at all. Thank you very much I will signup for it, do a video and let you know how the whole process and video creation went.
I’m looking forward to it!
Just clicked on your link and checked out the website first hand – can’t believe this sort of thing is now free…surely there has to be some catch or upsell somewhere?
Also, I’m a bit confused about how you get this video onto YouTube, seeing as they only give you a URL – can you also download the finished article as a Mpeg4 or AV file?
There is a premium version, but the free one is more than enough.
You can upload the video directly to Youtube. You don’t need to download anything. 🙂
This was a very interesting post! I have wanted to make an animated video, but didn’t have a clue as to where to begin. I love the way you laid out the steps so simplisticly that it sounds like it will be extremely easy once I get started:). In my opinion, animated videos are some of the best ways to engage your audience in on reading content you have created. Thank you so much for a very informative blog! I need to bookmark this for future reference:)
Blessings:)
Suzi
Yes, it’s really easy. Way easier than I thought.
This looks really easy!
Now I’m thinking about all the animated videos I’ve wanted to make but not done because most of the tools to make them look really complicated. I’d like to know before I venture onto their site whether I’m going to have to pay for some in-app purchases for extra options. Is it really completely free like you say in the title?
Yes, there is a completely free version. There is also a premium one if you need more, but the free is more than enough to make beautiful videos.
Hi Jenny, I enjoyed your review. I wasn’t aware there was an animated video maker online and for free. From what you say it is very easy to set up your own video and then embed on web sites. I will check this out for sure. It will be very useful tool to have. Thanks!
You’re welcome!
Wow! It looks very easy and user friendly. I was always wondering how people are making those nice animated videos. Now I know, that we can find a free solution for this. It is very, very nice! I hope that I will have the opportunity to use it fast. Tell me, can we upload later this video on youtube?
Yes, you can upload it directly from Biteable.