DIY or Professional Animation? How to Decide What Your Marketing Video Really Needs

At some point in every marketing meeting, someone asks a perfectly reasonable question:

“Should we just make this animated video ourselves?”

After all, there are tools. Templates. AI. A free trial that definitely won’t auto-renew (famous last words).
And somewhere in your organization is a brave soul who once opened After Effects in 2017.

So… DIY or professional production?

The Rise of DIY Animation (and Why It’s So Tempting)

DIY animation tools exist for a reason. Actually, several good reasons:

1. You need something fast

2. You have someone capable who can learn something new quickly

3. The video is low-stakes, or experimental

4. You’re testing messaging before committing to a bigger campaign

For super short explainers, social snippets, or internal comms, DIY tools can absolutely work. Some are decently designed and some may even be surprisingly powerful.

But, and this is important, tools don’t make decisions for you.
They don’t ask uncomfortable questions like:

• Who is this actually for?

• What action do we want someone to take after watching?

• What does “success” look like here?

DIY animation is great at execution.
It’s not great at judgment.

When DIY Animation Might Make Sense

DIY is usually a good fit if:

• You already have clear messaging

• The video is short and simple

• Visual polish isn’t critical

• You’re comfortable trading time for money

• The video doesn’t represent a major brand moment

• And again, you have someone capable who can learn something new quickly

In other words, if this video can afford to be “good enough,” DIY might be the right call.

And yes, sometimes “good enough” is the correct strategic choice.

Where DIY Breaks Down

DIY struggles when the video needs to do more than just exist:

• Multiple stakeholders need alignment

• The message is complex, abstract or requires a product/service dissection

• Brand trust is on the line

• The video must work across platforms, audiences, or regions

• You need consistency with other marketing assets

This is where teams often discover that the hard part is obtaining and maintaining clarity.
The animation is only half the battle.

Clarity is rarely something you get faster by winging it.

What Professional Animation Actually Buys You

Hiring a professional animation team isn’t just about nicer visuals (though yes, that too).

What you’re really investing in is:

1. Strategic Translation

Turning messy ideas, jargon, and good intentions into something people actually understand.

2. Process

A structured workflow that prevents last-minute chaos, endless revisions, and “wait, why did we change this again?” Read about our animation process to gain a better understanding of our workflow.

3. Experience

Knowing what won’t work before you spend weeks making it. Watch a recent example of an animated video.

4. Perspective

An outside view that catches blind spots internal teams naturally miss because they're always "in it."

Professionals are often faster because they’ve already made the mistakes, on someone else’s project.

The Cost Question (Because It Always Comes Up)

Yes, professional animation costs more upfront.
If you're unsure about what things should cost, check out out budget calculator.

But DIY has its own hidden price tag:

• Staff time pulled from primary roles

• Learning curves that slow momentum

• Rework when assumptions turn out to be wrong

• Videos that technically function, but don’t perform well

The real question is “What does this video need to accomplish?”

If the project you're working on is meant to drive awareness, trust, or conversion, then quality and strategy are more than a “nice to have.”

A Simple Way to Decide

Ask yourself these three questions:

1. Is this video central to how people understand our brand?

2. Would a weak version actively hurt us?

3. Do we want this to scale or live beyond one moment?

If you answered “yes” to even one of those, professional support is worth considering.

DIY isn't bad. But some things deserve more than duct tape and optimism.
Let's leave that to your significant other when they decide to remodel the deck.

So… DIY or Professional?

The honest answer?

Both have a place.

DIY tools are great for:

• Speed

• Testing

• Low-risk communication

Professional teams are better for:

• Strategy

• Consistency

• High-impact moments

• Long-term value

The trick is knowing which problem you’re actually trying to solve.

If you’re just filling space, DIY is fine.
If you’re shaping perception, clarity matters more than convenience.

And that’s where professionals earn their keep.

Final Thought

The best animated marketing videos don’t look expensive.
They look intentional.

However you get there, DIY or professional, the goal is the same:
Make it clear. Make it honest. Make it worth someone’s time.