Loud voices together are heard

When it comes to choosing whether a story should be told using live action footage or with a motion graphic, there are some standard questions you can ask yourself:

1. Which technique would be the strongest?

Anything visual is about emotion. And how to deliver these emotions to the viewer. Sometimes live action simply works better. When you want to explain something very concrete, for example. Or when it's about people. When you're an NGO and want to launch a campaign about the homeless, why should you use animated characters or little popping visuals?

2. Are we talking about something tangible?

Facts and data are harder to shoot, as are statistics, tutorials, abstract concepts and ideas. They can be shot live, but many will just result in shots if people looking at computers displaying data.

3. Is it reachable (within our budget)?

If you are a belgian firm and you want to create a story about deforestation in Canada, you should look at your budget. If you have the time and resources to send a camera crew to Canada, you should consider it. If you don't, a stylised motion graphic will be your best choice.

4. Is it supposed to be fun and snappy or more serious?

Motion graphics and infographics usually tend to be on the fun and snappy side. With bright colours and a bubbly sound design, they are a great tool to make even the most boring of subjects fun to watch. When the subject is more serious, a mix with live footage is usually opted.

5. No exceptions whatsoever?

Tons! Here's one!

The National Recources Defence Council commissioned this motion graphic on the environmental impact on whale population. This stunning piece of art pretty much throws all previous questions of the table. They could have used real whale footage (there is tons available and they have to means to shoot more), there is nothing snappy, bubbly or fun about it. But the artwork, pace of the film and emotional tonality of the film give everything reason. This motion graphic was created by the Canadian animation studio 'Giant Ant'

This doesn't mean that all questions should be ignored from now on, but is does prove that as long as the emotion is set just right, anything can goes.