Top brands, top videos: how famous businesses use animation

Everyone keeps calling animation a “trend.” But is it really? I mean, what even makes something a trend? Is it the number of hashtags on Instagram? The number of LinkedIn thought leaders talking about it?

Here’s the foolproof test: check what the top brands are doing. If half of them are all in on it, congrats – you’ve found your trend.

What’s the case with animation? 

Let’s find out!  

#1 Skoda 

One of the greatest animations we’ve ever seen. 

A short 2D hand-drawn video celebrating the amazing heritage of Skoda. 

As you see, it’s Skoda – one of the most recognisable brands worldwide. Not To Scale NY – a film and animation production company – collaborated with creative agency Fallon Prague to create a stunning tribute to the world’s third-largest sporting event, the Tour de France, and its proud, long-time sponsors, ŠKODA.

#2 Discord 

Discord is known for being a platform for users of all ages. Lately, they took several steps to implement safety on the platform for younger users, launching the Safety Teen charter. They reached The Rocket Panda agency. 

They used 2D, 3D, 3D that becomes 2D and also animated 2D to create a beautiful video. 

The animation is truly vivid, colourful and just full of details – all too convey the story of a platform that literally never sleeps. 

According to Discord, they “have conducted 30 focus groups globally to speak with teens about their first-hand experiences and perspectives on how to shape Discord’s features to meet their needs. Collected ideas from teens and global organisations specialising in teen safety – like Digital Wellness Lab, NoFiltr’s Youth Innovation Council and ThinkYoung – to create an aspirational charter that helps us understand how teens want to feel on Discord.”

This video was awarded by Behance and got MDA both video of the month and video of the day. 

#3 Dropbox

Everyone knows Dropbox. 

Directed by Buck.tv Agency, this animation shows how Dropbox works. As simple as that. At the same time, it is just beautiful. 

Here’s the thing: Dropbox is designed to work seamlessly in the background. Yes, it can be both helpful and challenging for new users. Many people start using Dropbox for one specific purpose but may not realize all the other ways it can simplify their personal and work tasks.

This video is a simple introduction to Dropbox, made for a wide audience. It’s meant to inspire people with ideas about how Dropbox can fit into their lives.

#4 American Express

Produced at Not To Scale HQ in London, this 30-second film was crafted in close collaboration with Ogilvy. It expands on the bold graphic style and vibrant color palette of the latest Amex print campaign, designed by illustrator Tom Haugomat.

Directors Colin Hesterly and Matthias Hoegg teamed up to create this stylish film, highlighting all the amazing possibilities the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card can offer.

The film showcases the benefits of the Gold Card with a blend of 2D and 3D animation. It takes viewers on a journey through various holiday spots, using one continuous camera move to smoothly transition from one relaxing moment to the next.

It is definitely a great piece of animation.

#5 Montblanc x Device 

Montblanc surprised us with cool Wes Anderson directed commercials. But have they used animation? You don’t say! 

Montblanc, renowned for their quality, creativity, and durability, has long been incorporating sustainability into their vision. Partnering with Device and W+K Amsterdam, they launched a campaign to highlight the steps they’ve taken toward achieving net-zero and committing to a greener future.

#6 Minima

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Blockchain videos are usually pretty technical – they explain things well, but what about storytelling? Is that a good idea? Minima thought so. To share their mission, they chose to break away from the usual web3 style. While their work is deeply technical, their goal is simple: empower people through blockchain. So, they creating a hand-painted look with characters to bring a human touch to their brand.

Now…

Let’s pause for a second. We’ve looked at a few examples of big brands using animation, and each one used it in a completely different way. 

Notice how varied they are? 

That’s because there’s no one-size-fits-all approach – every kind of animation can work beautifully, depending on the brand’s goals.

Let’s get back to the list:)

#7 Headspace

Headspace collaborated with Moth Studio to promote Sleep, their app feature for restless sleepers seeking meditation and music. They created a 60-second hero film and six 15-second spots, featuring characters on a quest for better sleep. The animation shifts from Headspace’s bright colors to a softer, dreamier palette. 

The challenge was balancing fun character animation with the calming vibe the films required. To achieve this, they used relatable, subtle expressions – avoiding anything too cartoonish – and added touches like surreal indoor scenes, sleepy forests, magical sparkles, and gentle breezes.

#8 GitHub

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We’ve seen plenty of videos that explain or promote products in a beautiful, straightforward way. But what about tackling something more complex? GitHub nailed it. In just three minutes, their video subtly answered:

• What is Git and GitHub?
• What is a version control system?
• What is a Hub?
• What is a repository?
• What is a branch?
• What is a pull request?
• How to fork a repository?

And that GitHub isn’t just for developers.

That’s a lot to pack into three minutes – and they made it look effortless!

#9 Microsoft

Tendril Studio created a lively and engaging film showcasing Microsoft Mesh, a cutting-edge technology that blends real-world interactions with virtual meetings. 

The film shows how Microsoft Mesh can change the way we connect and work together in a more immersive and interactive way.

But just look at the animation here – this an amazing example we haven’t seen before using by such brands. 

#10 Spotify

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Another giant on our list is Spotify. 

They partnered to produce an animated video showcasing a major advancement in the brand’s podcast advertising: the democratization of access to the Spotify Audience Network via Ad Animation Studio.

What do we see here? 

A colorful animation that is simple way leads us to the new solution.

#11 MailChimp 

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The film Momentum is Mailchimp’s heartfelt tribute to small business owners. It’s a celebration of their determination, creativity, and resilience. 

Created by a Buck company, the story follows a quirky group of entrepreneurs navigating the modern struggle we all know too well: the dreaded Zoom call – an ultimate momentum stopper and creativity crusher.

But Mailchimp brings a message of hope: things will get better. Creativity will flow again.

#12 Toyota 

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Leading up to the Paris Motor Show, Toyota dropped a super cool animated video called “Stories for Better.” This isn’t your average car ad – they ditched the usual cars and instead told a heartwarming story using amazing paper models!

The video shows how Toyota is all about making things better, not just building cars. It’s a really creative way to show their values and get people excited about the brand.

Why? 

Instead of just showing one car, this video tells the story of all the different types of vehicles they make. Each car is designed to be the best in its class.

This video is different from the usual car commercials that just try to make you buy something. 

#13 Semrush 

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23 seconds of branded animation. 

That’s all Semrush – top SEO company – needed to introduce its new tool. 

A unique twist on the typical animated demo, this ad showcases the app’s functionality through the whimsical antics of a wizard. The wizard’s magical control over the app, from the initial flourish of beautiful typography to the highly imaginative and humorous character animations, transforms a potentially dry demonstration into an engaging and memorable experience.

This ad proves that showcasing the inner workings of an app or website doesn’t have to be dull. It can be a delightful and creative spectacle.”

#14 Microsoft Bing 

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How to present a new AI feature in the best possible way? 

Create an animated video. 

The new Microsoft Bing and Edge now offer a more visual search experience, with rich image and video answers. Chat has also been upgraded from single-use sessions to a multi-session experience, with chat history and ongoing conversations in Edge. 

You can see all of that in a video.

Conclusion

Do you still think animation is not a trend? 

Well, it is, but it’s also not fleeting. 

It’s a creative strategy that every major brand is leveraging. Every. 

As trends evolve, so will the ways companies use animation to tell their stories. It might be through fun, cartoonish characters or sleek, professional designs, but one thing is clear: animation is here to stay.

You should use it too – you’ve just seen how many incredible options you have. 

Ready to take inspiration from the giants? Contact us!