Visual Brand Stories 2025

2025: When Brand Videos Became Stories

In 2025, brand videos have evolved into complex multimedia stories that combine animation, interactivity, and artificial intelligence technologies. Modern companies, from tech giants to creative startups, are increasingly choosing the animated format because it allows them to convey complex ideas quickly, create an emotional connection with the audience, and remain recognizable among competitors.

Thanks to new graphics processors, AI tools, and deeper integration of 3D technologies, animation production has become significantly faster and more efficient than even two years ago.

As Della Mathew, Executive Creative Director at 22squared, puts it: “In 2025, creativity won’t just reflect the world around us. It will rewrite it, proving that the most powerful ideas are those we create together.”

These changes are reflected in every new video released this year. Brands are increasingly bold in experimenting with form, combining live-action footage with animation, creating immersive 3D scenes, and integrating kinetic typography and AR effects. To better understand what cutting-edge practices in 2025 actually look like, let’s examine a few notable examples.

Unveiling Micro RGB | Samsung

The Samsung Unveiling Micro RGB video demonstrates how, in 2025, brands have shifted the focus from directly showcasing a product to creating a visual experience that immerses the viewer in the technology. There are no traditional production shots or interfaces – only abstract light scenes highlighting the product’s key feature: color precision and depth.

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The hybrid of 3D animation and motion design graphics creates a futuristic atmosphere, while kinetic typography subtly emphasizes key terms. This approach allows Samsung not only to showcase the technology but also to cement the brand’s image as an innovation leader in viewers’ minds.

Meet iPhone 16e | Apple

The video begins with a bright, humorous scene: an inflatable character gracefully dancing while holding the iPhone 16e instantly grabs attention. Apple creates an atmosphere of lightness and joy, portraying the product not just as a technical device but as a helpful companion in everyday life, accessible and convenient.

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The color palette, dynamic transitions, and smooth animation emphasize the smartphone’s modernity and technological appeal, while humor makes the video easily digestible even for viewers uninterested in technical specifications.

This video exemplifies 2025 trends: brands focus on audience emotions and experiences rather than just numbers and features, using motion design, interactivity, and creative humor to make the product memorable.

LEGO Friends 2025: New Team in the World of Animation

The LEGO Friends 2025 video emphasizes diversity and inclusivity. The seven new characters represent a modern vision of friendship – each with their own style, interests, and story. The animation is in a contemporary 3D style, with smooth movements and a vibrant color palette that makes characters feel more “alive” and relatable to children.

The short promo does not overload the plot; it serves as a colorful teaser introducing the new team and encouraging children to explore the series further through cartoons, sets, and online LEGO content. This illustrates a key 2025 brand-video trend: short, dynamic, and emotional stories that create an atmosphere rather than straightforward advertising.

OREO – New Flavors

The OREO – New Flavors video quickly introduces viewers to the two new cookie flavors: Dark Chocolate and Chocolate Hazelnut. Each flavor is showcased with vibrant packaging and dynamic animation, highlighting the richness and appeal of the creamy filling.

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The video is short and direct, focusing immediately on the product – without additional plotlines or characters. Clear colors, moving elements, and large packaging images make the product noticeable and memorable, while the “TRY NEW” caption strengthens the call to action.

This format reflects a modern trend in brand videos: short, bright, and efficient product demonstrations that emphasize key features and appeal.

McDonaldland Reunion | McDonald’s

The video transports viewers to an updated but familiar McDonaldland – a visual universe from the 1970s–80s inhabited by brand characters: Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Hamburglar, and others. Stylized, vibrant animation evokes warm nostalgic feelings regardless of viewers’ age.

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McDonald’s doesn’t just showcase characters – it invites audiences into a full brand experience: the “McDonaldland Meal” set, collectible retro tins, integration with Fortnite and Meta Horizon Worlds VR. This is no longer just an ad but the first link in a cross-platform story that combines physical, virtual, and emotional elements.

Color, music, and characters appeal to childhood memories for millions, while modern tools (interactivity, gamification, collectibility) engage new audiences. This approach reflects 2025 brand-visual trends: emotion, nostalgia, multimedia, and deep consumer engagement.

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McDonald’s skillfully combines animation and storytelling to create not just an ad but a complete world that audiences want to return to. The video exemplifies how a classic brand can remain modern by playing on cultural memory and technological innovation simultaneously.

Do your lesson, no buts. – Duolingo

In the Do your lesson, no buts. clip, Duolingo uses a short, memorable message filled with stern humor: “don’t make excuses, just do your lesson.” The approach grabs attention through contrast: the usual friendly nudging becomes a sharp, humorous command.

This approach exemplifies a 2025 microtrend: brands create instantly understandable mini-messages for quick online consumption. The video delivers a fast motivational impulse, resonating with mobile behavior and short-form formats like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

Humor is not just a joke; it acts as a psychological trigger. For Duolingo, it complements gamification elements (streaks, leaderboards, reminders) with an external push to overcome procrastination.

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It’s also an example of a brand communicating in internet culture language, using memes and direct speech to connect with youth. There’s no artificial grandiosity – just a concise message functioning as a habit prompt: “Do your lesson, no buts.”

What is Slack? | Your Agentic Work OS

In What is Slack?, the brand presents itself not just as a corporate messenger but as an Agentic Work OS – a next-gen platform combining AI, automation, and collaboration in one interface.

The video is built in a flat style, with clear interface elements, subtle animation, and rhythmic editing. The focus is on the product and its functionality – no metaphors or unnecessary visual tricks, just features in action. This approach helps viewers quickly understand how Slack improves workflow efficiency.

A key focus is Slack AI agents, which can find data, respond to queries, and assist with workflows. These aren’t just chatbots – they are autonomous helpers within the platform. The video shows agents collecting data from various tools (e.g., Salesforce), consolidating it, and presenting it in a user-friendly way – without switching between multiple tabs.

Another emphasis is app integration in Slack. The platform unifies popular business tools in one space: communication, file sharing, data, analytics – all accessible through a single interface.

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The video’s style reflects a modern trend: simplicity + functionality. No visual clutter – just UX that speaks for itself. Slack positions itself as an intelligent, streamlined workspace, allowing users to focus on essentials rather than processes.

How Much Do Brand Videos Cost in 2025?

In 2025, the cost of brand videos varies depending on complexity, duration, and format. Short animated clips for social media (like Duolingo or OREO) typically range from $1,000 to $10,000 (Dotmotions). Mid-range 2D animation for corporate and promo videos is estimated at $3,000 – $7,000 per minute (Kasra Design).

Complex hybrid formats and high-end 3D animation, such as Samsung Micro RGB or Apple iPhone 16e videos, cost $20,000 – $50,000 per minute (B2W). Large-scale integrated campaigns with AR, VR, or gamification (like McDonaldland) can exceed $50,000 per video, and in some cases reach $100,000+ (Firework, Clutch).

According to Clutch, the average cost of a brand video in 2025 is around $42,000, but major companies invest significantly more when it comes to global campaigns. The budget is typically distributed as follows: pre-production (20 – 25%), production (50 – 60%), post-production (20 – 35%).

A Few More Striking Examples

In addition to the previously discussed cases, modern brands are actively experimenting with animation formats, creating videos that simultaneously capture attention, build an emotional connection with the audience, and highlight the product’s innovation. Below is a selection of a few more of the most striking videos from well-known companies that demonstrate these trends:

Airbnb – Stay Grounded | Introducing Airbnb Services

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Microsoft – Turn Photos Into Any Style With Microsoft Copilot

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Windows 11 Pro and Intel – Right side of risk

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Nvision – Custom AI

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Teamble – Best SaaS Product Demo Video

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Animation is no longer limited to simply presenting a product. It has transformed into a tool that allows brands to create small stories – dynamic, emotional, and technologically innovative.

Conclusion

Brand videos in 2025 are full-fledged tools for emotional communication, going far beyond traditional advertising. The focus is not on the product itself, but on the experience the viewer receives when interacting with a visual story.

Modern videos demonstrate how priorities have shifted: instead of direct demonstrations – atmosphere; instead of lists of features – feelings; instead of a single screen – multimedia environments spanning social platforms, gaming spaces, and even augmented reality.

Key trends include:

These videos do more than showcase a product or idea – they shape perceptions of modernity, set the tone of communication, and become part of digital culture. This is not just communication – it’s an aesthetic and emotional experience a brand leaves in the viewer’s mind.

These aren’t just words – this is the start of your story in vibrant motion! If you want your idea to come alive with dynamic energy, emotion, and captivate from the very first frame – reach out, and we’ll create animation that speaks the language of modernity!