Which is better, live action or animation?

This is like asking which is better, jazz or classical music.

The medium of video is ultimately an art form, even when it doesn’t seem like it.

And just like any other art form, it comes in a dazzling array of styles and formats, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

One question that pops up a lot with our clients is whether to use live action or animation to tell a story.

And the answer is simply that it depends on the message you’re trying to communicate.

So we thought we’d make this quick guide to help you narrow it down.

Criteria	Live Action	Animation
Visual Styles	Realistic	Varied animation styles - Sky’s the limit
Characters	Real actors performing for the camera	Drawn characters created by artists and animated by a team
Performance	Live-action acting	Voiceover / voice acting, motion capture, regular keyframe animation, etc
Production Process	Filming and post-production	Script / screenplay / storyboard / animation production work
Time and Cost	Expensive and time-consuming	Can be expensive, but less time-consuming depending on factors like length, animation styles chosen, etc.
Flexibility / accessibility	Limited by real-world factors like studio space, budget, etc	You’re essentially limited only by your imagination
Target Audience	Any mainstream general audience	Suitable for adults and children alike, but especially well-suited for children and young adults
Narratives	Generally well-suited for character-driven, real-world stories	Not limited to any genre - sci-fi, adventure, fantasy, etc. Any world can be depicted, real or imaginary
Sound and Music	Recorded on-set or added in post-production	Sound must be created using voice overs / voice actors, Foley art, all sound effects, often accompanied by musical score
Collaboration	Requires a large team with various skills (writers, actors, directors, set designers, camera operators, etc)	Requires a team of writers, artists, animators and voice actors
Level of Realism	Best suited for a realistic portrayal of real-world scenarios	Better suited for imaginary scenarios, fantasy / sci-fi, cartoons, suspension of disbelief
Production Time	Longer production times due to filming	Shorter production times due to animation, especially with larger teams depending on budget
Special Effects / Stunt Work	Practical stunts and VFX needed, constrained by time and budget	The existing framework of animation and special effects creates the action sequences, which means no real change to the budget - if you can imagine it, you can create it.

Conclusion

This is by no means an exhaustive list, of course.

But it should help give you an idea of where animation simply works better to explain things easily and clearly.

Like any format, there are advantages and disadvantages.

And even within animation itself, there’s a myriad of graphic styles, and each of those are better suited for certain messaging and moods than others.

If you’re still confused, don’t worry!

When you partner with a good animation studio, their creative team would be happy to help you navigate all the options and ideas and help guide you towards what’s best for your message, budget, and audience.

Also remember that since animation is ultimately an artform, there’s no set hard rules for what works and what doesn’t.

You must be willing to experiment and try new things.

Remember that it’s ultimately your own message, your own story, and only you can really tell it well.

The world’s waiting for your story! And it’s time to tell it your way!

Still confused?

Live Action vs Animation: 13 Crucial Differences To Analyse

Conclusion

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