“Animated ads are just distractions, not effective marketing tools.”
This is a long-standing misconception. Many people see animated advertisements as pure entertainment. The far more complex reality, however, is that animation advertisements have grown and evolved into strong storytelling, brand engagement, and consumer conviviality – especially in our rapidly evolving digital space.
Animated video-making service is an extremely powerful way to get your message out, great for grabbing attention, explaining difficult concepts, and engaging an audience. Some of the best-done animated ads can emotionally connect with a viewer and evoke a brand trigger that will lead to action. Justice is a great example of how animation can beautifully illustrate the potential of communicating in explainer terms, which stick in the mind. Through animation, brands can streamline their stories, encourage a deeper connection with viewers, and even inspire action, and keep them captivated in the process.
In this fast-paced digital world, video animation services assist in taking your concepts and creating visual stories that are impactful and memorable to viewers even after the ad is over.
In this blog, we will explore the world of animated advertisements, showcase 25 examples of animated ads that have captured the audience’s attention and interest, as well as answer the urgent question, “How do you create animated ads that work?” We will share some useful insights and how animation can make a difference in your marketing campaign.
What Are Animated Ads, and Why Are They So Effective?
Animated ads, or animated commercials, or animated advertisements are types of digital ads that convey a brand message through moving images and graphics. Animated ads can include 2D animated commercials or 3D animated commercials, or even mixed-media ads that incorporate animation along with live-action.
Why are animated ads so effective?
Animated ads are one of the few advertisement types that can cut through the clutter of ads. Animated ads are visually appealing and are often more engaging than standard image or text-rich content. Animated ads are designed to capture the attention of viewers and will often be captivating for viewers due to their bright colors, quirky characters, and/or stories.
How to Make Animated Ads That Capture Attention?
Designing eye-catching animated ads that cut across and effectively convey your brand’s message involves more than just creating colorful characters and fluid transitions.
Here is how to create animated ads that get noticed and impact results:
Animated Banner Ad Tips & Benefits
| Tip | Summary |
| 1. Understand Your Audience | Know what appeals to them, humor, info, emotion, and match your message style. |
| 2. Simplicity is Key | Use one clear message; avoid clutter and overload. |
| 3. Tell a Story | Use storytelling to connect emotionally and build brand recall. |
| 4. Leverage Visual Appeal | Use vibrant colors, smooth animation, and brand-consistent visuals. |
| 5. Incorporate a Call to Action | End with a clear CTA (visit, download, purchase, etc.). |
Benefits of Animated Ads
| Benefit | Explanation |
| Increased Engagement | More eye-catching and holds attention better than static ads. |
| Better Communication | Simplifies complex ideas through visuals. |
| Higher Retention | Easier to remember; helps with lasting brand impression. |
| Broader Audience Reach | Culturally neutral; can connect globally. |
Top 25 Inspiring Animated Ads Examples
Animated ads have taken flight across the world, with brands from every industry activating animated content to engage their audience. The following animated ads are the best examples of bringing entertainment while also providing some powerful marketing to the target market.
1. Coca-Cola’s “The Polar Bears” (3D Animated Commercial)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Consumer Goods, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Coca-Cola
What Makes It Stand Out:
Coca Cola’s beloved polar bear family has been part of the brand’s continual imagery for a long time. This family of polar bears, in this 3D animated commercial, conveys an emotional story that resonates with children and adults alike and is among the best examples of animated commercialism to add a human touch to emotional connection.
2. Apple’s “The Rock x Siri Dominate the Day” (Animated Ad Example)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Technology, SaaS, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Apple, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
What Makes It Stand Out:
This animated advertisement featuring rapper Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Siri reflects a perfect marriage of humor and advanced technologies from Apple. The way this company’s creativity broke the internet as one of the best animated commercials made its audience laugh, and similarly highlight Siri’s abilities in a truly innovative manner.
3. Chipotle’s “The Scarecrow” (2D Animated Commercial)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Food & Beverage, Consumer Goods, Non-Profit
Collaborated With: Chipotle, Moonbot Studios
What Makes It Stand Out:
Chipotle’s 2D animation service commercial, created with a hand-drawn style, garnered huge attention thanks to its compelling storytelling. The ad emphasized the importance of fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients, showing how 2D animation can effectively convey key brand values while still maintaining strong visual appeal. It’s a perfect example of how animation can enhance brand messaging memorably and engagingly.
4. Nike’s “The Future Isn’t Waiting” (3D Animation Advertising)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Sportswear, E-commerce & Retail, Established Enterprises
Collaborated With: Nike
What Makes It Stand Out:
Nike’s audacious message concerning the future of sports and innovation was made possible through the medium of 3D animation. This particular animated ad example stands out from the rest because of its dynamic visuals and motivational tone calling on the viewer to believe in the future of sports.
5. Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” (Animated Commercials)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Consumer Goods, Retail, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Old Spice
What Makes It Stand Out:
Although Old Spice has a lot of live-action footage, it never lets you forget that it’s all an animation. This is a fantastic animation advertisement because it demonstrates that even very simple animations can elevate a message and create a viral moment.
6. Google’s “Google Home: The Play” (Animation Advertising Example)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Technology, SaaS, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Google
What Makes It Stand Out:
Google used an animation to show how the Google Home worked. The animation was interactive and fun which encouraged people to explore the smart home product in an entertaining way. This animated example highlighted the versatility of voice activated technology. Advertisements using simple but compelling visuals are straightforward and were a quick hit.
7. Guinness “Surfer” (Best Animated Ads)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Beverage, Consumer Goods, Established Enterprise
Collaborated With: Guinness
What Makes It Stand Out:
Guinness’s animated ad “Surfer” is an awesome demonstration of how animation advertising can make you feel intense and raw emotion and energy. It had a high contrast animated style, and a strong soundtrack that produced a memorable advertisement that still packs a punch.
8. Honda “The Cog” (Best Animated Ads Example)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Automotive, Established Enterprise
Collaborated With: Honda
What Makes It Stand Out:
Honda commissioned “The Cog,” a 2D animated advertisement that shows the complexity resulting from Honda engineering. The advertisement was so incredible, that it essentially created a template for animated automotive advertisement. It demonstrated the ability of animation to explain complex processes.
9. Spotify’s “Year in Review” (Animation Advertising Examples)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Technology, SaaS, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Spotify
What Makes It Stand Out:
The animated advertisements Spotify uses that summarize people’s most played songs and favorite artists are exciting visual experiences and have been widely popular and shared on social media sites. The animation advertising allows Spotify to personally interact with users through creativity which increases their brand loyalty and user’s engagement.
10. Heinz “The Ketchup Bottle” (3D Animated Commercials)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Food & Beverage, Consumer Goods, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Heinz
What Makes It Stand Out:
Heinz crafted a quirky and memorable 3D animated commercial, which showcased ketchup bursting out of their bottle in the most oddly satisfying way etc. This ad, in particular, was quirky. It is an animated advertisement that correlates with the playful brand identity of Heinz.
11. Dropbox’s “The Dropbox Family” (Animated Advertisement)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Technology, SaaS, Established Enterprise
Collaborated With: Dropbox
What Makes It Stand Out:
Dropbox used simple 2D animation to explain their cloud storage platform playfully and enjoyably. The animation simplifies a complex idea, emphasizing the value of animated advertising in explaining digital services.
12. Airbnb’s “We Accept” (Animated Commercial)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Hospitality, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Airbnb
What Makes It Stand Out:
Airbnb presented an animation to deliver an impactful message about inclusion and acceptance. The animated ad sought to make a mark on individuals not just because of the animation style, but because of a touching message consistent with Airbnb’s brand ethos.
13. Kellogg’s “The Crunch” (3D Animated Commercial)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Food & Beverage, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Kellogg’s
What Makes It Stand Out:
Kellogg’s 3D animated commercial really brought their iconic cereals to life with quirky characters and a spirited upbeat tone that was fun and memorable. Kellogg’s was able to capture not only the creativity of their animated cereals but the essence of who their cereals appeal to – children and adults alike!
14. Duracell’s “Powering a Brighter Future” (2D Animated Commercial)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Consumer Goods, Established Enterprise
Collaborated With: Duracell
What Makes It Stand Out:
Duracell’s cartoon (2D animation) advertisement emphasizes the theme of energy, highlighting how their batteries “power” everything from children’s toys to electronics and everything in between. The fluid animation succeeded in visually communicating the power and reliability of the batteries.
15. M&M’s “The Red and Yellow” (Animated Ad Example)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Consumer Goods, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: M&M’s
What Makes It Stand Out:
The successful animation campaign by M&M’s with their two iconic characters, Red and Yellow, utilizes animated ads that create a sense of animation and personality through animated advertisements. Animated ads automatically stand out due to the humor incorporated in them, and like some of the best animated ads, it helps to build a meaningful brand identity experience.
16. Lego’s “Rebuild the World” (Animated Advertisement)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Consumer Goods, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Lego
What Makes It Stand Out:
Lego’s animated commercial combined 2D and 3D animation to bring the joy of building and creativity to life. The ad’s use of animation captured the playful and imaginative spirit of Lego, inviting viewers to explore the endless possibilities of their building sets.
17. Audi’s “The Art of Progress” (Animated Commercials)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Automotive, Established Enterprise
Collaborated With: Audi
What Makes It Stand Out:
Audi’s animated advertisement used sleek, futuristic animations to showcase their luxury vehicles. The ad emphasized Audi’s innovative technology, making it one of the best animated ads in the automotive industry.
18. Zalando’s “Do More With Your Closet” (Animation Advertising)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Fashion, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Zalando
What Makes It Stand Out:
Zalando’s animated commercial used clean, minimalist animation to portray how their fashion platform helps users get more out of their closets. The ad’s modern animation style resonated with fashion-conscious millennials, making it a standout in the fashion industry.
19. T-Mobile’s “The Power of Magenta” (Animated Ad Example)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Telecommunications, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: T-Mobile
What Makes It Stand Out:
T-Mobile’s animated advertisement creatively illustrated the benefits of their services with dynamic, colorful visuals. The ad emphasized how T-Mobile’s “Magenta” color represents power and connection, strengthening the brand’s unique identity.
20. Pepsi’s “Pepsi Generations” (Animated Commercials)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Beverage, Consumer Goods, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Pepsi
What Makes It Stand Out:
Pepsi’s animated commercial celebrated its iconic history, bringing to life the brand’s evolution through the decades. This use of animation advertising allowed Pepsi to bridge the gap between nostalgia and modern-day trends in a visually engaging way.
21. Adobe’s “Creativity for All” (2D Animated Commercial)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Software, SaaS, Technology
Collaborated With: Adobe
What Makes It Stand Out:
Adobe’s 2D animated commercial powerfully showcases the versatility of its creative software through lively, colorful animation. The ad promotes creativity as a universal language, making it one of the best animated ads examples for the tech industry.
22. Netflix’s “A Netflix Original” (Animated Commercial)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Entertainment, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Netflix
What Makes It Stand Out:
Netflix used animation to celebrate their vast library of original content, featuring beloved characters and stories in an engaging, dynamic way. This animated ad successfully communicated the diversity and range of Netflix’s offerings in a visually appealing manner.
23. Skittles “The Rainbow” (Animation Advertising Example)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Consumer Goods, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Skittles
What Makes It Stand Out:
Skittles’ animated commercials are well-known for their surreal, out-of-the-box humor. The quirky, animated characters combined with bizarre storylines helped the brand stand out in the crowded candy industry, making it a memorable animated ad example.
24. Samsung’s “The Frame” (3D Animated Commercial)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Electronics, E-commerce & Retail
Collaborated With: Samsung
What Makes It Stand Out:
Samsung’s 3D animated commercial creatively demonstrated the versatility of their Frame TV by showing how it can transform into a piece of art. The animation effectively showcased the product’s unique selling point, capturing the attention of potential buyers.
25. Visa “The Next Big Thing” (Animated Ad Example)
Average Pricing: $11,180 – $17,560
Target Industries: Financial Services, Established Enterprise
Collaborated With: Visa
What Makes It Stand Out:
Visa’s animated ad brought to life the concept of digital payments through whimsical animation. The ad cleverly illustrated how Visa facilitates modern transactions while maintaining its credibility in the financial sector.
Conclusion
Animated ads have made their way into contemporary advertising as part of the future of advertising, enabling brands to send a message that engages, connects, and makes an impact in different ways. With animation advertising including everything from funny, quirky 2D animated commercials to more sophisticated 3D animated commercials, the types and styles of animation advertising are very broad, allowing brands to communicate messages in creative ways that leave an impression on audiences.
Whatever your reason is, whether it’s to get inspiration, find out more about how to make animated ads that work, or to see the range of animated ads we have in these animated ads examples, then you will find these ads as effective cases of animated advertisement! When you consider how many creative avenues animation has to offer and the potential impact that it can have if done correctly, animated ads can influence your brand’s future marketing strategy.
When you decide to use animation in your campaigns, you will not only be able to differentiate yourself from your competition and market your brand more effectively but also use animated ads to generate further audience engagement and improve brand sales opportunities. So, step into the future of advertising and let your advertising potential run wild with animated ads.
Animated Videos feature high-quality 2D animation with stunning motion graphics and innovative 2D designs. Visit blogs for insights.
FAQs
1. What are animated ads, and how do they stand out in advertising?
Animated ads use motion graphics to deliver messages in a visually engaging way. They stand out by simplifying complex ideas and emotionally connecting with viewers.
2. Can you provide some examples of effective animated ads?
Yes, Coca-Cola’s The Polar Bears and Chipotle’s The Scarecrow are standout examples. They use storytelling and emotion to leave a lasting brand impression.
3. What makes the best animated commercials so effective?
They combine strong visuals with relatable stories that reflect the brand's identity. Ads like Nike’s The Future Isn’t Waiting are memorable because they inspire and entertain.
4. How can I make animated ads for my own marketing campaign?
Start by defining your goals, choosing a style, and working with skilled animators. Then optimize for platforms and track results to refine your strategy.
5. What are some creative examples of animation advertising that I can learn from?
Look at Spotify’s Year in Review and Visa’s The Next Big Thing for inspiration. They show how animation can clarify messages and boost engagement creatively.
