A hand-drawn explainer video looks and moves like it was made by hand, because it largely was. These 17 hand-drawn explainer video examples cover frame-by-frame animation, cel animation, illustrated films and whiteboard styles from brands, nonprofits and software companies.
By
Larry Mutenda
| What are the best hand-drawn explainer video examples? Strong hand-drawn explainer video examples include 21st Century Law for legal services, Manitoba Nurses Union for a member message, Métis Nation for a community organization, Unilever for a brand film, Airbnb for an anti-discrimination initiative, Chobani for a brand belief, UNICEF for children’s data, Montblanc for a sustainability pledge, South Downs National Park for nature recovery, Liveclicker for email software, Hive for virtual workplaces, TED-Ed for a lesson on metaphor, Health Mart for a pharmacy tool, Spigit for innovation software, Oxfam Unwrapped for charity gifts, Forte for furniture quality control and Winaico for solar panel quality. |
A hand-drawn explainer video uses drawings made by an artist, animated either frame by frame or drawn on screen as the story unfolds. Most run 1 to 3 minutes. The style feels warmer and more personal than flat vector graphics.
Hand-drawn covers several techniques. Frame-by-frame, or cel, animation draws every frame for fluid motion. Illustrated explainers use hand-made artwork with digital movement. Whiteboard videos draw each idea on screen as it is explained.
This article looks at 17 hand-drawn explainer videos, from whiteboard pieces to frame-by-frame brand films. For each one, I describe what the video shows and why the hand-drawn look suits it. After the examples, I cover what a hand-drawn explainer video costs and how to plan one.
Here is a quick overview of the 17 videos in this article. The table links to each example below.
Every entry had to pass four checks. The video uses hand-drawn artwork or frame-by-frame animation as its main style. The message is clear: it states what the organization does or believes and why it matters, without burying that under detail. The video is still live and embeddable today. And together the list covers different hand-drawn techniques, from cel animation to whiteboard.
No organization here has published performance data for its video, so each entry says so rather than guessing. Every entry was last verified in September 2026.
The first three examples come from the Creamy Animation video library. The other videos were published by the organizations or by the studios that made them.
| # | Company | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21st Century Law | Hand-drawn whiteboard explainer for a law firm |
| 2 | Manitoba Nurses Union | Whiteboard explainer for a union |
| 3 | Métis Nation | Longer hand-drawn explainer for a community organization |
| 4 | Unilever | Frame-by-frame illustrated brand film |
| 5 | Airbnb | Frame-by-frame explainer for a social initiative |
| 6 | Chobani | 30-second frame-by-frame brand explainer |
| 7 | UNICEF | Illustrated explainer on children's data |
| 8 | Montblanc | Illustrated explainer for a luxury brand |
| 9 | South Downs National Park | Hand-drawn campaign explainer for nature recovery |
| 10 | Liveclicker | Minimalist frame-by-frame software explainer |
| 11 | Hive | Illustrated software explainer |
| 12 | TED-Ed | Traditional-style educational explainer |
| 13 | Health Mart (McKesson) | Custom whiteboard explainer for B2B software |
| 14 | Spigit | Whiteboard explainer with a recurring character |
| 15 | Oxfam Unwrapped | Hand-drawn charity explainer |
| 16 | Forte | Whiteboard process explainer for manufacturing |
| 17 | Winaico | Hybrid hand-drawn and product explainer |
Runtime: 2:36
A hand-drawn whiteboard explainer for a law firm. Legal services are hard to film, and drawing each idea as it is explained keeps the viewer following along.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Hand-drawn styles make professional services feel approachable.
The 21st Century Law video is drawn from the video library of Creamy Animation.
Runtime: 2:01
A hand-drawn whiteboard explainer for the union representing nurses in Manitoba. The drawn style suits a member audience and an information-heavy message.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Whiteboard works well for member and employee communications.
Runtime: 3:18
A hand-drawn whiteboard explainer for a Métis Nation organization. At over three minutes, it uses the drawing process to hold attention through a longer message.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Hand-drawn reveals can carry a longer message than flat graphics.
Runtime: 1:01
Unilever’s Every U global film combines frame-by-frame animation with bold illustration by Rune Fisker. It works as an explainer and could pass as an ad.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
A strong illustration style can carry a global brand message.
Runtime: 1:42
Airbnb introduced Project Lighthouse, an initiative in the United States to uncover, measure and overcome discrimination when booking or hosting. Frame-by-frame animation and rich artwork lift a simple explainer.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
For sensitive topics, the craft of the animation shows respect.
Runtime: 0:30
Chobani believes how we eat today has a lasting impact on tomorrow. This 30-second piece uses frame-by-frame animation to make that point.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
A short hand-drawn spot can explain a brand belief, not only a product.
Runtime: 2:23
UNICEF explains why children’s data needs special care. Children are more vulnerable than adults and less able to understand the long-term effects of consenting to data collection.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Hand-drawn visuals can make a policy topic feel personal.
Runtime: 1:06
Montblanc is known for craftsmanship and longevity. This campaign applies that philosophy to sustainability goals and explains the company’s pledge for a greener future.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Match the animation’s craft to the brand’s own promise.
Runtime: 1:10
The South Downs National Park is home to rich wildlife, but nature is under pressure. Currently 25% of the park is managed for nature. The campaign explains a plan to increase that with landowners and communities.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Anchor a campaign to one number people can remember.
Runtime: 0:56
A minimalist frame-by-frame, or cel, animated explainer for Liveclicker, a marketing software company.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Hand-drawn animation can make software feel less generic.
Runtime: 0:58
Since 2020, the need for virtual meetings and events has grown fast. Hive provides virtual gathering places for workplaces. The explainer tells that story in under a minute.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Tie your explainer to a change your audience is living through.
Runtime: 5:38
This TED-Ed lesson by poet Jane Hirshfield explores how metaphors help us understand the world and what makes a good one. It uses traditional animation techniques and playful lines.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Educational pieces can run long when every minute teaches something.
Runtime: 2:04
Health Mart, part of McKesson, offers an online tool that helps independent pharmacies manage their business proactively. This custom whiteboard animation explains how it works.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Whiteboard can simplify business software for a non-technical buyer.
Runtime: 1:33
Spigit is management software that helps companies invent new products and experiences with the right people. This custom whiteboard video explains how it works.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Drawn step by step, even enterprise workflows become easy to follow.
Runtime: 1:25
Oxfam Unwrapped lets people give charity gifts. This hand-drawn explainer shows how the gifts work.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
For charities, a hand-drawn style feels personal rather than corporate.
Runtime: 2:52
This whiteboard animation presents Forte’s furniture production and quality control system. It follows the furniture from cutting and wood checks to delivery.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Draw the journey of one product to explain a whole process.
Runtime: 2:50
This video explains why frame quality matters in photovoltaic panels, and why bigger is not always better. It combines hand-drawn diagrams with product photography and data visualization.
Performance data: none published.
Why it works:
Takeaway:
Combine hand-drawn diagrams with real product shots for technical credibility.
Price depends on runtime, visual treatment and production scope. Most projects fall into one of three tiers.
| Tier | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| AI-Assisted | $2,500 to $4,000 | Simple drawn visuals or short whiteboard pieces |
| Standard | $3,000 to $10,000 | Custom illustration or whiteboard with voiceover and sound design |
| Premium | $10,000 to $25,000 | Full frame-by-frame or cel animation |
Frame-by-frame animation takes longer than other styles because every frame is drawn. For a full breakdown by style and length, see the explainer video cost guide.
Choose between whiteboard, illustrated and frame-by-frame. Whiteboard suits an information-heavy message, like Manitoba Nurses Union. Frame-by-frame suits a short brand film, like Chobani.
In a whiteboard video, each idea is drawn as it is explained. 21st Century Law keeps the viewer following along that way. Write short lines that each match one drawing.
Unilever uses bold illustration by Rune Fisker. Montblanc applies its focus on craft to the artwork. Choose an illustration style that already feels like your brand.
Métis Nation runs over three minutes. It uses the drawing process to hold attention through a longer message.
Frame-by-frame takes longer because every frame is drawn. Plan the schedule and budget for that before you commit to it.
Yes. Liveclicker, Hive, Health Mart and Spigit all use hand-drawn styles to explain software.
Hand-drawn explainer videos stand out because they look human. The examples here range from 30-second brand spots to five-minute lessons, but each one uses the hand-made look for a reason: warmth, craft or trust.
If your message depends on feeling personal, a hand-drawn style is worth considering.
Larry is the founder and Chief Storyteller at Creamy Animation, founded in 2009. He leads a team that creates story-driven videos for businesses and nonprofits. 15+ years in video strategy and production, specializing in SaaS, B2B, and nonprofit storytelling. A marketer, designer, and animator, Larry has overseen the production of more than 1,500 videos for Fujitsu, Logitech, Warner Brothers, NFL, Blockdaemon, Astronomer, Canonical, and 370+ others.
For Larry, God is first, and everything else is a blessing that comes from serving Him. When he’s not working, he’s hanging out with his wife and three kids, playing the piano, or pursuing his filmmaking side hustle.
