Explainer Video Production in Leeds and West Yorkshire: The Complete Guide
If you're a business in West Yorkshire looking to communicate a complex product, service or process through video, an explainer video is one of the most effective tools available. This guide covers everything you need to know, from the different types of explainer video to costs, timelines and how to choose the right production company in Leeds or West Yorkshire.
What Is an Explainer Video?
An explainer video is a short-form video, typically between 60 seconds and three minutes, designed to communicate a specific idea, product or process clearly and efficiently. Unlike a brand film or a promotional video, an explainer video's primary job is clarity. It takes something complex and makes it simple.
Explainer videos are used across websites, landing pages, sales presentations, LinkedIn campaigns, onboarding sequences and paid advertising. They work particularly well for businesses with products or services that are difficult to explain in text alone, including technology platforms, financial products, scientific processes, SaaS tools and professional services.
Types of Explainer Video
Not all explainer videos are the same. The right format depends on your message, your audience and where the video will be used.
2D Animated Explainer Videos
2D animation is the most widely used format for explainer video production. It allows complete creative control over characters, environments, typography and branding, making it ideal for businesses that want a consistent, polished visual style without the constraints of live filming.
2D animated explainers work particularly well for SaaS platforms, financial services and any product where the core value proposition is intangible. At Rune Films, we have produced 2D animated explainers for clients including Expend, ReadyWorks, Clixifix and Parsons Accountants, businesses where communicating the product clearly was more important than showing real-world footage.
3D Animated Explainer Videos
3D animation adds depth, realism and a premium visual quality that 2D cannot replicate. It is particularly effective for engineering, manufacturing and scientific applications where showing how something physically works, such as a component, a device or a chemical process, is central to the message.
We have produced 3D animation for clients including Henniker Plasma, Nikalyte and Sunamp, where the technical precision of the product required a level of visual accuracy that only 3D could deliver.
Hybrid Explainer Videos
Many of the most effective explainer videos combine live-action filming with animated motion graphics. The live footage adds human warmth and credibility, while the animation handles the parts of the message that benefit from visual simplification, including data, processes, diagrams and UI walkthroughs.
Hybrid explainers are popular with professional services firms, healthcare organisations and technology companies that want to show both the human side of their business and the detail of their product or service.
Screen Recording and UI Explainers
For SaaS platforms and software products, screen recording combined with animated callouts and voiceover is often the most direct and cost-effective way to explain functionality. We have produced UI-focused explainer content for technology clients including Lightcast Discovery and Global Access Diagnostics, where demonstrating the software in action was the clearest path to conversion.
Why West Yorkshire Businesses Use Explainer Video
West Yorkshire has a diverse and growing business landscape. From the financial services sector concentrated in Leeds city centre to the manufacturing and engineering businesses spread across Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax, the region has a high concentration of businesses with complex products and services that benefit from video explanation.
Several characteristics of the West Yorkshire business community make explainer video particularly valuable.
B2B and professional services dominance. A large proportion of businesses across Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate operate in sectors including finance, legal, technology and consulting, where the product is intangible and trust is central to the buying decision. Explainer videos help these businesses communicate credibility and clarity simultaneously.
Manufacturing and engineering heritage. West Yorkshire has a strong industrial base. Businesses producing specialist equipment, materials or processes often struggle to communicate their value proposition in text or static imagery. Animation and 3D visualisation solve this problem directly.
Growing SaaS and technology sector. Leeds in particular has seen significant growth in technology companies over the past decade. Software platforms need explainer content that demonstrates functionality clearly without overwhelming a non-technical audience.
Competitive recruitment market. Explainer videos are increasingly used for employer branding and recruitment, helping West Yorkshire businesses attract talent by communicating culture, process and values in a format that performs strongly on LinkedIn and careers pages.
How Much Does Explainer Video Production Cost in West Yorkshire?
Cost is one of the most common questions we receive from businesses across Leeds and West Yorkshire. The honest answer is that explainer video production costs vary significantly depending on several factors.
Video length. A 60-second animated explainer requires less production time than a three-minute hybrid piece. Most explainer projects fall in the 60 to 90 second range for good reason, as attention drops sharply beyond 90 seconds on most platforms.
Animation style and complexity. Simple 2D animation with basic character movement and clean typography costs less than complex 3D product visualisation with detailed modelling and rendering. The right style should be driven by the message, not the budget.
Number of revisions and stakeholder approvals. Projects with multiple decision-makers and extended approval processes take longer and cost more. A streamlined approval process, ideally with one primary stakeholder, keeps projects on time and on budget.
Voiceover and music. Professional voiceover and licensed music add to production costs but significantly improve the quality of the finished video. These are rarely areas to cut.
Platform requirements. A single 16:9 master edit costs less than a full suite of platform-specific versions, including square cuts for Instagram, subtitled versions for LinkedIn and shorter edits for paid campaigns. If you need multiple formats, factor this into your brief from the start.
As a general guide, a professional 60 to 90 second 2D animated explainer from a full-service Leeds production company will typically start from £3,000 to £5,000. More complex 3D animation or hybrid productions requiring filming will sit higher. Any quote significantly below this range should be treated with caution, as the quality of script, animation and voiceover directly affects how the video performs.
How Long Does Explainer Video Production Take?
Most explainer video projects with Rune Films take between three and six weeks from initial brief to final delivery. The timeline typically breaks down as follows.
Week 1 to 2: Script and concept development. The script is the foundation of any explainer video. Getting the message right at this stage prevents costly changes later. We work with clients to develop a script that is clear, concise and structured for the platform it will be used on.
Week 2 to 3: Storyboard and style development. Once the script is approved, we develop the visual style, including character design, colour palette, typography and animation approach, and present it as a storyboard for approval before any animation begins.
Week 3 to 5: Animation and production. With the storyboard approved, animation begins. For 2D projects, this stage typically takes two to three weeks. 3D animation and hybrid productions requiring filming may extend this timeline.
Week 5 to 6: Review, revisions and final delivery. We present the first cut for feedback, incorporate revisions and deliver the final version in the required formats and specifications.
Projects with complex approval processes or significant revisions at script or storyboard stage can extend beyond six weeks. Clear briefs and streamlined approvals keep projects on schedule.
What Makes a Good Explainer Video?
After producing explainer videos for clients including Armstrong Craven, Chargepoint Technology, ReadyWorks and a number of global financial services brands, we have a clear picture of what separates effective explainer video from generic content.
A single, clear message. The most common mistake in explainer video briefs is trying to communicate too much. An effective 90-second explainer has one primary message. Everything else, including features, credentials and calls to action, supports that message rather than competing with it.
A script written for the ear, not the eye. Explainer video scripts are spoken, not read. Sentences should be short. Language should be conversational. Avoid jargon unless your audience specifically expects and understands it.
Visuals that add information, not decoration. Animation should be showing the viewer something the voiceover cannot communicate alone, such as a process, a comparison, a data point or a product in action. If the animation is simply illustrating what the voiceover is already saying, it is not adding value.
A clear call to action. Every explainer video should end with a single, specific action. Visit a page. Book a call. Download a guide. Ambiguous endings reduce conversion.
Platform-appropriate length. A 90-second explainer that performs well on a website homepage may need to be cut to 30 seconds for paid social. Build this into the production brief from the start.
How to Choose an Explainer Video Company in Leeds or West Yorkshire
There are several production companies and freelancers operating across West Yorkshire offering explainer video production. Here is what to look for when choosing a partner.
A portfolio that demonstrates range and quality. Look beyond style showreels. Ask to see specific projects similar to yours, covering the same industry, format and level of complexity. A company that has produced a strong 2D animated explainer for a fintech business is likely to understand your brief better than one whose portfolio is dominated by TV commercials.
In-house production capability. Companies that manage script, animation, voiceover and post-production under one roof offer better quality control and faster turnaround than those relying heavily on freelance networks. Ask directly how much of the production process is handled in-house.
A clear creative process. The best explainer video companies have a defined process covering brief, script, storyboard, production and review, and communicate it clearly before work begins. Vague processes lead to scope creep, missed deadlines and budget overruns.
Experience with your sector. Explainer video for a manufacturing business requires different visual thinking than explainer video for a SaaS platform. Ask the production company about relevant sector experience and look for evidence of it in their portfolio.
Transparent pricing. Request a detailed breakdown of costs, not just a headline figure. Understand what is included: script, revisions, voiceover, music and platform versions. Hidden costs are a common source of friction in post-productin.
Rune Films: Explainer Video Production Across Leeds and West Yorkshire
Rune Films is a Leeds-based video production company specialising in explainer video production for businesses across West Yorkshire. Our in-house team handles every stage of the production process, from script and storyboard through to animation, voiceover and final delivery.
We produce 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics and hybrid explainer videos for clients across financial services, technology, healthcare, manufacturing and professional services sectors. Based at Lawnswood Business Park in Leeds, we work with businesses throughout West Yorkshire, including Bradford, Harrogate, Wakefield, Halifax and Huddersfield, as well as nationally across the UK.
If you are looking for an explainer video production company in Leeds or West Yorkshire, we would be happy to discuss your project.
Rune Films is a video production company based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. We produce explainer videos, corporate films, TV commercials and animation for ambitious businesses across the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
A professional 60 to 90 second 2D animated explainer from a Leeds-based production company typically starts from £3,000 to £5,000. More complex 3D animation or hybrid productions requiring live filming will sit higher. Costs depend on video length, animation style, number of revisions and platform requirements.
How long does explainer video production take in Leeds?
Most explainer video projects take between three and six weeks from initial brief to final delivery. Timelines depend on script development, stakeholder approvals, animation complexity and the number of review rounds required.
What is the difference between 2D and 3D animation for explainer videos?
2D animation is ideal for communicating intangible products, brand storytelling and simplified messaging. 3D animation is better suited to engineering, manufacturing and scientific applications where physical accuracy and visual depth are important. Many projects use a combination of both.
Should my explainer video be animated or live-action?
It depends on the message and where the video will be used. Animation offers complete creative control and works well for complex or intangible products. Live-action adds human warmth and credibility. A hybrid approach, combining filmed footage with motion graphics, often delivers the best of both.
Do you produce explainer videos outside Leeds?
Yes. Rune Films produces explainer video content for businesses across West Yorkshire, including Bradford, Harrogate, Wakefield, Halifax and Huddersfield, as well as nationally throughout the UK.
Can you handle the full production process including scripting?
Yes. Rune Films manages the full explainer video production process in-house, including scriptwriting, storyboarding, animation, voiceover and final delivery. Every project is managed from initial brief through to completion under one roof.