A Statistical Analysis: Nonprofit Live Action vs. Animation Videos

Nonprofit videos do more than just tell a story; they bring causes to life, turning viewers into supporters and actions into movements. Yet, when faced with the choice between live-action and animation, the majority lean towards one.

This blog unpacks the statistical landscape behind this preference, offering insights into how and why nonprofits choose their video formats.

A Quick Look Into Nonprofit Live-Action vs Animation

Before delving into the numbers, let's clarify the contenders. Live-action videos are grounded in real-world footage, capturing human elements, landscapes, or events with a camera. This direct window to the real world often fosters a strong emotional bond between the viewer and the subject matter.

On the other hand, animation employs graphics and visual effects to create engaging, often imaginative scenarios. It transcends the limitations of the physical world, allowing for boundless creativity and the ability to convey complex ideas in a simple, engaging manner.

Let’s Dive Into The Non-Profit Live Action vs. Animation Videos Numbers

We delved into 40 nonprofit organisations by examining their YouTube channels. Our focus was on the most recent 20 videos from each channel, aiming to identify the percentage use of live-action versus animation in their visual storytelling efforts.

It’s also noteworthy that many nonprofits upload podcasts to YouTube but we didn’t include them in our final statistics.

Our findings reveal that 93.5% of nonprofit videos favour live-action. This trend prompts us to consider whether factors like budget limits, team size, or available creative resources might be steering nonprofits toward live-action instead of animation. 

NOTE: Mixed is at 2.7% on the second pie chart

It's important to highlight that some nonprofits lean a bit more toward animation, including organisations such as

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - 30%

• Greenpeace International - 20%

• UN Women - 20% 

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MoMa) - 20%

For instance, ICRC’s recent nonprofit animation video titled “Why Neutrality Matters”, highlights the organisation's impartial efforts, including evacuating the wounded, delivering aid, treating the injured, ensuring the humane treatment of POWs, and reuniting families. 

It features "Infinite zoom art," a technique that seamlessly draws viewers through interconnected scenes, creating a continuous narrative without a clear start or end.

Interestingly, this nonprofit animated video was included in our previous blog, “Top Nonprofit Animated Videos of 2023”.

Moving forward, live-action continues to dominate nonprofit storytelling in our data. Notably, these organisations feature 100% live-action in their most recent videos:

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Features personal experiences/stories through authentic testimonials.

• World Food Program - Captures their hunger relief efforts with documentary footage.

• Habitat for Humanity - Tells stories of community building and shelter.

• UNESCO - Highlights cultural heritage, education, and the preservation of natural sites.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's video, "A Kenyan farmer and the miracle potato," exemplifies how live-action footage can authentically capture and convey the realities of climate change's impact on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and vividly bring to life the stories of individuals like James Mutinda. 

His experience illustrates the broader challenges and innovations within smallholder farming communities, emphasising the critical role of resilient crops like the biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato in ensuring food security and nutrition amidst climate adversities.

Some nonprofits are innovatively blending live-action and animation to enhance storytelling. 

Notably, the Smithsonian Institute employs a 55% mix of both, for example, the video "Race, Policy, and Ethics" video skillfully merges animation with live-action footage to explore the intricate relationship between racial identity and policy in the U.S. 

Live-action elements are mixed in with animated segments to emphasise key historical events and court rulings that have shaped racial policies over time such as the archival footage from significant moments like the Little Rock rally and Supreme Court cases.

Exploring the Same Story Through Different Lenses

While we are nearing the end of this blog, we want to highlight this case where one subject is being done in both live-action and animation, not mixed, but rather two distinct videos of the same subject.

A few years ago, UN Migration/IOM created two distinct videos to tell the moving story of Kennedy and Onyeka, two Nigerian migrants whose journey led them to a terrifying Libyan jail. 

These narratives chart their challenging path back to Nigeria, supported by IOM, and their fresh start opening an aluminium shop.

The live-action video offers a simple glimpse into their struggles and triumphs by capturing the raw humanity and personal charisma of Kennedy and Onyeka.

The nonprofit animated version (produced by Leon! Animations 😉) creatively illustrates Kennedy and Onyeka's journey, from their jail time to their return to Nigeria, using visuals, such as shots of them flying back, showcasing their story's elements in ways live-action cannot.

Concluding Nonprofit Storytelling

This exploration into the statistical preferences of video formats in the nonprofit sector reveals that there are thoughtful considerations behind each organisation's approach to storytelling. 

Whether through capturing real-world events or the creative possibilities of animation, the ultimate goal remains the same: to engage, inform, and motivate a global audience toward positive change.

We encourage you to email us with your insights or examples of impactful nonprofit videos, live-action or animated, that have inspired you. 

Your perspectives enrich the conversation and help illuminate the diverse strategies organisations employ to connect, educate, and inspire action.