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Psychology Animation Tips Every Freelancer Needs

ben marvazi 2020

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Let's face it: psychology can be a difficult subject to understand. It's not just about memorizing the theories and facts, but learning how to apply them in real-life situations. The good news is that psychologists have found ways to make their work easier for everyone - you included!

In this blog, we'll cover some tips on how you can use psychology animation to your advantage as an animation freelancer or studio owner. You'll also learn how to implement certain behaviors in your animations to connect with your audience on a deeper level, so, let’s get started!

First Up, What Is Psychology?

character standing with a thinking squiggle above its head

GIF by Lisa Vertudaches via GIPHY

Psychology is the study of the human mind and its functions. It is also the study of how people think, feel, and behave. Psychology is a scientific field that focuses on the behavior and mental processes of individuals.

Psychologists are trained in research methods, statistics, and experimental design as well as clinical practice in different areas like clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or industrial-organizational psychology.

Now that you have a better understanding of psychology in general, you may be wondering, how is animation psychology integrated together? Keep reading to find out!

Psychology Animation, How It Is Used

person with their hand on their chin thinking about psychology animation with brain changing different colours and patterns

GIF by Jef Caine via GIPHY

Psychology animation is used in numerous ways. One of the most common methods is in user interfaces, or UI for short, as they are often designed based on user psychology. 

For example, if you're designing a game with a health system where players can regain their health by eating food items, then it would be best not to make those foods look like they'd taste horrible or have odd shapes - you want players to associate positive feelings with the act of eating them! 

This is especially true when designing mobile apps because people use their phones while commuting or waiting in line somewhere; if your app's UI isn't user-friendly then users will leave immediately and give up on using your product altogether!

Psychology animation is also used in animation characters. Characters need to be designed with psychology in mind so that they're believable characters who don't seem fake or unrealistic due mainly because they aren't relatable enough for people watching/reading/playing whatever medium they come from (eBooks don't count). 

It's important here because if someone doesn't feel emotionally connected with any character(s), then there won't be any emotional investment into what happens next within story worlds built around those characters' lives.

Psychology Animation Creates User-Friendly Animations

user friendly psychology animation example of a simple bar graph

GIF by Linski101 via GIPHY

The bottom line is that you need animations that are so user-friendly, even a baby could understand them! By tapping into the power of psychology animation and understanding your audience, you can create animations that sell your product or service like hotcakes.

Imagine creating an advertisement that even the pickiest of customers can understand. Or better yet, a quirky explainer video that breaks down your product into simple, bite-sized pieces. Your potential customers will thank you for making the buying process a breeze! So, get creative and make some user-friendly animations that will make your animated film, product or service fly off the shelves.

Psychology Animation And Culture

what animators can learn from Asian animation

Read our blog on Lessons from Asian Animation!

Animation can also be used as a psychological window into our cultures and how they differ from one another. By observing how different cultures use animation differently, we can learn about the values that shape them - and even get some ideas about how we might want to use psychology animation in our own work!

When it comes to animation, no one culture has a monopoly on creativity. Animation is a truly global phenomenon, and it has been used by people in every corner of the world to make sense of their own experiences.

But there are some differences between how animation psychology is used in different cultures. For example, Japanese people often use anime to portray an idealized version of real life and westerners tend to use cartoons as a way of making fun of the social order or poking fun at stereotypes.

Psychology Animation And Color Theory

how animators use color in animation to influence viewers

Read our blog on Using Colors in Animation to Influence Viewers!

Color theory is the study of how different colors affect the human psyche. It can be used to create a psychological response in viewers and has been used for this purpose since ancient times. Color theory is important in animation because it can help you communicate with your audience on a deeper level if you use it correctly.

Color also plays an important role in psychology; some studies have found that certain colors influence moods and emotions (such as red which is associated with danger because it makes us think of blood or fire, which are both dangerous things).

Psychology Animation And Design 

scientist creating a scientific experiment  on psychology animation at night

GIF by LooseKeys via GIPHY

Do you know how annoying it is when you're trying to learn something and the video keeps jumping around or moving too fast? You'll want to avoid these types of distractions as much as possible when making an animation, especially if you're trying to teach someone something new. 

A good rule of thumb is not only to keep things simple and clear but also to keep them consistent throughout the entire length of your video (or at least until they've gotten used to following along). 

If there are any sudden changes in pace or style that occur midstream, this could confuse viewers who aren't sure how long they should wait before taking action on what just happened in front of them - which could lead them to miss important information altogether and this is psychology animation that we don’t want!

Every Animator Should Understand Psychology Animation

Every animator should understand psychology animation, person thinking with gears in head

GIF by Prezibase via GIPHY

Psychology animation is the best way to explain how one thinks and acts during certain situations. When you want to explain human behavior, psychology animation can help you do that in a fun way.

Understanding psychology will allow you to show how people react to each other, how they think about themselves and others, as well as why they make the decisions they do. By using psychology animation techniques in your videos, it will be easier for viewers to understand what's going on in their heads when faced with various situations.

For more information about psychology animation, as well as answers to any other questions you might have, be sure to follow our blogs, check out our free masterclass, and our Animation Business Accelerator Program, download a copy of our free marketing handbook, and check out our blog on “How to Start an Animation Studio”!

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