Make Your Own Youtube Animation Channel

If you're an animator looking to make your mark on YouTube, you've come to the right place: this article will guide you through the essential steps to kickstart your animation channel.

Why Youtube

With an astounding 2 billion monthly users, YouTube is the world's second-largest search engine. With billions of users actively engaging with the platform each month, the potential audience for your animated content is virtually limitless. Whether you're an aspiring animator or a seasoned animation studio, YouTube offers an incredible opportunity to reach out to viewers from around the globe.

Unlike traditional media, YouTube provides a level playing field for creators. Getting started with YouTube animation is easy. You don't need elaborate equipment or a large team to produce engaging content. With a computer, animation software, and a passion for storytelling, you can embark on your YouTube animation journey from the comfort of your home.

YouTube serves as a compelling portfolio platform for animators. As you produce and upload your animations, your channel becomes a showcase of your evolving skills and creativity. This digital portfolio not only attracts potential clients or collaborators but also helps you build a loyal fanbase that eagerly anticipates your next animation.

Find a niche

With countless creators vying for viewers' attention, setting your animation channel apart is crucial. Standing out as an animation YouTuber requires finding a niche that not only aligns with your passion but also offers differentiation and monetization opportunities.

A well-defined niche gives your channel a unique identity, making it more memorable and distinctive amidst the sea of videos. Embracing a niche allows you to cater to a specific audience, fostering a loyal community that shares your passion and interests.

Consider the following criteria to pick a niche:

• Low competition - While it's essential to choose a niche that resonates with you, considering areas with relatively low competition increases your chances of gaining visibility and traction in the early stages.
• Passion and interest - Explore animation topics or styles that genuinely excite you. Creating content rooted in your passion will not only keep you motivated in the long run but also result in more authentic and engaging videos that resonate with your audience.
• Unique angle - Within your chosen niche, seek a unique angle that sets your channel apart. Whether it's through a distinctive animation style, innovative storytelling approach, or catering to an underserved audience segment, finding your own voice will make your content more compelling.

Understand your audience

Conduct thorough research to understand what kind of animation content is in demand and what your audience is looking for:

• Identify needs and interests - Analyze the demands of your potential viewers. What are their preferences when it comes to animation content? Delve into their interests, pain points, and the kind of value they seek from your videos.
• Hang where your people are - Understanding where your audience spends their time online is crucial. Whether it's popular animation channels, social media platforms, online forums, or other communities, being present where they are will help you engage with them effectively.
• Study content consumption habits - Investigate the type of content your audience consumes regularly. Identify popular animation channels they follow and study trending topics to discern patterns that align with their preferences.

Pick an animation style

Various animation styles can captivate audiences in unique ways, so select the ones that best fit your content and artistic vision:

• 2D - 2D animation is a classic and widely recognized style, known for its hand-drawn or digitally created characters and backgrounds. It offers a broad range of creative possibilities, from traditional frame-by-frame animation to modern vector-based techniques. 2D animation is versatile, making it suitable for storytelling, character-driven content, explainer videos, and even comedic shorts. Example:
• 3D - 3D animation brings characters and environments to life with depth and realism. It's commonly used in movies, TV shows, and video games, but it has also found a place on YouTube. 3D animation requires specialized software and skills, but it offers stunning visuals and the potential for immersive storytelling. Example:
• Stop Motion - Stop motion animation involves photographing real-life objects or models in incremental movements and then combining the images to create motion. This charming and tactile style is often used for quirky and inventive storytelling. Stop motion has a nostalgic appeal that resonates with audiences, and it can stand out amidst the digital sea of animations on YouTube. Example:
• Motion Graphics - Motion graphics animation focuses on typography, shapes, and graphical elements to convey information or tell a story. It's widely used for explainer videos, tutorials, and presentations. Motion graphics animation is clean, professional, and effective in engagingly delivering complex concepts. Example:
• Virtual YouTubers - or Vtubers, are animated characters controlled by real-life creators, often using motion-capture technology or real-time animation software. Vtubers have gained immense popularity for their ability to interact with the audience in real time and create unique personas that appeal to a wide range of viewers. Example:

Research content ideas

Finding ideas for your animation videos isn't hard once you get used to it, but how do you tell which are good or bad? There are a few proven ways to find video ideas that people actually want to watch:

• Youtube keyword research - Keywords are the compass that guides your content toward what users are actively searching for on YouTube. Conduct in-depth keyword research to identify popular and relevant terms related to your animation niche. Tools like Google's Keyword Planner, YouTube Autocomplete, and third-party keyword research tools can help you uncover high-demand keywords that can inspire your video topics and titles.

• Trending formats - Staying updated with the latest trends and formats on YouTube can give your channel a competitive edge. Keep an eye on trending animation styles, popular challenges, or emerging storytelling techniques that are gaining traction. By incorporating elements of trending formats into your content, you can attract new viewers and keep your existing audience engaged.

• Reverse-engineer competitors - Analyzing what your competitors are doing well can provide valuable insights for your content strategy. Study successful animation channels within your niche and see what kind of videos resonate most with their audience. While it's essential to maintain your unique voice and style, understanding your competitors' strengths can inspire new angles for your content and help you identify opportunities they might be missing.

Your existing viewers are an invaluable source of content ideas, so also pay attention to their comments and visual feedback (like, subscriptions) to gauge their interests. You can directly ask your audience for video suggestions through polls or community posts. Engaging with your viewers fosters a sense of community and shows them that you genuinely care about providing content they enjoy.

Scripting

The scripting phase involves thorough research and editing to craft quality content that can captivate your audience:

• Keyword-powered outlines with ChatGPT - To kickstart your script, take advantage of ChatGPT's AI capabilities by inputting your relevant keywords. Let ChatGPT generate an outline that aligns with your chosen topic and animation style. This AI-generated outline can serve as a helpful foundation for your script, providing a framework to build upon.
• Research and analysis - Before diving into writing, conduct comprehensive research on your chosen topic. Examine existing content on YouTube to understand what's already out there. Identify content gaps, opportunities, and unique angles you can explore in your script. This research will help you create content that stands out and offers something fresh to your audience.
• AI-assisted first draft - Using ChatGPT's capabilities, generate a basic first draft of your script. Leverage the AI-generated content as inspiration and reference points, but ensure you infuse your unique voice and storytelling style. The AI-generated draft serves as a starting point, helping you organize your thoughts and ideas.
• Extensive editing - The magic of scripting lies in the editing process. Go through your first draft meticulously, refining sentences, enhancing clarity, and polishing the language. Ensure your script flows smoothly, maintaining a consistent tone and pace that resonates with your audience.

As a rule of thumb, a 10-minute video corresponds to roughly 1500 words.

Production

The production phase depends entirely on the type of animation you decide to go with. For example:

• 2D - For traditional 2D animation, you'll need drawing materials such as paper, pencils, and lightboxes. Digital 2D animation requires animation software like Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, or OpenToonz. A graphics tablet can significantly enhance the precision and efficiency of digital 2D animation, allowing you to draw directly on the screen.
• 3D - On top of tools to create 2D assets, you'll need 3D modeling and animation software like Autodesk Maya, Blender, or Cinema 4D. A powerful computer with ample RAM and a good graphics card is important for rendering, but you can also use a render farm.
• Stop motion - For traditional stop motion, you'll need a camera or smartphone with a sturdy tripod. Additionally, clay, puppets, or physical objects are used to create the animation frames. Depending on the scale of your stop motion project, you might require specialized equipment like stop motion armatures or dedicated stop motion software.
• Motion graphics - Motion graphics animation is primarily done using computer software like Adobe After Effects or Apple Motion. Similar to 2D animation, a graphics tablet can streamline the creation process for motion graphics.
• Vtuber Animation - Creating Vtuber animation involves using real-time animation software such as Live2D or VTube Studio, which allows you to control your Vtuber avatar in real-time. To ensure smooth real-time animation, a computer with a good processor and a webcam is necessary.

For more details, you can read the many articles available in this blog to get information about handling your animation production.

Distribution

Publishing your animation on YouTube is just the beginning of your journey. To maximize your channel's reach and engagement, consider exploring various distribution channels:

• Youtube shorts - YouTube Shorts is a feature that allows you to create vertical videos of up to 60 seconds in length. These bite-sized animations cater to users' shorter attention spans and are prominently featured on YouTube. By tapping into this format, you can attract new viewers and potentially gain more exposure for your animation channel.
• Live streaming - Engage your audience in real-time by incorporating live streaming into your YouTube animation process. Live streams provide an opportunity to interact directly with your viewers, answer their questions, and even create animations on the spot based on their suggestions. This level of interactivity can foster a stronger connection with your audience and keep them coming back for more.

In general, don't be confined to your channel and actively participate in relevant communities and platforms related to animation. Share your content in online communities on Reddit, Discord, or animation-focused forums to reach potential viewers who share an interest in your niche. Engage with the community by offering value and joining discussions.

Monetization strategies

Turning your passion for YouTube animation into a sustainable venture requires a monetization strategy. Animation creators have a plethora of business models to explore:

• Ads & affiliate marketing - The most traditional and accessible monetization approach is through YouTube's ad revenue. As your channel grows and meets eligibility requirements, you can enable ads on your videos. However, ad revenue alone might not suffice. Consider incorporating affiliate marketing by promoting products or services in your animation descriptions or related videos, earning commissions for successful referrals.
• Paid freelance work - Leverage your animation portfolio to secure paid freelance projects outside of your YouTube channel. Offer animation services to clients, create animations for businesses, or collaborate with other content creators to expand your revenue streams beyond YouTube.
• Merch - Create and sell merchandise related to your animations. This could include custom-designed t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, or even physical art prints. Merchandising not only generates revenue but also strengthens your brand and fosters a sense of community among your fans.
• Sponsorships - Platforms like Youtube and Patreon allow fans to support you through monthly subscriptions. Offer exclusive perks like behind-the-scenes content, early access to videos, or personalized shoutouts to entice your patrons. Seek sponsorships or brand partnerships relevant to your niche to earn additional income sources for your videos.

Growing a team

As your YouTube animation channel gains traction and evolves into a thriving business, collaborating with talented individuals can elevate the quality of your content, enhance productivity, and open up new opportunities.

1. Start with your biggest pain points - Determine the specific roles and skill sets needed to complement your animation expertise. Consider roles such as animators, illustrators, writers, voice actors, editors, and project managers. Identify individuals who align with your animation style and share your passion for storytelling.
2. Leverage collaboration - Expand your network within the animation community and collaborate with other creators. Attend animation events, join online forums, and engage with social media communities. Building relationships with like-minded professionals can lead to potential team members or partnerships.
3. Hire contractors - Start by outsourcing certain tasks to freelancers before committing to permanent team members. This allows you to gauge their skills and cultural fit for long-term collaboration, but also learn management skills.
4. Foster a collaborative culture - Encourage open communication, feedback, and collaboration within your team. A positive and creative work environment will lead to better ideas, higher productivity, and a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
5. Develop standard processes - Establish clear workflows and standard processes to streamline collaboration and project management. Having well-defined procedures ensures that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, leading to smoother animation production.

It will be the time to consider setting up a more complex workflow. Remember that Kitsu can help you to build qualitative animation efficiently as a team!

Conclusion

The animation industry keeps growing, and Youtube represents an incredible opportunity for animators to reach new audiences: you just need to start!

Through this comprehensive guide we covered all the aspect to consider before launching a new channel. They will help you to avoid many pitfalls and reach quickly a wide audience. When you're done share the news on social media by tagging us, we will be glad to repost your work!

We encourage you to join our Discord community made of animation experts! They will answer your questions on how to set your pipeline and your workflow for your Youtube channel!