Labels, figures and short phrases can make an animated explanation easier to follow. They can also compete with the narration if too much appears at once, or become difficult to read when colour, size and timing are treated as finishing details.
Plan on-screen text as part of the story. Decide what viewers need to read, when they need it, and what the animation should show while they do.
Start with the job each line has to do
Give every title, label or number a clear purpose. A title can introduce a section. A label can identify a part of a diagram. A short phrase can reinforce the main point. If a line is only repeating the narration word for word, ask whether it helps the viewer or adds another thing to process.
Mark these text moments in the script or storyboard. That gives the writer, designer and animator a shared view of what must be readable and what can remain visual.
Keep the screen focused
Show one main idea at a time. If a scene contains a heading, several labels and a detailed illustration, simplify the layout or reveal the information in stages. Use position, scale and movement to show what matters first; don’t rely on colour alone to distinguish two elements.
Leave space around important text. Keep it clear of faces, key actions and other details viewers need to understand. When a graphic moves, check that the text remains with the object or idea it identifies.
Check contrast and size in context
Test text against the actual background behind it. A colour combination that looks fine on a clean style frame may lose clarity when shapes, textures or footage move underneath it. Add a solid panel, adjust the colours or simplify the background if needed.
For web content, WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.3 sets a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, with specified exceptions. This is a useful reference when designing text that viewers must read; it is not a substitute for checking the finished video in its intended viewing context. See the W3C explanation of contrast minimums.
Give viewers enough time to read
Don’t remove a title the moment the voice-over finishes its sentence. Let viewers see the text, connect it to the visual, and then move on. Review the timing at normal playback speed, not only while scrubbing through the timeline.
Check the animation on a smaller screen as well as a desktop display. Long phrases and fine details that appear comfortable on a large preview can become crowded on a phone. If a line feels rushed, shorten it, split it across scenes or hold the frame longer.
Review the text in the final export
Proofread names, figures, punctuation and spelling after rendering. Then watch the whole video with sound on and off. Check that each label appears with the right scene, that transitions don’t cut words off, and that text stays legible through the end of its hold.
If the video includes captions, review their placement alongside titles and labels so the two don’t cover each other. Keep the approved text in the project files so later corrections can be made consistently.
A simple storyboard checklist
- What does this line help the viewer understand?
- Is it brief enough to read at a glance?
- Does it stand apart from the background?
- Is the order of attention clear?
- Does it stay on screen long enough?
- Does it remain clear on a phone-sized preview?
- Has it been checked in the final export with captions and sound?
When these questions are answered during storyboarding and design, text becomes part of the visual explanation instead of an extra layer added at the end. Explore Rabbit And Carrot’s 2D animation process, or book a video consultation to discuss an explainer or training video.