Examples of hand-drawn explainer videos, whiteboard animation and illustrated learning films by Ian David Marsden

More Than a Decade of Illustrated Film Production

Hand-Drawn Explainer Videos & Whiteboard Animation

I create original hand-drawn explainer videos, whiteboard animations and illustrated learning films for companies, institutions, educators and organizations that need to explain products, services, processes or complex ideas clearly.

For more than a decade I have developed explainer and learning films for clients in the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, France and other international markets, working across corporate communication, government training, healthcare, education, technology and nonprofit subjects.

I can work from a finished script, develop an existing draft or write from your brief and source material, then take the project through storyboard, illustration, animation, editing and final delivery.

You do not need a finished script to get started. A short explanation of the subject, audience and intended use is normally enough for an initial discussion.

Prefer to discuss your project by phone?

You’re welcome to contact me directly at my studio in France or on my mobile. I’ll be happy to discuss your ideas and answer any questions.
France (Paris time, CET/CEST) · English · French · German

Preview of the hand-drawn explainer videos production overview PDF by Ian David Marsden: cover, projects and style samples

Handy PDF · Take it with you

Short on time? Take the whole overview with you

A handy nine-page PDF with the key information from this page in compact form: who I am, selected productions, style samples, process, fixed-fee terms and payment. Ideal if you are in a hurry, want to forward it to a colleague or prefer to read it later.

PDF · 9 pages · 4.7 MB · English

Illustration Styles for Explainer Videos

Different Drawing Styles for Different Subjects

I develop the illustration style for each hand-drawn explainer video around its subject, audience and intended use. These examples show six approaches, from educational characters and digital watercolor to narrative storytelling, editorial ink, clear technical drawing and reusable character systems.

Friendly educational illustration

Friendly educational illustrations with characters, empathy, brain chemistry and dopamine by Ian David Marsden

Character-led scenes with light color, diagrams and visual storytelling for learning films.

Watercolor & process illustration

Watercolor landscapes and technical process illustrations for hand-drawn explainer videos by Ian David Marsden

Digitally painted watercolor scenes alongside technical process drawings and diagrams.

Narrative storytelling

Hand-drawn explainer video scenes of decisions, memories and journeys by Ian David Marsden

Sequential scenes, expressive linework, grayscale washes and restrained color accents for personal stories and abstract ideas.

Editorial ink & wash

Editorial ink and wash drawing samples with expressive figures and visual metaphors by Ian David Marsden

Expressive ink-and-wash illustration, strong linework, editorial humor and visual metaphor.

Clean explanatory line

Clean line explainer video illustrations of mushrooms, maturation, molecules and product diagrams by Ian David Marsden

Clear line drawings with selective color for scientific, technical and product explanations.

Character systems

Character design system for explainer videos with recurring poses, adaptation diagram and campaign poster

Recurring characters developed across poses, scenarios and applications in print and animation.

These are examples, not a fixed list of styles. Further visual approaches can be developed for explainer films, drawing on my work in comics and sequential illustration, editorial and educational illustration, and commissioned illustration.

Selected Explainer Projects & Case Studies

Different Subjects. Different Audiences. Clear Visual Explanation.

The work ranges from multilingual technical films and healthcare communication to government training, education and campaign animation. The visual approach changes with the subject; the underlying task is always to make the information easier to follow.

Mycotrition – illustrirte Erklärfilmszenen

2018 · Multilingual · Technical Process

Mycotrition — Six Mushroom Explainer Films

Six illustrated films explaining cultivation, processing and quality management. I adapted supplied texts into storyboards, painted the scenes in a digital watercolor style, animated the films and supervised narration recordings. Produced in German, English and French.

View the Mycotrition case study →

Hawlik – Illustrationen aus den Erklärfilmen

2021 · Germany · Technical & Scientific

Hawlik — Ten Illustrated Explainer Films

Ten films covering cultivation, laboratory analysis, residue monitoring, product composition, sustainability and commercial communication. I developed the visual system, storyboarded the films and handled production and animation, including English translation and narration.

View the Hawlik case study →

dfreeeze – illustrierte Figuren und Wintercomic aus der Kampagne

Germany & Switzerland · Campaign

dfreeeze — Whiteboard Film & Illustrated Campaign

An illustrated campaign developed with Michael and Stefan, combining character design, storyboard, whiteboard animation and retail comic booklets for Germany and Switzerland.

View the dfreeeze project →

Dräger – Originalillustration für medizinische Kommunikation

Healthcare · International

Dräger — Infection Prevention & Healthcare

Illustrated communication for Infection Prevention and Control, patient safety and clinical subjects, using visual analogy and approachable storytelling to introduce specialist information.

View the Dräger project →

Original whiteboard-style illustration by Ian David Marsden for the Federal Acquisition Institute training project

United States · Federal Training

Federal Acquisition Institute

Concept art, storyboards, character design, illustration and animation-ready vector scenes for a multi-part federal acquisition training initiative commissioned through Coley & Associates.

View the Federal Acquisition Institute project →

Caveman child and sabre-tooth tiger in dopamine explainer by Ian David Marsden

United Kingdom · Education

52 Lives / School of Kindness

An illustrated learning film explaining neuroscience, empathy and emotional wellbeing to younger audiences through character-based storytelling, diagrams and visual metaphor.

View the 52 Lives case study →

Terminology

Explainer Video, Whiteboard Animation, Illustrated Animation — What’s the Difference?

The terminology overlaps. Different companies use different names for films whose basic purpose is the same: making something easier to understand through narration, drawing, sequencing and motion.

Explainer video

The broadest term: a short film designed to explain a product, service, process, system, idea or subject.

Whiteboard animation

Also called a whiteboard video or scribe video: drawings and visual ideas appear progressively as the narration develops.

Illustrated explainer

A film built around custom characters, scenes, diagrams, visual metaphor and illustration rather than a literal whiteboard treatment.

Other common terms include animated explainer video, hand-drawn animation, sketch animation, drawn animation, educational animation, training video, e-learning video, corporate explainer video, product explainer, visual learning film and motion-graphics explainer. I choose the visual method according to what has to be communicated rather than forcing every subject into one fixed style.

Featured Production

Men Harvesting Wisdom

An illustrated film translating a substantial self-leadership framework into a coherent visual narrative involving identity, purpose, values, change and personal transition.

Men Harvesting Wisdom Book Overview

The approved narration was developed into characters, landscapes, maps, symbolic imagery and recurring visual metaphors designed to give abstract ideas a consistent visual structure.

My role: creative direction, visual development, storyboarding, illustration, character design, animation, editing and final 4K delivery.

Illustrated scenes and visual metaphors created for the Men Harvesting Wisdom hand-drawn explainer video
Hand-drawn educational illustration from The Science of Kindness explainer video for 52 Lives and The School of Kindness

Educational Animation · United Kingdom

The Science of Kindness

Created for UK charity 52 Lives and The School of Kindness, this film explains neuroscience, empathy and emotional wellbeing to younger audiences through characters, diagrams and visual metaphor.

My role: concept development, storyboard, character design, illustration, animation, editing and final 4K UHD delivery.

Read the complete case study →

Applications

Where Illustrated Explainer Videos Work Well

They are particularly useful when viewers need to understand relationships, processes, responsibilities or abstract ideas that conventional footage cannot show efficiently.

  • Employee training and onboarding
  • Government and professional training
  • Learning, e-learning and microlearning
  • Internal communication and organizational change
  • Health, safety and compliance
  • Educational programs
  • Product and service explanation
  • Software and technical communication
  • Scientific and medical communication
  • Public-information campaigns
  • Presentations and conferences
  • Charities and mission-led organizations

Production

One Creator from Brief to Finished Film

I remain directly involved through the complete visual production rather than handing the project from account manager to storyboard artist to illustrator to animator.

That keeps the drawing, pacing, visual logic and storytelling consistent from the first sketch through the finished film.

  • Concept and creative direction
  • Script development or complete scriptwriting
  • Storyboards and animatics
  • Character design and original illustration
  • Diagrams and information design
  • Animation and motion graphics
  • Editing and final delivery
  • Voice-over coordination where required
  • Subtitles and multilingual versions
  • High-resolution still-image assets

Integrated Illustration & Motion Production

One visual language. From print to motion — and beyond.

A film may be only one part of a communication project. The same original characters, drawing style and visual ideas can also appear in brochures, on websites, in email campaigns, presentations and trade-fair displays. When these applications are considered together, the results feel connected rather than assembled from unrelated commissions.

That does not mean forcing every application into an identical image. A printed guide, a short animation, a mailing and a large-format display each have different practical requirements. The advantage is being able to develop them within one coherent illustrated world, with artwork adapted to its purpose.

PPHO · IN TALENT WE TRUST · Paris · 2024–2025

The same illustrated world, in print and on screen

For Paris-based consultancy IN TALENT WE TRUST, I developed illustrations for the PPHO methodology created by Anne Weber. The project brought together the recurring character Léonard, explanatory diagrams, printed learning materials, digital assets and campaign illustration. A hand-drawn Uncle Sam-inspired campaign image was also developed into a short drawing animation. It was a campaign animation, not a full scripted explainer film — but it shows how motion can belong naturally to a wider illustration assignment.

PPHO printed learning guide showing original Léonard illustration by Ian David Marsden
Print: character-led illustrations developed for PPHO learning materials.
“I WANT YOU TO CHANGE THE WORLD” – Timelapse Motion Poster for IN TALENT WE TRUST (Paris)

Motion: short drawing animation based on the illustrated “I WANT YOU TO CHANGE THE WORLD” campaign.

The complete PPHO case study documents the character, illustrations, information graphics and their different applications. A detailed PDF case study is also available.

One defined scope. One fixed project fee. Agreed usage rights included.

For a multi-format project, we can define the animation, illustrations and required applications together at the briefing stage. A single fixed-fee proposal can then cover the agreed production work and the specified usage rights, rather than leaving the client to commission each application separately.

That may include a film, brochure illustrations, website or mailing graphics, exhibition artwork, character variations or merchandise designs — according to the actual brief. Formats, quantities, review stages, production files and usage rights are specified in the agreement. Printing, fabrication, third-party voice-over and licensed music are quoted separately where applicable.

Process

How the Production Works

01

Brief & Script

Message, audience, use and scope are defined. Existing material can be edited, developed or written into a complete script.

02

Storyboard

Scenes, visual logic, transitions and timing are resolved before final artwork begins.

03

Illustration

Characters, environments, diagrams, objects and visual metaphors are drawn specifically for the project.

04

Animation

Artwork is animated with drawing reveals, movement, transitions and pacing suited to the narration.

05

Review

Agreed review stages keep corrections structured and predictable rather than open-ended.

06

Delivery

Final films, subtitles, language versions and high-resolution illustration assets are supplied as agreed.

Budget

Budget and Fixed Fee

One flat fee for the whole project, agreed before production begins, with the transfer of the agreed usage rights included.

I quote each project as a complete production rather than using a rigid price per finished minute. Running time is one factor, but the final fee depends more broadly on the scope: script development, number and complexity of scenes, illustration style, animation and any additional language versions.

As a general guideline, many of the complete films shown on this site — including videos of three minutes or more — were produced in the €3,000–€6,000 range. Shorter, clearly defined productions can start at around €1,000. Production often takes one to three weeks, depending on scope and approvals.

Payment: 50% at the start and 50% on final delivery. For very long projects: 33% at the start, 33% at an agreed milestone and the remainder on final delivery.

The project fee can include:

  • Concept and visual development
  • Script development within the agreed scope
  • Storyboard
  • Original illustration and character design
  • Animation and editing
  • Agreed review stages
  • Final video files
  • Agreed usage rights
  • High-resolution still-image assets

Professional voice-over, licensed music and other external services are paid by you directly to the providers and never appear on my invoice. I can recommend and coordinate suitable voice talent, studios and music sources. All prices are in euros, and my invoices do not include VAT.

For a closer look at typical budgets, what the project fee includes, additional costs and how I price shorter and longer productions, see my explainer video pricing guide →

Original Illustration, Not a Template System

There is a difference between animation that imitates a hand-drawn appearance and a film whose visual language is actually designed around the subject.

That matters particularly for technical, educational or abstract subjects where the drawing has to do genuine explanatory work rather than simply decorate a voice-over.

The artwork is made for your project

No stock character libraries. No prebuilt illustration packs. No AI-generated imagery used as a substitute for commissioned drawing.

Client Experience

Long-Term Production, Not Just One-Off Films

Some assignments are individual films; others develop into series and repeat collaborations. That continuity is useful when a client needs a consistent visual language across several subjects, audiences or languages.

“You want it done? You want it done right? You want it done on time? Here is somebody that knows his craft inside and out and doesn’t cut corners.”

Tom Geudens
Graph Database Expert

“I worked with Ian on several projects, such as our illustrated videos for Mycotrition GmbH. We were always very pleased with his work.”

Sebastian Schmode-Laybourne
CEO, Mycotrition GmbH

“Ian was my favorite illustrator working on an animation project I directed. He supplied us with many cutting-edge assets in very short deadlines.”

Avi Graiver
Animation Director
What Are Explainer Videos and Whiteboard Animations? - Ian David Marsden Explains!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been producing explainer videos?

I have more than a decade of experience developing illustrated explainer videos, whiteboard-style films and visual learning content for clients in Europe and the United States.

Can you help write the script?

Yes. I can work from a finished script, restructure an existing draft, develop source material into a script or write the complete script from the agreed brief.

How long does production take?

Many productions take approximately one to three weeks, depending on length, complexity, review stages and how quickly approvals are returned.

Can you work within an existing brand identity?

Yes. Color, typography, illustration style, characters and graphic elements can be developed to sit naturally within an established visual identity.

Can you handle technical or specialist subjects?

Yes. Previous explainer work includes software and data, healthcare, government procurement, education, professional training, product communication and scientific subjects. Specialist source material and terminology can be reviewed before scripting and storyboarding begin.

Can the illustrations be used outside the video?

Yes. Agreed illustrations can be supplied separately as high-resolution assets for presentations, websites, training materials, reports, social media or print within the usage rights agreed for the project.

Can you produce multilingual versions?

Yes. I work directly in English, French and German. Additional language versions can reuse the approved visual production while adapting narration, titles, subtitles and timing as necessary.

Can you arrange professional voice-over?

Yes. I can recommend and coordinate professional voice talent and recording studios. Those third-party fees are separate from my production fee.

Do you use AI-generated or stock illustration?

No. The commissioned artwork is developed specifically for the project rather than assembled from AI-generated imagery, stock character libraries or template illustration systems.

How is a hand-drawn explainer video priced?

I quote one flat fee for the whole project. Many of the complete films shown on this site — including videos of three minutes or more — were produced in the €3,000–€6,000 range. Shorter, clearly defined productions can start at around €1,000. The exact price depends on the scope, including script development, scene count and complexity, illustration, animation and any additional language versions. Agreed usage rights are included, and payment is 50% at the start and 50% on final delivery.

Selected Work

Explainer Video Gallery

Corporate explainers, government and professional training, educational animation, healthcare communication, illustrated learning, whiteboard-style films and technical visual storytelling.

Related Illustration & Visual Communication

The same visual-thinking skills also apply to commissioned illustration, editorial and educational illustration, comics and sequential illustration, character work and live visual recording.

Commissioned Illustration · Editorial & Educational Illustration · Comics & Sequential Illustration · Logos, Mascots & Characters · Live Graphic Recording

New Production

Have Something Difficult to Explain?

Send me a short outline of the subject, audience and intended use. You do not need to have the script, storyboard or visual concept worked out before contacting me.

English, French and German projects are welcome.

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