The Best Explainer Animations of 2024

Let's be honest: finding genuinely brilliant explainer animations from 2024 was like finding a four-leaf clover in a digital haystack. Most "best explainer animations of 2024" lists are actually stuffed with videos from 2021 with a fresh coat of SEO paint slapped on.

As a 2D animation studio obsessed with clarity, we've sifted through hundreds of videos to find ones that actually released this year and – more importantly – explain something complex without making your brain leak out your ears.

Let's jump straight into eight standout explainers that transform complicated ideas into crystal-clear stories – from medical science to eyewear history to workplace discrimination to water infrastructure. No more waffle. Let's go!

Kurzgesagt Explainer Animation

Kurzgesagt – the YouTube powerhouse with over 24 million subscribers – delivers a stunning take on tuberculosis, narrated by bestselling author John Green and Kurzgesagt’s voice, Steve Taylor.

What makes this explainer animation special is how it transforms complex epidemiology into a gripping narrative without sacrificing scientific accuracy. Their distinctive illustration style uses flat design with layered elements that keeps viewers hooked for the full 11 minutes.

The animation uses contrasting visual cues to guide viewers through complex information. The result is an explainer that makes tuberculosis both understandable and meaningful to a wide audience.

With over 9 million views, Kurzgesagt (which I had to Google how to spell... again) continues to prove why they're the kings of educational animation on YouTube – they've built an entire 2D animation studio around making complex science both accurate and accessible.

Warby Parker Explainer Video 🤓

Eyewear retailer Warby Parker's whirlwind tour through glasses history proves you don't need a feature-length runtime to explain centuries of innovation.

What makes this animated explainer tick is its ruthless efficiency. Using bold, playful illustrations with thick outlines and bright colours, illustrator Gabriela Alcala creates a visual language that delivers an entire timeline in the time it takes to brush your teeth. 

The animation bounces along with comic-like energy, using creative morphs and transitions to keep viewers oriented through time.

There's no background music – just perfectly timed sound effects – letting the visual storytelling and energetic voiceover carry the message.

At just 60 seconds, this explainer video has generated over 340,000 views, proving that brevity isn't just the soul of wit – it's also the heart of effective explanation.

LADAPT Explainer Animation

LADAPT's wordless animation addressing workplace barriers delivers an emotional gut-punch without a single word of dialogue. What makes this LADAPT animation extraordinary is its central metaphor: judgmental eyes that literally weigh down a woman with a limb difference as she navigates her career. 

Created for LADAPT (a French association dedicated to integrating people with disabilities into the workforce) in collaboration with BETC and talented illustrator Renaud Lavency from the studio Jungler, the explainer shows how social barriers often outweigh physical ones.

The charity animation appears simple at first glance, but employs sophisticated 2.5D techniques to create depth and dimensionality. The floating eyes move with such natural fluidity that they almost feel hand-animated frame by frame – a level of craft that elevates the entire message.

With a closing line that flips the script – "The biggest handicap to your career is the way others see you" – this nonprofit animation showcases how exceptional animation quality can elevate a message. The complexity and fluidity of the character movements, particularly how the floating eyes interact with the protagonist, demonstrate technical mastery rarely seen in explainer videos.

Trust for London Animated Explainer

We're proud to include one of our own animations in this roundup! Our animation agency created this charity explainer for Trust for London, outlining their approach to reducing poverty and inequality across the city.

What makes this explainer effective is its beautiful character animation and smooth transitions, all wrapped in Trust for London's signature visual style. Using After Effects, we created fluid character animation (using 2D plugins like Duik and Limber) and seamless scene transitions to keep viewers glued to the screen.

The Trust team was particularly impressed with how our animation studio’s services captured their mission visually: "The animations have come to life beautifully and the transitions are very slick now. You've done a really good job at translating the ideas into visual stories."

With a voiceover by the brilliant Raphaela Obeng, this charity explainer video transforms Trust for London's mission of tackling inequality into something people actually connect with.

At just 70 seconds, we helped them explain how they're "building a fairer, more equal London where everyone can thrive."

EasyKind Explainer Video

This explainer video for an Australian plant-based medicine clinic nearly broke our researcher's brain trying to transcribe the Aussie accent without subtitles.

What makes this animation from The Unicorn stand out is its distinctive stylised characters with playful proportions—large heads, oversized accessories, and expressive facial elements.

The healthcare animation creates a visual world that feels simultaneously professional and friendly.

The explainer uses a soothing colour palette dominated by mint green, lavender, and muted pinks, creating a visual environment that feels calming—perfect for a healthcare service focused on reducing stress for patients.

With a conversational script and distinctive character design, this animation transforms dry healthcare information into something people actually remember. At just 70 seconds, it shows how medical content doesn't need to feel like reading the back of a pill bottle.

Discord Animated Explainer

Discord (the massively popular community chat platform) takes online safety – normally the digital equivalent of watching paint dry – and transforms it into a brilliant airline-themed adventure, brought to life by Rocketpanda. 

The magic here is the complete commitment to the concept. Vivid graphics and exaggerated characters create a world where digital safety features feel like an adventure, not a lecture.

Dense scenes packed with icons and layered backgrounds mirror Discord's actual interface, helping users connect these safety features to their real experience on the platform.

At just 30 seconds, this explainer animation delivers what every piece of safety information dreams of being: actually watchable.

Water Infrastructure Nonprofit Animation

The Southern California Water Coalition's nonprofit animation about water systems showcases how mixed animation techniques can bring clarity to infrastructure topics that might otherwise put viewers to sleep. Created by Epipheo (and winner of a 2024 Silver Collision Award), this explainer stands out for its innovative approach.

What makes this explainer remarkable is its hybrid approach, blending 3D-rendered elements that resemble handcrafted dioramas with flat 2D animation.

This unique visual style makes complicated water systems feel tangible and approachable.

The nonprofit animation uses toy-like 3D renderings alongside traditional 2D animation elements, creating visual variety that keeps viewers hooked throughout its nearly 4-minute runtime (an eternity in internet attention spans 🙃).

Through thoughtful animation choices, this explainer animation communicates urgent environmental messages without the preachiness that often comes with the territory.

Simplify Your Complex Messages with Explainer Animation

Need to explain something complicated without putting your audience to sleep? Our 2D animation studio specialises in transforming complex ideas into clear, animated stories that stick.

At Leon! Animations, we've spent years perfecting the art of simplification without losing substance. As specialists in creating charity explainer videos, nonprofit animations, and healthcare explainers, we know how to make even the most technical subjects accessible.

Does our 2D Animation Studio work with for-profits too?

Yes, but not often. While nonprofits and charities are our primary focus, our animation studio services occasionally extend to for-profit businesses whose communication goals align with our expertise.

For example, we've created animated explainer videos for John Laing (construction), Reckitt Benckiser (consumer products), and Nuon AI (insurance).

Charities are our priority, but our animation services are available to businesses as well.

Ready to turn your complex message into something people actually want to watch? Get in touch today – we promise to make the process as painless as possible. (And yes, we can handle Australian accents.)