How to tell stories with animated characters
Use movement to empower your design stories
Create a connection
Animated characters do more than add dynamism to renders. They have the power to turn ordinary scenes into compelling narratives, deepening the emotional impact and creating a stronger connection between a design and its audience.
Including human figures in your renders – especially animated ones – is a simple way of making them more engaging and relatable, allowing viewers to experience your designs on a more personal level.
In this guide, we highlight some of the benefits of using animated characters in your architectural, landscape, urban, and interior design renders, and offer some handy tips on how to improve your visual storytelling.
#1
Simulate daily life
Animated characters can effectively illustrate how a space might be used, showcasing its functionality in a way that resonates.
This example shows how an everyday scenario can be depicted in a dynamic and engaging way. By seeing animated characters using the outdoor gym, viewers are provided with a tangible sense of how they might interact with the design themselves in the future.
#2
Guide viewers’ eyes
Animated characters provide a great way to focus and direct a viewer’s attention. Use them to carefully guide a viewer through a space and highlight key features or unique design elements in a captivating manner.
In this scene, the character’s movement naturally draws the viewer’s eye, taking them along the same journey as the cyclist. This dynamic motion tells a story about the design, effectively showcasing the fluidity of the bridge and the expansive environment beyond it. You notice details you might have otherwise missed, experience different angles and perspectives, and gain a more immersive understanding of the design.
#3
Add a human touch
Animated characters can also act as the bridge between the viewer and the design. In this scene, the environment around the walking man shifts between different styles, weather conditions, and lighting effects. This showcases how different aesthetics and atmospheres can dramatically alter the perception of a space.
The figure serves as a focal point here, anchoring the viewer’s attention and maintaining clarity amidst the changing scenery. As the environment evolves, the character ensures a consistent connection to the design, highlighting how the space interacts with varying elements, including changing seasons and different design stages.
#4
Depict different times of day
If you’re trying to illustrate different times of day in a video or series of images, animated characters can help convey this. Take this museum bar, for example. Initially, you see people reading, engaging in conversation, and participating in activities typical of a daytime scene. As the scene transitions to night, the characters’ postures and actions become more suited to an evening setting – there are more people standing around the bar, and the interactions between characters become livelier.
This changing ambiance illustrated by the different animated characters effectively shows the versatility of the space, transforming from a casual cafe to a social bar, and how it adapts to the function and time of day.
#5
Show multiple uses
Including a variety of animated characters in larger scale scenes is a great way of demonstrating how people interact with a space.
In this example, the urban plaza’s versatility and multifunctional nature are brought to life through the diverse range of characters depicted. From busy professionals hurrying to work to groups of friends gathering on benches, the different characters vividly showcase the plaza's various roles. By seeing them in action, viewers can more easily appreciate how the design accommodates different activities and needs, as both a functional and social space.
Characters of varying ages, occupations, and lifestyles were strategically placed in this scene to allow a wider audience to see themselves within the space and emphasize key features without overwhelming the viewer. The central square is populated with characters engaged in typical urban activities, moving in various directions, and interacting naturally with the designed environment. This highlights the plaza’s functionality and liveliness.
See what stories you can tell
Ready to experiment with animated characters in your own renders? See what you can create by incorporating them into your scenes.
If you’re not already subscribed to Lumion, you can explore the software for free with a 14-day Lumion Pro trial. You’ll unlock access to all the latest features and content, including 103 newly introduced animated characters.
