What's the difference between whiteboard animation and speed drawing?

They describe the same technique — a drawing created live in front of the viewer, often sped up. "Whiteboard animation" is the term used commercially for business video, while "speed drawing" is more common for art and timelapse content. We use them to mean the same thing.

What's the difference between whiteboard animation and an explainer video?

An explainer video is the broad category — any short animated video made to explain something. Whiteboard animation is one specific, highly effective style of explainer video, where the drawing is revealed live.

Which types of drawn video are there?

The most common is whiteboard film (white background, black outline). A strong alternative is blackboard film (dark background, white outline). You can also draw on many other backgrounds — walls, wood, concrete, light or dark paper — to match your brand or story.

Why does whiteboard animation work so well?

It combines several effects: the brain's reward system responds to the anticipation of each new stroke, mirror neurons help us learn by watching, and the "drawing effect" makes drawn information easier to remember. Together they make the message understood, retained and shared.

Does the quality of the "hand" matter?

Yes. For mirror neurons to activate, the hand and movement need to look real and draw the content in a logical sequence. Cheap doodle software, where the hand doesn't truly draw, doesn't achieve the same effect.

How much does a whiteboard animation cost?

It depends on duration, the complexity of the drawings and movement, and the number of language versions. At Levende Streg you always get a tailored quote that matches your needs — contact us for a concrete estimate.

What's the production timeline?

On average it takes about 4–8 weeks to script, record, animate and produce a whiteboard animation of roughly 1–2 minutes. Longer videos and more approval rounds extend the timeline.

Can you produce whiteboard animation in multiple languages?

Yes. Animation is a universal language, and we deliver your video with voice-over and text in multiple languages so it works across markets and cultures.

Whiteboard animation

Explain Complex Ideas Step by Step

A whiteboard animation is a video where you watch a drawing appear at speed — often the illustrator’s hand, or just the line unfolding — with a voice-over that explains the content as it’s drawn.

That live reveal is perfect for turning complex subjects into something simple: strategies, implementation, presentations, instruction videos, commercials and explainer videos.

At Levende Streg we produce custom whiteboard animation, drawn from scratch in our own studio — never from templates.

What is whiteboard animation?

A whiteboard animation features a hand drawing in sped up time within the video — usually accelerated to move quickly through the drawing process — accompanied by a voice-over that explains the visuals.

It excels at breaking complex subjects into easily digestible content. And it’s versatile: use it for external and internal communication, executing strategies, presentations, promotional content, instructional guides, TV ads and beyond.

It’s one of the most effective formats of explainer video.

Whiteboard animation has many names

A whiteboard animation goes by many names: speed drawing video, live drawing video, time-lapse video, graphic recording video, whiteboard film, drawn film, illustration video, scribe video — even “pen and voice” video.

Technically there are small differences, but in everyday language they cover one and the same thing: the phenomenon of drawing on video. Levende Streg are specialists in this type of scribe video for companies.

Dopamine and the reward system

Whiteboard videos work on a subconscious level, and the secret is dopamine. As a hand moves across the screen and draws, you unconsciously try to guess the result — is it a bird? a plane?

When the final drawing is revealed, the brain responds to that met (or beaten) expectation with a dopamine signal — the same reward-prediction mechanism neuroscientists have mapped in dopamine neurons.

So whiteboard animation isn’t just engaging; it makes you understand, remember, and quietly feel good along the way.

Source: Wolfram Schultz, Peter Dayan & P. Read Montague (1997), “A neural substrate of prediction and reward”

Dopamine and learning

Dopamine is one of the brain’s most important learning signals — a neurotransmitter tied to pleasure and the reward system. You know it from watching a series: you anticipate what happens next, and being right is rewarding.

Research shows that states of curiosity — exactly the anticipation a whiteboard animation creates — boost memory through the brain’s dopaminergic circuit. That same loop of anticipation and reward is why drawn video supports learning and memory.

Source: Matthias J. Gruber, Bernard D. Gelman & Charan Ranganath (2014), “States of curiosity modulate hippocampus-dependent learning via the dopaminergic circuit”

Mirror neurons

When we watch someone do something — play football, flip a pancake or draw — our motor cortex and mirror neurons activate, and we understand what we see by internally mirroring it.

A well-made whiteboard animation taps exactly this. It’s one of the easiest ways to learn, and it happens automatically. Note: the effect depends on the hand and movement looking real — cheap doodle software, where hands don’t truly draw the content, doesn’t trigger the same response.

Source: Giacomo Rizzolatti & Laila Craighero (2004), “The mirror-neuron system”

The drawing effect

We understand, remember and retell things better when they’re drawn — or when we watch others draw them.

Psychologists call this the drawing effect and research shows it produces reliable, robust memory benefits beyond writing, imagery or picture superiority alone.³ Watching a drawing take shape carves a kind of pathway in the brain, so the message of a whiteboard animation sticks.

Source: Jeffrey D. Wammes, Melissa E. Meade & Myra A. Fernandes (2016), “The drawing effect: Evidence for reliable and robust memory benefits in free recall”

Types of drawn video

Whiteboard film

The most common: a white background with a black outline drawn by a marker.

Blackboard film

A black or dark-gray background with a white outline; a striking alternative.

Other backgrounds

We often draw on top of real life footage. It also works well to use other background like walls, concrete, wood, asphalt, light or dark paper and everything in between, when the brand or story calls for it.

Our 6-step whiteboard animation process

We follow a structured 6-step process that makes sure your whiteboard animation communicates exactly what you intend:

1. Storyline

What’s your message, your goal, your quick elevator pitch?

2. Script

In collaboration with your specialists, we write a draft manuscript.

3. Sketches & style

We settle on a style and outline the story, so flow and content are clear.

4. Storyboard

We draw, color and prepare a storyboard for final approval.

5. Production

We bring illustrations, graphics and story to life (only small corrections are possible once animation starts).

6. Delivery

In post-production we prepare and deliver the final files in the formats you need.

Whiteboard animation examples

Whiteboard video about health care

A drawn walkthrough of a complex process of using the Danish health care platform – Sundhed.dk.

Speed drawing video about wastewater

Illustrated video about wastewater in Denmark. This video is made for BIOFOS.

Whiteboard video - Stand up for your health

A change-management whiteboard animation about the benefits of standing while working.

Work with a whiteboard animation studio

To get the full value of whiteboard animation, the studio behind it matters — and so does whether the drawing looks real.

At Levende Streg we are specialists in animation, illustration and storytelling, with our own studio built for drawn, real-time video. Since 2012 we have produced custom whiteboard animations that can be understood, remembered and shared.

We develop everything from scratch, so your whiteboard animation reflects your company and your brand.

Maria Prohazka

Creative Rockstar
(+45) 2818 8586
mp@levendestreg.dk

Marie Buus

Managing Partner
(+45) 2658 7434
mb@levendestreg.dk

FAQ — frequently asked questions

What is whiteboard animation?
Whiteboard animation is a video where illustrations are drawn in real time — usually on a white background with a black outline — accompanied by voice-over, so viewers watch an idea take shape as it's explained. It's one of the clearest formats for step-by-step content.
What's the difference between whiteboard animation and speed drawing?
They describe the same technique — a drawing created live in front of the viewer, often sped up. "Whiteboard animation" is the term used commercially for business video, while "speed drawing" is more common for art and timelapse content. We use them to mean the same thing.
What's the difference between whiteboard animation and an explainer video?
An explainer video is the broad category — any short animated video made to explain something. Whiteboard animation is one specific, highly effective style of explainer video, where the drawing is revealed live.
Which types of drawn video are there?
The most common is whiteboard film (white background, black outline). A strong alternative is blackboard film (dark background, white outline). You can also draw on many other backgrounds — walls, wood, concrete, light or dark paper — to match your brand or story.
Why does whiteboard animation work so well?
It combines several effects: the brain's reward system responds to the anticipation of each new stroke, mirror neurons help us learn by watching, and the "drawing effect" makes drawn information easier to remember. Together they make the message understood, retained and shared.
Does the quality of the "hand" matter?
Yes. For mirror neurons to activate, the hand and movement need to look real and draw the content in a logical sequence. Cheap doodle software, where the hand doesn't truly draw, doesn't achieve the same effect.
How much does a whiteboard animation cost?
It depends on duration, the complexity of the drawings and movement, and the number of language versions. At Levende Streg you always get a tailored quote that matches your needs — contact us for a concrete estimate.
What's the production timeline?
On average it takes about 4–8 weeks to script, record, animate and produce a whiteboard animation of roughly 1–2 minutes. Longer videos and more approval rounds extend the timeline.
Can you produce whiteboard animation in multiple languages?
Yes. Animation is a universal language, and we deliver your video with voice-over and text in multiple languages so it works across markets and cultures.