Getting people to notice (and understand) your council’s messaging can be tough. Between fast social media feeds and inbox overload, even important community updates can slip by unnoticed.
That’s why more local governments are turning to animation to make their messages clear, engaging, and easy to remember. Whether you’re promoting an event, explaining a service change, or encouraging community feedback, animation helps you cut through the noise.
Here’s how animation can transform the way councils connect with their communities.
1. Animation Makes Complex Information Easy to Understand
Let’s be real, some council topics are hard to explain, and people aren’t willing to listen. Strategic plans, infrastructure projects, or policy changes can easily overwhelm residents or go unread.
But when you use animation, you can turn these big ideas into bite-sized, visual stories. With clear narration and simple visuals, even a complicated plan becomes something your community can actually follow and remember.
Sutherland Shire Council nailed this when they used animation to explain their Community Strategic Plan. Instead of handing residents a bulky document, they told the story visually, making it clear how the plan came about, why it matters, and how people could get involved.
2. It Captures Attention on Social Media
Animation is built to catch the eye. On social media, your audience is scrolling fast so you need something that stops thumbs and sparks curiosity.
Short, colourful, on-brand animations are great for this. They get your message across quickly, and they’re perfect for social platforms.
Wagga Wagga City Council has been using this to promote local events. Their animations are fun, vibrant, and to the point—and they’ve pulled in thousands of views. They also reinforce the established branding of the events, building brand recognition.
3. It Reaches a Broader Audience
Councils serve diverse communities, including children, seniors, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and residents with different literacy levels.
Animation helps make your messaging accessible to everyone. You can:
- Use simple visuals that cross language barriers
- Add voiceover, subtitles, or translations
- Create text-free versions for broader use
For example, the Towards Zero Waste animations, produced for Snowy Valley Council, creatively explain the changes to the waste management system with the introduction of a food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bin. The use of quirky characters (designed by Kindred Designs) gets the message across in an engaging yet simple and clear way.
4. It’s Cost-Effective Over Time
While animation might seem like a bigger upfront investment than a flyer or Facebook post, it pays off in the long run.
Once created, an animated video can be reused across multiple platforms:
- Council websites
- Social media
- Community screens
- Newsletters
- Public consultations
You can also clip it into shorter versions for campaigns or cut-downs.
That kind of flexibility makes animation a smart, sustainable tool in your local government communication strategy.
5. It Strengthens Your Council’s Brand
While filmed videos can also be an effective way to present information, animated videos allow councils to showcase their logo, colours, and style in a creative way, helping to create a strong and recognisable brand identity. Through animation style, councils can convey their brand’s personality—whether it’s fun, professional, inclusive, or innovative—helping to reinforce their values and guiding principles.
6. It Signals You’re a Forward-Thinking Council
Using animation for public education and engagement initiatives can also showcase a council’s commitment to innovation and creativity. It positions the council as forward-thinking and responsive to modern communication trends. As communities become more accustomed to digital content, councils that embrace these changes will likely resonate better with the public. For example, these fun, trendy, engaging promotional animations for Wagga Wagga City Council’s Lost Lanes festival.
Ready to See What Animation Can Do for Your Council?
If your council wants to improve communication, reach more people, and get better engagement, animation is a great place to start. Let’s chat about how we can bring your message to life through animation.