Top 10 Things You Can Do To Market Your Animations

Creating an anime series used to be a dream reserved for skilled artists and seasoned writers. Today, thanks to AI tools, anyone can produce large-scale animations, leveling the playing field for aspiring creators.

Change is happening so rapidly that those willing to innovate will thrive, while traditional norms may fade. Marketing your animations effectively can make the difference between obscurity and success. Here are ten strategies to elevate your work.

1. Build a Strong Online Presence

A solid digital footprint allows creators to showcase their animations and engage with potential fans. Use platforms like YouTube or Vimeo to host trailers, shorts, or behind-the-scenes content.

Engaging with audiences through social media channels maximizes reach. Creators like SiIvaGunner gained a massive following by sharing fan-made content on platforms like Twitter and TikTok. They leveraged their unique style, turning simple projects into viral sensations.

2. Employ Content Marketing

Identify the unique angles of your animation and create content that addresses those aspects. Consider blogs, vlogs, or podcasts.

Regular content not only showcases your expertise but also attracts an audience passionate about your work. By sharing the creative process, you invite your audience into your world, forging connections that can lead to loyal fans.

3. Participate in Animated Film Festivals

Festivals provide exposure and valuable networking opportunities. Platforms like Annecy International Animation Film Festival allow creators to showcase their work to industry professionals.

Winning or getting into prestigious festivals can elevate your status and provide essential feedback.

4. Network with Other Creators

Collaboration can expand your audience and enhance your work. Joining creator communities or forums offers support and new insights.

Collaborating with others can introduce you to their followers, broadening your reach. Using tools like Discord, creators can find like-minded individuals to share ideas and showcase each other's work.

5. Leverage Crowd-funding Platforms

Sites like Kickstarter allow you to generate financial support while building a community around your project.

Creative campaigns highlight the unique aspects of your animation, connecting with backers eager to see your vision come to fruition.

6. Engage in Social Media Advertising

Paid advertisements on platforms like Instagram or Facebook can target specific demographics, leading to better engagement. Create eye-catching ads highlighting your animation's unique features.

AI-driven ad tools can help optimize your campaigns based on audience behavior, maximizing your budget effectiveness.

7. Collaborate with Influencers

Engage influencers who resonate with your animation style. They already have established audiences that trust their recommendations.

Their endorsement can elevate your visibility significantly.

8. Maintain a Consistent Release Schedule

Regular updates build anticipation and familiarity with your audience. Create a buzz around upcoming episodes or releases.

Consider platforms like Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content or early access, turning viewers into dedicated supporters.

9. Optimize for SEO

Craft website content and video descriptions that include relevant keywords. People searching for new animations may find your work easily.

Researching color palettes, character designs, and trending themes can align your projects with current interests.

10. Embrace the Power of AI

AI tools can streamline the animation process, making it easier to produce high-quality content faster. With platforms like Make My Anime, anyone can create animation effortlessly.

Utilize AI for marketing too—data-driven decisions can enhance your targeting and messaging.

In a world where automation is inevitable, embracing change is crucial. These strategies empower creators to navigate the new landscape, ensuring their animations don't just exist but thrive.

The future is bright for those ready to harness the tools available to them, and with the right marketing approach, your anime could be the next big hit.

Complete Step-by-Step Guide on How To Start Making Your Own Anime

Video Guide

Written Guide

Tired of waiting for your favorite anime to release a new season? Wish you could bring your own wild character concepts to life? Thanks to the power of AI, creating your very own anime is easier than dodging a shonen protagonist's power-up attack.

Step 1 — Creating a character

Every great anime needs a captivating character, and yours is no exception. Will they be a stoic swordsman with a tragic past? A bubbly magical girl destined to save the world?

Once you've made an account, go to the Character page and start designing your character. For this example, I made a rockstar named Jack.

Put your character features in the Prompt text box and generate the character sheet

Put your character features in the Prompt text box and generate the character sheet.

Step 2 — Get reference images

The goal is to make an animation of Jack walking. To do this, you can either taking a video of yourself walking and use the Reference Video tool — this provides more control over the end result, but is more time-consuming.

Instead, I'm going to generate 2 images of Jack and interpolate between them. You can either take 2 images of yourself, or use an online pose editor like PoseMy.Art.

Screenshots of the 2 poses I want Jack to start and end in, followed by resizing images to 1024x1024 (works best with 1:1 aspect ratio)

Step 3 — Generate Character Images

Now that you have your reference images, get the character in that pose in the Generate Image tab. Select your character (they should appear in the character menu) and upload reference image to the Pose Image section.

Jack walking start and end frames

Step 4 — Animate

Go to the Interpolate tool, upload the start and end frame and click Generate. Download the 16 frames as a zip of images and select the frames you want.

Step 5 — Replace Background (Optional)

Go to the EZ Draw Background tool and draw a simple sketch of how you want your scene to be laid out. Add a prompt, and click Generate (you might have to iterate a couple times).

Then, go to the Replace Background tool to remove the background from your scene:

And put the two together in a video editor of your choice (Microsoft's ClipChamp or Capcut are both online, free options).

Thanks for reading!