Last updated: August 2026
How to Make an Explainer Video with AI
The Short Version
To make an explainer video with AI: define the single message you need to land, then paste your product URL or script into an AI motion-graphics tool like Baz. It generates a first cut structured around a hook, problem, solution, proof, and call to action. Review it, refine the scenes with follow-up prompts, add an AI voiceover with synced captions, then export a 60-90 second cut for your landing page and a 30-second cut for social — no storyboard, no video editor, no agency brief required.
Why most explainer videos fail before the editing stage
The biggest failure mode in explainer video is not animation quality — it is trying to explain too much. A video that walks through five features in order loses viewers at feature two. A video built around one message, with everything else cut, holds attention and converts.
AI generation forces this discipline earlier than manual editing does: because you are describing the video in a prompt rather than assembling it scene by scene, a muddled message shows up immediately as a muddled first cut — and is easy to fix with a follow-up prompt instead of a re-edit.
Step by Step
- 1
Define the one message
Before touching any tool, write down the single idea the video needs to land — the problem, the fix, or the outcome. Explainer videos that try to cover everything explain nothing well. If you cannot state the message in one sentence, the video will not be able to either.
- 2
Paste your URL or script into Baz
Give Baz your product URL to extract your brand and product context automatically, or paste a script you have already written. Either way, you are giving the AI the raw material — you do not need a storyboard.
- 3
Review the generated cut
Baz generates a first cut structured around a hook, the problem, the solution, proof, and a call to action. Watch it end to end before editing anything — check whether the structure and pacing land, not just the visuals of individual scenes.
- 4
Refine scenes with prompts
Adjust in plain language: "make the hook punchier", "the solution section needs a concrete example, not just a claim", "cut the proof section down to one number". You are directing the edit, not scrubbing a timeline frame by frame.
- 5
Add voiceover and captions
Generate an AI voiceover from your script so pacing locks to the narration, with synced captions burned in automatically. Captions matter here — most explainer views on social happen with sound off.
- 6
Export for landing page and social
Export a 60-90 second cut in 16:9 for your landing page and YouTube, and a tighter 30-second 9:16 cut for social from the same composition. The social cut should lead with the hook and the proof, not the full setup.
What makes an explainer video actually work
- One message, not a feature list. If a scene doesn't serve the single message you defined in step one, cut it.
- The hook happens in the first three seconds. Lead with the problem or the outcome, not a logo animation or a slow build-up.
- Proof beats claims. A specific number, result, or before/after is more convincing than a sentence saying the product is great.
- Captions carry the sound-off viewer. Most explainer views on social happen muted — the captions and visuals need to work without the voiceover.
- One clear call to action. Ask for one specific next step at the end, not a list of things the viewer could do.
All the ways to do it (honest comparison)
| Method | Effort | Output | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI motion graphics (Baz) | Minutes — prompt-driven, from a URL or script | Structured hook/problem/solution/proof/CTA, brand-aware | Landing pages, launches, social cuts |
| Explainer agency | $5,000-$20,000 — weeks of scripting and revisions | Bespoke character animation, highest ceiling | Flagship brand explainers with a long shelf life |
| Template tools | A few hours — assemble scenes from presets | Preset animations, generic feel | Quick internal or low-stakes explainers |
| Screen recording + voiceover | A few hours — record, script, edit | Authentic but raw; no designed motion | Product walkthroughs and onboarding tutorials |
Agencies still win on fully bespoke character animation and a signature visual style you plan to reuse for years — that is what the $5,000-$20,000 and multi-week timeline buys. If you need something fast for an internal update, a template tool will do. For a landing page explainer, a launch video, or a social cut you need this week and want to keep iterating on, AI generation from your script or URL is the fastest path to a structured, on-brand result.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an explainer video be?
For a landing page or YouTube, 60-90 seconds is the sweet spot: long enough to cover the problem, solution, and proof, short enough that most viewers finish it. For social feeds, cut a 30-second version that leads with the hook and drops straight to proof and a call to action.
How much does an AI explainer video cost compared to an agency?
An agency-produced explainer typically runs $5,000-$20,000 and takes several weeks for scripting, storyboarding, animation, and revisions. Template tools are cheaper but limited to preset animations you assemble yourself. Baz plans start from $25/month, and a first cut generates in minutes from a URL or script, with unlimited prompt-driven revisions instead of a billed revision cycle.
Can I use my own script?
Yes. Paste your script directly and Baz generates scenes matched to it, or start from your product URL and let the AI draft a first pass you then rewrite. Either way you end up directing the final script — the AI does not lock you into generated copy.
Does it include voiceover?
Yes. Baz generates an AI voiceover from your script with synced captions, so the video works with sound on for landing pages and with sound off for social, where most explainer views happen.
What structure actually works for an explainer video?
Hook, problem, solution, proof, call to action — in that order. Open with the thing your audience already feels (the hook), name the problem plainly, show your product as the solution, back it with one concrete proof point, then ask for the specific next action. Skipping the proof step or stacking multiple calls to action are the most common reasons explainer videos underperform.
Related Reading
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