Animoto: There's a Reason Why it was Runner-Up at the Crunchies

To begin, Animoto is a fine program. It allows for a dynamic rather than stagnant slideshow presentation of images. Furthermore, it enables anyone to create a dynamic photographic montage by combining photographs, music, and text in a fraction of the time that it would take to create a Flash based slideshow or a Final Cut Video. Also, due to its dynamic abilities, viewing a large number of images does not become a tedious event for the viewer. Sidebar1: Users are able to choose music from a library of music genres but I found few entries to be of my liking. However, the user is able to upload their own musical choices and, for me, that's a big plus.
Sidebar2: Users are can add/embed an "action" button to their video. This button can act as a link, sending viewers to a specific page on a website (ie. pricing, ordering) I like this feature very much, however, it does not work on youTube, a potential source of clientele...lost.

Animoto, I believe, has many commercial and educational applications. First, portrait photographers would find that Animoto has the ability to serve as an excellent marketing tool that could be utilized inside the studio as well as on location; imagine setting up a computer and displaying slideshow examples of one's images at a convention or high school prom or graduation. For a photographer, point-of-sale is critical. Strike while the iron is hot. Economically, photographers do better when they are able to make a sale while the client is "in the moment" and excited about their photos. The initial excitement diminishes as both the photographer and the client wait for images to be processed and returned by a photographic lab.
Second, Animoto would provide an interesting means by which educators could convey information to students. Lets face it. If it doesn't buzz, zip, or flash, it doesn't get our attention. Animoto could provide a more interesting environment in which to present educational materials.

Animoto has other uses as well. Once a video has been created, it can be e-mailed to family and friends even posted on youTube. Fun!

There's a reason why Animoto was a runner-up in the category of Basic Design at this years Crunchies. Initially, for me, the interface was a bit confusing. I wasn't completely sure how I was to begin using the application. However, after a few seconds I was able to familiarize myself with the interface (It's like when you get a new car and the dashboard looks so complicated and foreign). Navigation, in part, was "by the numbers" and presented in a step-by-step fashion. This seemed somewhat elementary to me. But, it worked. I was able to navigate through the program and create my own video.

All in all, I found Animoto to be a program that I would like to use. I hope that the developers will continue to improve its interface.