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Why Animation is Changing the Game for Sports Content

Sammi Kinghorn wheelchair athlete in a wheelchair with medals on blue background. "Great Britain" on shirt. BBC Sport logo. Mood: triumphant.
Sammi Kinghorn Biography - Tentacle Media x BBC Sport

Animation is revolutionising traditional and digital sports media


If you’re looking to bring your sports or esports content to life, whether it’s rule explainers, hype videos or player spotlights, animation is one of the most creative and effective tools you can use.



What Makes Animation So Effective in Sports and Esports?


  • Simplifying complicated rules or strategies


  • Exciting fans with stylised promos


  • Telling meaningful athlete stories


  • Grabbing attention across digital and social platforms



Whether you’re educating kids about how to play football or creating buzz around an esports final, animation gives you total visual control and unmatched creative flexibility.


Boy in blue shirt dreams of scoring a soccer goal, with thought bubble showing a ball near the net. Blue sky background, thoughtful mood.
Tentacle Media x BBC Education

Explainers for Kids


With simple colourful animation, complex rules and sports techniques can be introduced and explained in an easily digestible, memorable way. This can also capture the spirits of sport to help nurture a healthy approach to something new.



Promotional Pieces: Esports Tournament Teaser


With a blend of new and brand existing elements, animated cinematic animation can build hype. High impact visuals and motion design come together to showcase storytelling, character design, and event action, to energise and engage a fanbase.



Creative Feature: Biography


Behind every motivated sportsperson is a story. These personal stories can resonate and connect through animation, by portraying and reliving the journey through their own words with creative visuals. Emotional depth and celebration of the journey can deeply connect with the audience.


Esports stage with large screens showing game art and sponsors' logos. Bright lights, purple and yellow theme.
ESL Birmingham - Dota 2 Live Event Screens

Why Use Animation for Sports and ESports


Animation isn’t just for full-length videos or stylized promos, it plays a vital role across the entire sports media ecosystem. 


On-Screen Graphics


  • Animated scoreboards, lower thirds, player stats make broadcasts look polished and dynamic.


Data Visualisation:


  • Heatmaps, movement tracking, and tactical breakdowns come to life through animated infographics, making complex insights easy to digest.


Social Content:


  • Highlight reels, match previews, and memes are amplified through quick, punchy animations designed to stop thumbs in their tracks.


Storytelling and features:


  • Deeper stories like athlete profiles or historic moments use animation to evoke emotion and fill visual gaps.


A person in a wheelchair holds a basketball on a court with a hoop. The background features green grass and a cityscape. The mood is cheerful.
Amazingly Active - Tentacle Media x BBC Education


Whether you’re aiming to educate kids, promote a tournament, or tell athlete stories, animation ensures your content is:


  • Visually engaging and on-brand


  • Tailored for the right age group of audience


  • Optimized for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, and broadcast



Ready to elevate your sports and esports content with dynamic animation, data-driven visuals, or standout storytelling? Let's have a chat!



 
 
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