CGI Advertising: Revolutionizing Marketing with Stunning Visuals

CGI advertising is rapidly becoming popular, making it one of the most effective tools in visual marketing. According to Emergen Research, the CGI imagery market is projected to reach $13.44 billion by 2028.

Modern CGI trends go beyond technical optimization and stylistic evolution. They also include the integration of artificial intelligence. AI-powered tools are already helping generate ideas, design character concepts, and automate creative processes, making CGI advertising even more innovative and dynamic. CGI videos and mascots remain at the peak of popularity, driving maximum audience engagement.

What is CGI Advertising?

CGI advertising is a powerful tool that enables brands to showcase their products in a bright and impactful way. It grabs attention and evokes strong emotions, accelerating the decision-making process for purchases.

CGI in advertising can involve creating a video from scratch or integrating an animated character into live-action footage. A great example is the Barney biscuit commercial, where the animated bear interacts with children. Computer graphics make all of this possible!

CGI advertising examples: a still from a Barney's commercial — A still from a Barney’s commercial

Moreover, CGI offers limitless possibilities for visual effects (VFX), allowing brands to add elements and scenes that would be impossible to recreate in real life. This makes advertisements more engaging and memorable. The vast potential of CGI marketing helps brands discover innovative ways to promote their products effectively.

Advantages of CGI Advertising

Limitless Possibilities and Artistic Freedom. Computer-generated imagery is not restricted by location or weather conditions. Designers can experiment with various styles, themes, and production approaches to captivate the audience. For example, an ad can depict a character flying into space or diving into the Earth’s core—scenarios impossible to achieve with live-action filming.
Efficiency. Traditional ad shoots require significant time investments. In many cases, CGI production is faster and more streamlined, reducing time-to-market.
Cost-Effectiveness. CGI can significantly cut costs. Imagine an ad concept that requires a penguin in Antarctica—travel, crew logistics, and equipment transportation would be expensive. Instead, designers can realistically create a CGI penguin against a backdrop of glaciers, complete with stunning visual effects.
Increased Engagement. AR/VR technologies allow viewers to immerse themselves in environments beyond their physical reach. Additionally, 3D corner screens create a sense of realism—for example, a CGI car appearing to leap out of a building—which leaves a strong impression and enhances audience engagement.

How Much Does CGI Advertising Cost?

The cost of CGI services varies greatly, as CGI ads consists of multiple stages and factors that influence the final price. Some studios charge by the hour, while others calculate costs based on the number of production stages.

How the Cost of CGI Advertising is Determined:

Pre-production — Includes concept development, storyboarding, concept art, and illustrations.
Main production — Costs depend on the number of specialists involved, their level of expertise, and the complexity of the project.
Additional services — If the project requires a co-production team, their work is also factored into the budget.
Rendering and special effects — Advanced VFX, light refractions, flares, and other elements that enhance realism or artistic quality may require the rental of render farms, adding to the overall cost.

Overall, the cost of CGI advertising is shaped by the number of hours spent, the number of people involved, and their labour costs. Additionally, the budget set by the advertiser plays a crucial role.

However, it’s important to remember that CGI is not just about technical execution—it’s also an art form. Artistic vision and creativity are difficult to quantify, meaning that the final cost can also be influenced by personal preferences and the unique approach of the studio or artist.

How to Create Viral CGI Advertising?

For CGI advertising to go viral, it must not only be technically well-executed but also stand out with a unique approach. Such ads shouldn’t just follow current trends—they should set new ones.

It’s also essential to consider the target audience. If the ad is aimed at a mature audience, the focus should be on elegance and sophistication. If it’s targeting younger viewers, incorporating humour, pop culture references, and a more dynamic presentation will be more effective.

What Makes CGI Advertising Go Viral?

Creativity. A captivating, dynamic storyline with expressive characters is key to success. CGI offers unlimited possibilities for bringing original ideas to life. A great example is the iconic Coca-Cola commercial featuring Santa Claus driving a truck and handing out drinks. Its memorable imagery and striking visuals made it a viral sensation.
Animation & Movement. Charismatic character movements bring ads to life, making them emotionally engaging. A strong example of great animation is Shrek, which became memorable largely due to its fluid motion and expressive facial animations.
Sound Design. While visual effects are crucial, soundtracks also play a major role in reinforcing emotions and setting the right mood. Many viral commercials are accompanied by recognizable melodies that enhance their impact.
Powerful Slogans & Taglines. “Just Do It” from Nike and “I’m Lovin’ It” from McDonald’s stand out. CGI allows brands to visually enhance such slogans, making them even more striking and unforgettable.

How to Create CGI Advertising?

Creating CGI video ads involves several key stages:

Idea & Concept (Pre-Production). At this stage, the goals and objectives of the commercial, along with its target audience, are defined in collaboration with the client. A brainstorming session helps generate creative concepts and determine the visual style (anime, realism, etc.). A script and storyboard are then developed.
Main Production & Animation. Designers create 2D or 3D animations, develop characters and assets (environment), and animate them. Every detail is meticulously crafted to ensure stylistic consistency in the CGI ad.
Compositing. Once characters and objects are fully coloured, all scenes are combined into a cohesive video. In 3D animation, tracking and compositing are performed, merging elements into a chroma key. In frame-by-frame 2D animation or motion design, elements undergo a “cleanup” phase before being compiled into the final video.
Texturing & Lighting. This stage involves setting up lighting and colours, as well as adding realistic textures (metal, glass, fabric, etc.) to enhance visual appeal and realism.
Rendering. The rendering process generates the final frames, incorporating lighting, shadows, reflections, and other visual effects.
Post-Production. Designers finalize the video by adding VFX effects and sound. Audio can be integrated at different stages: storyboard, animatic, or the final version. The selection of music and sound effects is coordinated with the client to ensure the CGI ad conveys the right mood. Once all refinements are complete, the finished video is delivered.

CGI video ads don’t always have to be created from scratch—they can also enhance live-action footage. In such cases, designers place tracking points to determine where the animated character will be positioned. Then, the background is selected, green screen elements are removed, and the CGI character is integrated into the scene, ensuring proper lighting and perspective for a natural look.

How to Choose a Graphics Studio for CGI Animation Advertising?

CGI advertising can be created in-house or outsourced. The key is to carefully select the right contractor, as this directly impacts not only the quality and realism of the graphics but also the overall effectiveness of the advertising campaign.

Key Criteria for Choosing a CGI Studio:

Experience. Review the studio’s portfolio, assessing the level of detail, style, and creative solutions. It’s also important to check whether the studio frequently works with clients from your industry. Some specialists focus on CGI ads for e-commerce and retail, while others specialize in the automotive or gaming industries.
Reviews & Reputation. Before collaborating, check client reviews, ratings, and case studies on professional platforms. This will help avoid working with contractors who miss deadlines or lack the necessary expertise.
Full Production Cycle. Ideally, the studio should handle all stages of CGI ad creation—from concept development and storyboarding to 3D modelling, compositing, animation, rendering, and post-production. This streamlines the process and ensures a cohesive visual style.
Creative Approach & Concept Development. A good studio should not only follow the brief but also offer fresh, unique, and innovative ideas for CGI advertising.
Technical Level & Tools. Find out which software and technologies the studio uses. Do they utilize VFX and render farms for high detail and realism? The right technical expertise ensures a high-quality final product.

Elevate Your Brand with CGI at Acquisition.mobi

Visual content plays a key role in marketing. And CGI graphics take advertising to the next level. At Acquisition.mobi, we help brands create stunning, cutting-edge, and memorable CGI videos that build an entire story around them.